HOCKEY. INTER-ISLAND MATCH. NORTH BEATS THE SOUTH.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 51, 29 August 1904, Page 5

HOCKEY. INTER-ISLAND MATCH. NORTH BEATS THE SOUTH.

Senior hockey divided attention with juniar football on the Athletic Park om Saturday afterusen, and of gome 500 spectators only the enthusiastic admirer* of the game of the crooked stick keph tho *ttention fixed upon the contest be. ween the representatives of the North and the South Island hockey clubs. The teams failed to givo a high-class exposition of hockey. The players were verji willing to do so, and in tho main wer«i in good condition, but in combinatioi both teams were lacking. The Southerners hnd more opportunities of scoring than the Northerner, getting into th« latter's circle again and again without effect, whilst the North Island men scored neatly every timo they got within the desired zone. The surprise of the contest was the development of the Wanganui "rep." (fk a scorer. Coe had fint dashing powers, and' led irrestible rushes up the field, nursing the bail and dribbling with judgment, and hitting with unerring aim and great force when th« opportunity came. It was Coe who drovt the ball home on the three occasions which gave the North Island the victory by three goals to one. Black well, wha hit the goal for the Southern team, played a consistent game, and was always on tho ball. The contest did not call for detailed description. Tho game had proceeded for some lime along give-and-taka lines before Coe drew first blood, and immediately afterwards it looked uh if! the Southerners were going to make matters even, but Preston, who played l a safe game throughout, saved in fine stylo. Ashbolt, who captained the Northern eleven, was also a strong, resourceful, and safe defender, and a mighty .. smiter. His fellow full-back (Whyte, oi Auckland) was a weak link in the Northern chain. Shortly after the second spelt had started, Coe took the boll up th« field from tho half-way Hag, got into the cirole without assistance, and with n, fine drive hit out for the uttermost end! of the earth. The ball got into the net, and tho Northern contingent whooped? the whoop of the victorious. Blackwell worked like a Trojan at centre-forward, ably assisted by Hale and H. Jacobs, bst their efforts were nullified by another lively! trio — Coe, Smythe, and Pratt, the latter dribbling well, and Smythe playing liko a book. M'Kenzie blso put in some good' work for the North Island, and EUiot* flashed into prominence when needed. Preston survived several threatening at» tacks, Pratt lost an opportunity for his aide by neglecting to centre at a criti« cal moment, and then for another period tho ball hod a roving commission until the Southern contingent took it iuto tliffl Northern zone, and the hearts of tho South rose high when Blackwell "cot thero" with a good nnd true drive. This goal was scored within 15 minutes o£ time, and the Canterbury players, full o£ hope, again got into the camp of their Opponents, Mbhar being in the van of! attack, only to get mixed up with Ashbolt when looking most dangerous, and' by the time the two players had disentangled themselves, the ball, after being unsuccessfully shot at the net, was out o* danger. Tho men of the North rallied, and in close order drovo the ball down the field. After a brief respite, and out 08 the ruck Pratt centred to Butts, the latter passed the ball on, and in the circle "it came to Coe, who hit the final goal ol the match. North Island, 3 goals ; Soutl* Island, 1. Ford, rhe Southern skipper, played a good game, also bis associate Campbell, as well as Manor on the threequarter line. Mr. H. Bridge carried th» whistle, and had to use it frequently. The following were tho players: — Sout* Island— Goal-keeper, Stock; full-backs,, Campbell, G. Fowl; halves, Ronford, Mahar, J. Jacobs; forwards, Cnssin, Rankin, Blackwell, H. Jacobs/ and Hale North Island— -Goal-keeper, Pre*. ton; full-backs, F. Ashbolt, Whyte; halves, Woybonrne, M'Konne, Butts f forwards, Elliott, Pratt, S. Hickson, Co% and Smythe.