THE PROVINCIAL CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 161, 10 July 1928, Page 12

THE PROVINCIAL CUP.

WON BY WAIKATO.

Rattling in two goals inside the first three minutes won the game and Provincial Cup for the Waikato team at the hockey grounds yesterday. Such an early lead together with the fact that they continued to do practically all the attacking suggested a runaway win over the Auckland team and the latter"? supporters, the few who were on the fideline, were quite prepared to see the habitat of the silver cup changed to Hamilton.

The Provincial Cup is played for annually by teams from the various ladies' hockey clubs in Auckland province and was last year won by Auckland Collegiates. The year 13 teams entered and the tournament took a week to decide. The entries were divided into three sections—A, B and C. Auckland Collegiates won the A section, the B section went to Waipa, and Waikato won the C section. In the semi-final Auckland Collegiate proved too good for Waipa, leaving Waikato to oppose Auckland in the final. ! Showery weather no doubt affected the I attendance and only a handful of spectators 6aw the final yesterday. The ground was very heavy and near the J

goal months was slushy. The first score came surprisingly quick. Waikato won the bully-off and A. Newell took the ball straight down and beating the Auckland goalie scored a few seconds after the game began. Keeping up the attack Waikato, in less than three minutes, had scored again, E. Newell finding the net this time. Two goals within three minutes was good going, but there was more to come and before half-time E. Newell scored her second goal, and the tally stood 3 to 0 in Waikato's favour. All through the first half Waikato had been on the attack, the Auckland ladies showing a lack of team work and understanding. They attempted very little passing and seemed intent upon going solo.

However, if the visitors had the better of the play up till half-time it was not so in the second half, and but for clever saves by the Waikato goalie Auckland would have won. The locals entered into the second spell with considerably more vim than they displayed earlier, bat they still showed little combined team work. There'was only 15 minutes to go when L. Cranwell notched a goal for Auckland, and ten minutes later K. Belham found the net, making the score, Waikato 3, Auckland 2. In the dying stages Auckland attacked vigorously, but could not even up and time was called with Waikato winners of the cup for 1028. Auckland Collegiates: L. Hardie, Q. Gernloefer, G. Neeley, L. Carter, J. Osborne, C. Bilham, K. Bilham, M. Hayes, L. Muller, L. Cranwell, M. Mawson.

• - -fjTq Waikato: A. Newell, E. ,1 White, J5. Newell, E. Young, L. HephSjF A. Wilson, V. McPherson, V. Reid, B. Bennett. Mr. R- Avery refereed. At the conclusion of the game Mr. W« P. Gage-Brown, a patron of the LsdfeaP Hockey Association, presented the silver cup to the captain of the Waikato twnn_ congratulating the visitors upon their victory, and adding that thetomnament had produced many fine and dosely eontested games, all being played in the true spirit.