WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEST

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 35, 10 August 1936, Page 17

WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEST

?AfTRACTIVE DJSPLAY

FIJIANS IMPROVE

A greatly-irriproved standard of play ] was shown by the touring Fijian! women's hockey team when it met the New Zealand representatives in the: only Test match at the tour, at the Basin Reserve on Saturday. Through- j J out the game, which resulted in a vieItory for New Zealand by 4 goals to1 I nil, the Fijiansput up a spirited exhibition, which was a great improvement upon the team's performance against Wellington two weeks previously. . | As usual, the. Fijian side was clad in shorts and white blouses, the New Zealand team appearing in black gymdresses with long black stockings. The: weather was fine, but a keen wind was blowing. However, there was a failattendance of spectators. Her Excel-: lency Xady Galway, pa.tron of the j New Zealand Women's' Hockey Association, was' an interested spectator,, and the members of the teams were presented to her before the commencement of the game. New Zealand played a forceful, at-i tacking game, and had the advantage most of the time, but the excellent work of Mrs: Ferin; Fijian full-back, who gave the most brilliant display of the day, prevented many promising movements from resulting in goals. New Zealand possessed a fast line of . forwards, who combined more successfully than their opponents, but they took some time to settle down, and during-the-first half of the match let many, .chances slip through hasty shootr ing and erratic passing. Towards the. end-of the. game, however, .the team settled down well, and their successful tactics resulted in. three goals scored in quick succession, The teams were:— Fiji.—Miss L. Storck; Mrs. Fenn, I Misses A. Eastgate; F. Wilson, O. Foreman, S. Molloy; .Mrs. .Bentley, Misses M. Eastgate, L. Sutherland, M. Errey, and E. Raffles. ! New Zealand.—Misses A. Meech; A. McDonald;-W.'Woolley; A. Mackie, M. Sarison, M. CrUdsell; I. Eibkering, M. McKenzie,; Mrs:- A.' Reid, Misses •M. Sherriff and M. Cotter. ■ The Fiji team showed the advantage of combination in the opening stages of the match, and the New Zealanders took some;time to settle down. The: Fijj! forwards pressed.for an advantage on several occasions, but as the New Zealand line settled down the advant- : age went the other way. The first dan-' gerous movement t came from a good run-by Miss McKenzie, "who went down the right wing and put a good centre across. Mrs. Reid took the ball well, but was close pressed and had to shoot-.quickly. The ,ball went over just outside the post. The first score was a lucky one, Miss Sherriff sending in an easy shot from just inside the circle. Miss,Storck moved-to intercept it, but hesitated, probably because she considered it was from outside the circle,: and the ball went over. New Zealand 1 Fiji ........v. 0 Play was fairly even until half-time-was called. The New Zealand forwards were combining well when the second spell commenced, but. the Fiji backs were hard; to pass, Mrs, Fenn being particularly safe. Play; continued for some time before either side got into scoring position. Two corners against Fiji gave Mrs. Reid opportunities, but her shooting was slightly to the left. Then Miss. McKenzie' had a good shot at goal, but Mrs. Ferin made a great save. The New Zealanders returned, however, and a scramble before the goal enabled Miss Sherriff ,to scoop the ball in- •-, ■•:;..-'■■.-" . New.Zealand 2 Fiji .-. 0 Miss Raffles got away from the bully but the ball was sent to the other end, where Mrs. Reid secured, beat the defence, and scored with a good shot. New Zealand ...... 3 : Fiji •^i... oJ _ From the bully the ball went to Miss McKenzie, who had a clear run, and scored with a good cross-shot. New Zealand ......;.,. 4 Fiji •• - 0 Mrs. Bentley. got her forward line away, but the New Zealand defence held, and the ball went to Miss McKenzie again. She went right through but kicked the ball near the circle A free-hit near the circle let Miss McKenzie. through. Miss A. Eastgate cleared- and gave "sticks," and Miss GudseU.sent in a-hard shot from the corner. Mrs.-Fenn saved by jumping, and play went to midfield. Fiji were kept penned in their twenty-five for some time, and conceded several corners. The final score was:— New Zealand ... 4 .F«i ■■*.= :::::::: o