WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 257, 27 July 1936, Page 3

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Wellington Defeat Fiji

SMART STICKWORK Horowhenua Wins Parata Cup (By Cbitic.) Although defeated by Wellington at 'the Basin Reserve on Saturday in the presence of a little over 2000 people, the Fiji 'women’s hockey team was far from disgraced, its individual stickwork being superior to that of the home team. It was clear that the Fiji team endeavoured to emulate , the short-passing combination that was introduced so successfully to this country by the All India team, blit, due to the sticky nature of the ground and the ball playing dead, they failed. The free, easy style of the wings and inners—suppleness of .wrist, in stickwork—was one of the features of the visitors’ display, while the brilliance of Miss F. Wilson (right half), Mrs. M. Fenn (left full-back), and Miss L. Storck (goalkeeper) must have left a high public impression. The Fiji forwards did not reveal the same dash in the circle as they did in the Wanganui match, otherwise two goals might easily have gone to their credit The reason for this deterioration in their play was the disorganisation in the team caused by the inside left (Miss R. Chris) being left behind in hospital in Dunedin as the result of an accident in the South Island. Miss Chris’s absence considerably hampered the left attack, although it was evident that Mrs. L. Lee played as well as could be expected in the circumstances. Still, Miss Harman (left wing) seemed at times to be at a loss without Miss Chris, this pair holding a magnificent understanding.

The Wellington team played bright hockey to gain the verdict, but the forwards were repeatedly held up for offside and other infringements. Chief offenders in this respect appeared to be the left wing and inner, while the centreforward marred her brilliant display through breaches in her bullying. On one occasion Umpire E. L. Harris awarded Fiji a free hit after a third warning. Early exchanges slightly favoured Fiji, but the advantage gained was lost through an infringement. Wellington’s first score followed a beautiful centre from Miss Pickering, Miss Morris slamming home a high shot. Miss F. Wilson, Fiji right half, was playing an excellent spoiling game, time and again holding likely movements by Misses M. Simpson and J. Riley. Mrs. A. Smith, with a long, hard drive, enabled Miss Pickering to break through the Fiji defence, the subsequent shot at goal by Miss Morris being brilliantly cleared by Miss Storck. The goalkeeper was almost immediately called upon to clear another straight, hard drive from Miss Morris, and in doing so skied the ball, which fell on the net, rolling behind, nothing coming of the subsequent corner. Wellington were now persistently on the attack. A nice break through by Miss J. Riley, left wing, looked likely, but she was erratic with her shot. The next movement of interest was initiated by Miss O. Foreman, Fiji centre half, who seut the speedy right wing, Miss E. Raffles, away. Taking the ball clean through the Wellington defence, she missed a chance through an infringement. Miss Raffles again became prominent with a smart run down the right, but Miss Sutherland was not there for the centre. Miss Storck, giving a high-class exhibition of goalkeeping, kicked clear a low shot from Miss Morris, which was shortly followed by a brilliant clearance from Miss McLellan. Miss Harman, left wing, placed Fiji in a good scoring position, and bulbar the timely intervention of Mrs. Smith might have equalised the score. Shortly before half-time Miss McLellan became conspicuous for a splendid solo effort, but found Mrs. Fenn safe.

Tame exchanges predominated in the early stages of the second spell. Obstruction by Wellington saw Fiji awarded a penalty corner, but nothing came of it. The visitors kept up the offensive, and Miss Errey shot from close in. Miss Cheyne kicking behind. The Fiji team as a whole was now playing much brighter hockey, and the halves were making nice openings for the forwards. Miss Wilson in particular shining in this respect. Wellington’s second goal came after about 15 minutes of play. Miss Morris netting from a goal scramble. Wellington’s defence, particularly Mrs. Smith, was playing soundly, and the Fiji forwards were finding great difficulty in pentrating. A brilliant solo effort by Miss Sutherland looked i likely, but just when the Fiji centre-forward had reached the circle Mrs. Smith stepped into the breach and saved an awkward situation. At the other end pretty combined play between Misses Pickering, McLellan and Morris enabled the last-named to beat Miss Storck with a rising, hard shot. Wellington’s fourth goal came from a half-way solo effort by Miss Pickering, -who drove in. a glancing ground shot that caught Miss Storck at the wrong end of the goal. Fiji were attacking at the call of time, the final score being Wellington 4, Fiji Messrs. E. L. Harris and J. C. Cusack were the umpires. The teams were:— Wellington (yellow and black ): Miss E. Chevne; Mrs. A. Smith. Miss S. Closs; Misses T. Monk. M. Clarke, W. McTigue; Misses I. Pickering, H._ McLellan, 11. Morris, M. Simpson, J. Riley. Fiji (black and white) : Miss L. Storck; Mrs. M. Bentley. Mrs. M. Fenn;

Misses F. Wilson, O. Foreman, S. Molloy; E Raffles, M. Errey. L. Sutherland, Mrs, L. Lee, Miss J. Harman. CURTALNJIAISER Horowhenua’s Parata Cup The curtain-raiser to the main match was provided by Wellington B and Horowhenua iu the initial contest for the Baker Parata Memorial, Cup. The match developed into a fine contest ot hard hitting, with Horowhenua always the superior of Wellington, and the success of the visiting team was thoroughly deserved. , , , , , The first goal of the match went to Horowhenua, Mrs. L. Seal netting from a goal scramble. Wellington made desperate efforts to equalise, but Miss R. Hawea (Horowhenua full-back) was safe. Wellington indulged in some combined efforts, but the tackling of the visitors was too keen to permit of the local forwards becoming dangerous. ’‘Horowhenua led by 1 goal to nil at the spell. Shortly after resumption, Wellington set up a hot attack. Mrs. D. Cleverley equalising from close in. This spurred Horowhenua to greater efforts, and from the bully-off the visiting forwards went clean through the Wellington defence for Mrs. Seal to score her second goal. Fast, keen exchanges followed, when, from another bright Horowhenua movement, Miss N. Spiers netted, giving her team a two-goal lead. The final score of the match was made by Miss W. Budge, who beat Miss Neilson with a pretty low drive. Horowhenua winning the cup by 4 goals to 1. Messrs. R. J. Lloyd and H. Tahiwi were the umpires.

The teams were :— Horowhenua. —Miss I. Winiata; Miss |R. Hawea. S. Te Hiwi: Miss B. Johnson, Mrs. N. Caldwell. Miss D. Ropata; Misses W. Budge. B. Hakaraia. Mrs. L. Seal (captain), Misses N. Spiers, T. Bevan. Wellington.—Miss E. Neilson; Misses E. To Hiko, E. Mclndoe; Misses F. Mitchell. Jean Mack, P. O’Donnell: Misses N. Campbell. Janet Mack, Mrs. D. Cleverley, Misses A. Walker, M. Nelligan. DINNER TO VISITORS Mr. J. C. Cusack, president of the Wellington Women’s Hockey Association, presided atj a dinner tended to both visiting teams ip the evening. In welcoming the Fiji team, Mr. Cusack expressed the great pleasure it gave them to have such a fine lot of girls, and congratulated the team on their splendid game that afternoon. Mr. Cusack also welcomed the Horowhenua team and presented the captain with the Baker Parata Memorial Cup. Mrs. L. Seal, captain of the Horowhenua team, accepted the cup amid applause. Mrs Harvie, manager of the Fiji team, replying to the welcome, spoke very kindly of the hospitality of the Wellington people and praised the Wellington team on its success. “I wish to state that the ground we played on this afternoon is the best we have so far had on the tour,” said Mrs. Harvie, who also congratulated both umpires, Messrs. E. L. Harris and J. C. Cusack, for their splendid umpiring that afternoon. Miss L. Sutherland, captain of Fiji team, spoke of how highly her team had enjoyed the game that afternoon, and as a momento of the match presented the Wellington captain, Mrs. A. Smith, with a brooch with the name Fiji engraved in silver. Mrs. Smith thanked the visitors for their thoughtfulness. Mr. J. Gillespie, president of the Horowhenua Women's Hockey Association, congratulated the Wellington and Horowhenua teams for the keen, interesting match provided as a curtain-raiser. Mr. R. Adams, senior selector and manager of the Wellington A team, replied. Mr. T. Parata (Waikanae), on behalf of the Parata family, extended hearty congratulations to the donor of the cup, who was not present. Prior to returning home, the Maori members of the Horowhenua team entertained the Fiji visitors with Maori action songs, etc. The Fiji team was entertained at a dance in the evening, and last night, spent au enjoyable time with, the Wellington team at their hotel. The Fiji team will leave for Gisborne by the Napier express this morning, accompanied by the organiser of the tour, Mr. L. Butcher,