October 7 - Albert Park
Carlton 2
Melbourne 0
After their previous clash had ended without a winner the two best sides in the colony played a deciding match for the South Yarra Challenge Cup on neutral ground. There was an umpiring controversy when a Melbourne goal was denied and the umpire refused to carry on. Another umpire then paid a Melbourne goal under protest before reversing his decision.
The match was played 18-a-side as Carlton couldn't rustle up enough men to field a full strength team.
Melbourne - captained by Henry Harrison - were forced to kick into a strong breeze. Harrison stacked his defence to try and keep Carlton out until the change of ends, but the Blues eventually got their first goal after 30 minutes of play. They got another one not long after thanks to a defensive mistake by the Reds.
Melbourne held out for a further 30 minutes but when ends were changed and they had their opportunity to use the breeze it had dropped down so was no use to them. After 20 minutes of the second period they were starting to take control of the match when spectators began to encroach on the field. This made Melbourne's task of scoring two goals even more difficult
After the match Henry Harrison was laid low in bed and never played again.
Notes
Some sources says South Yarra players were the umpires.
Media
Weekly Times - 14/10/1871