HOCKEY

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26516, 3 September 1951, Page 10

HOCKEY

INTER ISLAND MATCH

NORTH WINS BY FOUR GOALS TO THREE

In a game that provided plenty of thrills and excitement, North Island hockey representatives beat South Island by 4 goals to 3 on Saturday. The game, which attracted some 1500 spectators, was played on the Canterbury Hockey Association's new ground at Simeon street. The area of three acres was given by Mr W. H. Williamson, a former player and president of the Canterbury Hockey Association. The playing field has been specially prepared and drained. The bulk of the work has been done voluntarily by past and present players under the direction of Mr E. S. Hobson. The field, though immature, played very well on Saturday and gave indications that when settled and seasoned it will be the finest hockey playing field in the Dominion. Stands and seating accommodation are being provided as well as dressing rooms and showers. The game on Saturday was fast and thrilling, with the northern players showing plenty of speed and dash in all their movements. There was more sting in the movements of the forwards who were better fed by the halves than were the southern forwards. J. Tynan, at centre-half, was a master both on defence and attack, and never made a mistake. In addition to Tynan, Bruce Turner and L. Cassin were quick on defence and gave the Canterbury forwards no room or time to manoeuvre. With a solid defence behind them the halves were able to concentrate on getting the bail up to the front rankers who, led by B. Tooby, were all brilliant opportunists, and their circle play had plenty of dash. W. Percival ana B. Munro were often in the limelight, and were always in position to snap up any passes or clearing shots by Maister. Both wings were fast and clever, and Englert sent over some brilliant centres. W. Schaeffer, in goal, and J. Buchan and R. Johanssen, backs, were quick on defence, but Buchan was at times inclined to be over-energetic. The South Island was beaten by lack of speed and inability to vary attacks from penalty corners. Gaining at least eight penalty corners in the second half, they failed to turn one to account, and for some unknown reason the forwards stuck to one method, which always failed, instead of varying the style. Gribble, Cassin, and Hannah started well and Boustridge put in a clever run on the left wing, but lack of punch in the circle and jockeying for position before shooting nullified otherwise brilliant play. Time and again the ball was sent across to the left, but both McGregor and Boustridge were slow to get in a shot. Hannah's play in' midfield was at times brilliant, and his two goals were the result of masterly ball control, but he was frequently beaten by Tynan. All three halves, R. Peacock (centre), K. White, and M. Louden, were good on defence, but the two wing halves were poor in their feeding of the front rankers. Neither M. Down nor Bedford was the equal of their opposite numbers, and misses' were far too frequent. Bedford played far below form shown in previous matches. In goal, G. Maister was at times magnificent, but two of North's goals came through weak clearing on his part. The teams were:— North.—W. Schaeffer, J. Buchan, R. Johanssen. B. Turner, J. Tynan, L. Cassin, H. Englert, W. Percival, B. Tooby, B. Munro, and 0. Hill. South.—G. Maister. M. Down, B. Bedford. K. White, R. Peacock, M. Louden, P. Cassin, E. Gribble. H. Hannah, G. McGregor, A. Boustridge.

THE PLAY South had the crowd on their toes with a lightning thrust. Gribble "mapped up a free hit and sent on to Hannah, who beat the Northern goalie with a quick flick. South 1, North 0. North went down for Maister to kick well up, and Cassin went away and centred smartly to Hannah, who made no mistake with the scoring shot. South 2, North 0. North settled down and forced play into South territory, and a free hit gave Tooby a chance to pass to Munro, who slammed a fast one past Maister into the net. South 2, North 1. North was now on top. and Percival came through with a pass from Turner, and went on to draw Maister out of position and gave Tooby a sitting shot. South 2, North 2. Play became more even, and with both sets of forwards putting on the pace, thrill after thrill came as the play went from wing to wing. Peacock sent Boustridge away on a long run, which gave South a penalty corner, which was well cleared. A second penalty comer was cleared by Buchan with a great effort, and Munro streaked through to bring Maister out, but Louden cut across with a great run and cleared at the last moment. The half-time was was:

South 2, North 2 North dominated the attack in the early stages of the second half. Percival and Hill were prominent in a clever passing run which tested South's defence. Bedford missed a clearing shot, and Tooby went into score easily. North 3. South 2. Cassin led the South forwards in a run which reached North’s goal-line, and from a subsequent corner, Gribble sent in a hot shot which went out off Tynan’s foot. Hannah had the crowd on its toes when he jockeyed the ball into the North circle, but Buchan intercepted and cleared to Percival, who led the North forwards in a brilliant move for Tooby to flash in and beat Maister with a high shot. North 4, South 2. South held the upper hand for a spell, but several penalty corners were cleared. McGregor and Cassin headed a clever run. and McGregor netted, but the umpire’s whistle had sounded for a break, and the goal was lost. South continued to press hard, and a penalty bully was won by Gribble to make the score: North 4. South 3. South tried hard, but in spite of clever, tenacious stick play, thev failed repeatedly to score from penalty comers, and the game ended with the score: North 4, South 3. Umpires: Messrs T. N. Pinder and C. Gutry.

QUATRE BRAS CUP

SOUTH CANTERBURY WINS FINAL South Canterbury had slightly the better of the game to beat North Otago by 3 goals to 2 in the final of the Quatre Bras Cup on Saturday. The teams were:—

North Otago.—J. Tyson. G. Maynard, D. Whittaker, J. Ross, G. Mitchell, F. Maynard, E. Sherwin, A. Oates, A, Minty, A Kilpatrick, T. Cunningham. South Canterbury.—F. Stark, W. D. Sloane, D. Marshall, L. Buchanan, J. Day, W. Annear, H. B. Miller, A. Boyd, J. Buchanan, R. Annear, C. Hughes. North Otago was the first to gain any advantage, but failed to turn two penalty corners to account, and play was quickly transferred to the other end, where Miller flashed in to beat Tyson with a quick shot. Sherwin led the North Otago forwards to give Minty a chance, but Stark kicked clear. Otago came again, and this time Minty made no mistake. Sloane and Marshall kept the South Canterbury goal clear, and Miller picked up a pass from Sloane, but Tyson came out to clear. Hughes and R. Annear went away, and Hughes sent the ball across to Miller, whb tried a shot from an acute angle, and the ball went in off Tyson’s foot. The half-time score was South Canterbury 2, North Otago 1. Early in the second spell R. Annear went off with an injury and McSkimming came on. Play was even and quickly went from end to end. South Canterbury set up a series of raids which tested the Otago defence, and finally Boyd got a good one past Tyson. North Otago received possession from the bully, and Cunningham finished off a good movement with a quick shotl North Otago held the upper hand, but South Canterbury’s defence held, and the game ended with the score: South Canterbury 3, North Otago 2. Umpires: Messrs C. H. Franklin and L. Thomas. SEMI-FINALS South Canterbury beat West Coast by 5 goals, scored by Buchanan (2), J. Annear, Miller, and Sloane, to 2, scored by Maurice, North Otago beat Ashburton by 7 goals, scored by Minty (5) and Oates (2), to 2, scored by Thompson and Robertson.

LOWER GRADES

Third A Grade. —Canterbury 2, West Coast 1.

Third B Grade.—Avon 4, West Old Boys 2.

Fourth A Grade.—Canterbury 5, Ashburton 1.

Fourth B Grade.—Hollywood 3, Selwyn 1). Sumner 5, H. 5.0.8. 3; Navy 3, Linwood Fifth B Grade —Mairehau 2, Riccarton 0. Under 16.—Canterbury 2, Ashburton 1.

WOMEN’S TOURNEY ENDS

FIRMS’ TOURNAMENT

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

The Christchurch Firms’ Recreational Association held its annual men’s five-a-side and women’s six-a-side hockey tournament at Hagley Park on Saturday. In the final of the women’s section. Lane. Walker, Rudkin 3, beat Burnsco 0. Winning team: J. Fitzgerald, N. Fleming, J, Jackson, M. McKeown, B. Seaton, and M. Glasson.

In the men's section, Hutchison Motors 3, beat Hays 0. Winning team: N. Wales. H. Le Page, M. Ott, N. McLanaghan, and B. Mills.

3, Christchurch West 0; Beckenham beat University B by default; Belfast beat University A by default; Carlton beat Training College by default. Junior B Grade.—Selwyn 4, Christchurch West 0; Tuahiwi 2, Templeton 0; Hornby beat Training College by default.

OTAGO WINS K CUP (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, September 2. Beating Eastern Southland 2-1 in the final, Otago won the K Cup at Melville Park yesterday, when the Dominion women's hockey tournament concluded. After beating Bush in a play-off in the morning, Poverty Bay beat Ashburton 3-1 in the afternoon, and took the Mills Cup. which is awarded to the winning team in -the minor section.

As a result of a play-off between Rangltikei and Canterbury, the latter team met Auckland Town in the afternoon, and was beaten «-3. Auckland retained the Holden Cup, awarded to the winning run-ner-up of section play. Play commenced at a fast pace in the main match. The Southland forwards did not reach the high standard of earlier matches, but the defence, with L. Sanson, E. Simmonds, and I. Baird prominent, tackled cleanly and gained much ground with well-directed hits. M. Lush, on the left wing, showed speed, and her centring hits were well placed. C. Middleton made some brilliant runs on Otago’s right wing, and her hard centring hits were nicked