FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3217, 15 June 1909, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

CARTERTON v. LOWER VALLEY,

The match between the Carterton and Lower Valley seniors was played at Martinborough on Saturday last, in the presence of a -large number of ! spectators. From start to finish the | match was very fast and exciting, ! and the result was in doubt till the I I last moment. The Lower Valley team included Alick Millar and Matthew Ahipene, (both of whom have done yeoman service in the paat'for j YVairarapa), and Bill Adams ! ("Waterloo'" of that ilk —the exj Melrose player and Wellhgton representative), while Carterton had enlisted the services of Fairbroiher as wing threequarter. Throughout the first spell Carterton did a great deal of attacking, and two scores were lost through passes off-side—in fact both sides were penalised for off-side play, not in the nature of "pointing," but mainly through over-eagerness. On one occasion H. McKenzie put in a splendid run, and passed beautifully to^G,-Hall, who, however, through superior pace had over-run his club' mate, a free kick averting a score. Towards the end of the first spell, as I the result of a fine passing rush, Mc- ! Guinness just got over the Valley's line, but the try was npt converted. The first spell thus ended with 'Carterton leading by three points, and having had the best of the play. The second spell was generally expected to be a "good thing'' for Carterton, as it was doubted whether their opponents could last the pace. However, the unexpected happened. Lower Valley set a hot pace from the jump, and assisted b" faulty passing and occasionally fielding on the part of the Carterton backs, were soon hotlv attacking. The spectators urgea on their side with great fervour, and eventually in a luckless (or thoughtless) moment a Carterton flayer lay shielding the ball a second too long, with the result that Lower Valley got a free kick in a good position, | and Cowan kicked a beautiful goal.*' Martinborough kept up the attack, and their efforts were soon afterwards rewarded by Millar getting over. As a matter of fact he just grounded the ball on the far edge of the line, being tackled in play and rolling over, without, however, letting the ball be grounded in the field j

of play. The attempt at goal was unsuccessful. The spectators were ( now in a high state of excitement, and Lower Valley attacked for a while longer. Then Carterton shifted play to the other end, chose a scrum instead of a line out, and for some time were attacking hotly. Then two Lower Valley players did a foolish act which lost their team a win, by lying over and shielding the ball in front of their own goal, at a time, too, when no Carterton man was very near the bsll —in fact the first man down actually had time, if he had so desired, to kick the ball into safety. He chose the foolish course, and was penalised. H. McKenzie kicked a goal from a standing kick, as the penalty was given almost under the posts. Lower Valley now changed play to the other end of the field. A Carterton player got off-side, and Cowan, at the- last minute of.'play, missed' an easy kick at goal, the game ending in a draw It is worthy of note that -each side scored a try and a penalty goal, .that each try was scored in almost identically the same spot, and that each penalty goal resulted from lying on the ball, and not immediately getting up. The game was strenuous throughout, but there was no rough play, and good feeling predominated in all respects a pleasant match. Mr A, B. Ctiarters controlled the game in an excpllent rnannre, and used the "advantage" rmle whenever possible, thus avoiding toojnuch whistle. For Carterton, little Masson at full back played a splendid game, and N. McKenzie's kicking was very fine. H. McKenzie played a good forward game, and. was ably seconded by his mates. Henderson, at half, was here, there, and everywhere. For Lower Valley, Peter Cowan and Hetekana played good games The kicking of the former was a feature, while the latter is a very safe and tricky player