FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7824, 17 June 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

ASHBURTON FLAG COMPETITION

METHVEN v. ASHBURTON. The Methven senior team played' its' last competition match of the season with an Ashburton team at the showgrounds yesterday. A great deal of interest centred m this match, as in the event of Methven being defeated, and Rakaia winning the match to be played with Ashburton, Rakaia and Methyen would then have 4$ points each, which would necessitate a play-off for : the banner. As matters turned out, howover, Methven won the;match yesterday with a large number of points to its credit, and are thus the winners of the senior banner for the ensuing year. Shortly after the kick-off it was evident that the match was going to be strenuously fought, as Ashburton were forced twice in quick succession. For. some time the game was very evenly contested, neither team giving any chances. Towards the end of the first spell several of the Ashburton men it could be plainly seen were not in a trained condition and began to show signs of j fatigue. Taking advantage of some I loose play and general bungling on the part of the Ashburton forwards, Fittock (a Methven player) secured possession of the ball and registered a score. From a difficult angle W. Burrows failed to convert. At this stage of the game a Methyen player took a fit and had to be carried off the field. • The remainder of the first spell was evenly contested, although Ashburton lost two easy opportunities of scoring as~a^rosult of the bad taking of the ball in passing rushes. Shortly before half-time, Wright, for Methven, made a brilliant run from midfield to within a yard of the touch-line, where he was grassed with equal brilliancy V- the Ashburton full-back. The first half thus ended with Methven 3 points to nil. In the second spell the game was entirely in favour of Methven, who scored rapidly, and when full time was called tho scores stood as follows: Methven, 19. Ashburton, 3. There was no evidence, of intentional rough «lny, and the match was played with the utmost good spirit. Mr F. Robilliard was tho roferco.