FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3222, 21 June 1909, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

j WAIRARAPA RUGBY UNION. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. CARTERTON v. GREYTOWN,' The Carterton and Grey town Seniors met, at Greytown, on Saturday last. The weather was all that could be desired, and the ground in good order. Greytown attacked right from the kick-off and for the first halfhour led the visitors a merry dance. They were nearly over the line on several occasions, but were driven back time after time by free kicks, chiefly given on account of putting the ball unfairly in the scrum, and off-side play. Carterton cleared the line about seven times in this way. Then Greytown settled down, and I made a strenuous effort to cross the line, but a force down gave the visitors relief. Percy Rogers gained a iot of ground for the home team by his excellent kicking. Greytown generally hooked the ball in the scrum,'and chose a scrum instead of a line-out; but there was a weakness in the link of back play, and several good chances to score were lest. In the second spell Carterton began to attack strongJy, but the excellent line kicking of the home backs repeatedly saved the situation. The ball shortly after was fielded by Masson, the Carterton full-back, who neatly potted a goal. Carterton 4 points Greytown nil Greytown then awoke, and from thence to the end of pilay the game was wholly theirs. In the scrums, line-out and loose rushes they carried all before them, and swamped the Carterton backs. Finally from a scrum the ball went out to Rogers, who simply forced his way over the line. Skeet converted. Greytown 5 points Carterton 4 points

Greytown continued their swamping tactics, and just on the call of time Hastings scored, Skeet converting, and the game thus ended— Greytown 10 points Carterton 4 points

Mr A. B. Charters controlled the game in an efficient manner, and wave the utmost satisfaction. The match was played in an excellent spirit, the principal feature being the fast forward rushes by each side. With the link between the backs and forwards improved the Greytown backs would be a dangerous lot. Among the Greytown rearguard Rogers and Hawkins played very safely, and kicked well. The forwards all played well, Cameron and Hastings being the pick. For Carterton Groube. McKenzie and Masson did

good work among the backs, and H. McKenzie and Brown in the forward division.

LOWER VALLEY v. GLADSTONE,

The Lower Valley and Gladstone Seniors met at Carterton, and a fast and interesting game resulted in a win for Lower Valley by 16 points to nil. The Lower Valley team owe their victory largely to the excellent play of J. Adams, P. Cowan, Willacy (all of whom scored tries), W. Adams and A. Millar. Mr E, McKenzie refereed in his usual capable man-

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. RED STAR v. DALEFIELD. The Red otar and Dalefield Juniors met at Dalefield. Neither team had been beaten this season, and were last season winner and runnerup, respectively,"of the Junior Championship. The game was vigorously contested throughout, and was very fast, both teams being in tiptop form. The visiting forwards played with great dash, but the home backs handled the ball better than the opposing backs. A feature of the match was the brilliant play of A. Ibbetson, the Red Star full-back. His kicking was capital, and he found the line in great style, while his collaring was sure and he went down to rushes in a commendable manner. On one occasion he saved a certain senre. Dalefield kicked the ball, and their fast forwards charged down the field on to Ibbetson. The latter took the ball, dodged one opponent, but his kick was smothered and he was knocked over. An opposing forward snapped up the ball, and made for the line, which was about ten yards off. Ibbetson sprang at the man with the ball, and grassed him. The latter passed to a club mate, but Ibbetson downed this player, too, and the rest of the Stars coming round the situation was saved. It was a biilliant piece of play, and Ibbetson has every reason to feel proud of the wey he acquitted himself during the game, especially when it is taken into consideration that he is still a schoolboy. In the first spell there was no score, though the Stars playing against the sun had the best of play, in the second spell, about a quarter of an hour after play had started, the visitors were awarded a free kick, and Clarke kicked a splendid goal. There was no further score in the spell, which was evenly contested, and the game resulted in a win for Red Star by 3 points to nil. Mr J. McKenzie controlled a difficult match in a most capable manner. • LIBERAL v. TE ORE ORE. The Liberal Juniors defeated Te Ore Ore, at Carertton, by 30 points to nil. Tocker (3), Tait (2), Phelps, Chisholm and Mason, scored tries, one of which Tait converted. The latter also potted a goal. CARTERTON v. GREYTOWN. The Carterton Junior team de-

feated the Greytown Juniors, at Carterton, by 17 points to nil. The following are the positions of the teams in the various competitions :—■ SENIOR.

4J 03 a o n "5 2 M p. as 03 & c 4-J £ W-3 .5 - CO O Q 'S O J3 Carterton 2 1 2 32 31 6 Ked Star 2 1 1 35 17 5 LowerValley 2 2 1 35 33 5 Grey town 1 2 2 31 28 4 Gladstone 1 2 2 9 33 4 JUNIOR. Red Star 5 0 0 65 0 10 Dalefield 4 1 0 73 3 8 Liberal 2 2 2 53 42 6 Carterton 2 2 1 28 24 5 LowerValley 2 2 1 16 19 5 Greytown 1 4 0 16 81 2 Te Ore Ore 0 5 0 0 82 — THIRD CLASS. Masterton 5 0 0 136 0 10 Red Star 4 1 0 105 14 8 Carterton 3 2 0 90 18 ( 6 Dalefield 2 3 0 58 57 4 Hikurar.gi 1 4£ 0 11 171 2 Te Ore Ore 0 5 0 5 145 —