OTAGO V. CANTERBURY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 30, 4 August 1925, Page 9

OTAGO V. CANTERBURY

The meeting of Otago and Canterbury demonstrated that it is possible to play hard, fast, and open hockey on a greasy ground. Both teams played really well under the conditions. Play was very keen arid tho pace was a "cracker" from beginning to end; in fact Bo fast in the opening stages that it was considered it could not be maintained to the end. But it was, and the game was not lacking in interest at any stage. Canterbury did not field their best team, and one or two of the players were not in their usual positions. Consequently their combination was somewhat disorganised. The Otago men had a very fine- forward line, and the team's performance on the whole was excellent. Following were the teams,:— . Otago (navy blue): Goal, W. Davies; full-backs, L. Ireland and V. Flett; halfbacks, R. Butler, H. Gurr, R. Leonard (captain); forwards, L. Smith, W. Bridgmeu, A. Hinton, D. Woodfield, C. Mayslon. Canterbury (black and red): Goal, H. 'Snooks; full-backs, W. Skelton and M'Donald ; half-backs, B. Hore, D. Ward, P. Hill; forwards, H. Ford, 8. G. Holland (captain), S. Bell, C, Holland, H. Edgington. Both teams quickly settled down to the game, and the ball travelled fast up and down field. Otago had the advan- , tage of the wind and rain behind them. • A determined forward rush by the Blues aaw Canterbury concede a corner. From the resulting hit in, Otago put the ball into the net, but no goal was allowed owing to an infringement of tho rules. Hinton got well away, and brought Otago into a good scoring position, but he was not quick enough when he reached tho Canterbury twenty-five, and a first-class opportunity of goaling was lost. M'Donald was doing good work for Canterbury, and time and again he stemmed the persistent rushes of the Otago vanguard. Otago were having the best of it and they had the Reds in some tight corners. After a spell of hard play in the Canterbury twenty-fivo, Otago scored, Mayston securing and banging tho ball jjito the net with a shot that gave Snooks very little chance of effecting a save. Otago -I, Canterbury 0. Canterbury worked themselves into some promising positions, but they were unable to score before half-time. Early in the second half, Canterbury got to work and dashing play, in which the Holland' .Brothers and JJell wore prominent, saw tho Otagu goal in danger. Canterbury were knocking at the door for lcmg periods on end, but something seemed to go wrong at the critical moment, and tho goal was missed. Ford made no mistake a .little later, however, and Kent the ball flying into the net,, bringing the scores equal. Otago 1, Canterbury 1. Canterbury had had the better of the spell, but towards the end Olago onrie to light vvilli a scries of sweeping attacks, and Canterbury were defending all they know. M'Donald, in order to siivo his goal conceded a corner, and from tho hit in, Woodfield placed another goal for Otago. Time was called shortly afterwards, tho game thus ending:— Otago 2, Canterbury. 1. Mr. Scott and Mr. B. Ginger were the referees.,