P.B. HAD BIG SHARE OF ATTACK IN REP. HOCKEY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22730, 31 August 1948, Page 2

P.B. HAD BIG SHARE OF ATTACK IN REP. HOCKEY

[(S.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 30. A drastic and disappointing lapse in form by both teams was the main feature of Poverty Bay’s unsuccesiul bid against Wellington for the New Zealand Hockey Challenge Shield at Wellington on ' Saturday. Wellington retained the shield by winning, 2-0. With both teams playing far below their capabilities, the game was a sorry spectacle for representative hockey. Conditions could not be blamed because the ground was one of the best .of the season and the day was dry and 'bracing. If anything. Poverty Bay played the better hockey, forcing Wellington to . spend a large part of the game in their own half making a muddling sort of defence. The Bay, however, were unable to exploit the advantage and failed to score. Wellington seemed unable to hit anything well. Shots were constantly being missed, marred or poorly placed, very often being tapped right to the stick of an opponent. Score in Two Minutes

The first goal was scored after barely two minutes play and the ether right on the final whistle. Wellington moved out smartly at the start and the right-wing, I. Laurenson, after being out of position, moved swiftly and centered to I. Ting, who scored. They lapsed badly from then on, but the Bay were not equal to the occasion and, although they had Wellington bottled-up, they did not score, missing some excellent opportunities. One swift attacking rush, which looked sure to yield the Bay a goal, was spoilt when a shot by R-.derick failed to go home. Taylor missed a chance shortly after. ■ . When Wellington looked like being Well on the way to scoring. Laurenson failed to centre by completely missing the ball. Wellington had a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Opportunities Lost

p, Play was still patchy in the early Stages of the second half rnd b< th teams failed to score from some good opportunities. What looked like a “sitter” for the visitors misfired badly when the ball was enthusiastically lifted well over the goal and nearly cut of the ground. ’ One of the few bright moments in the game was a dashing solo run by the Wellington centre-half, H. Lawry, who, when his team was being hustied about their own goal, snapped up the ball and tor e away, breaking up the Poverty Bay attack. G. Coates, the goalkeeper, made an excellent save earlier in the same attack. Wellington’s other goal came right on time when J. Tynan sent the ball to R. Johannson, who found the goal to give Wellington a 2-0 win. . There was no one in the Poverty Bay team who was particularly impressive. They appeared to be puzzled on the ruling of free hits, and were scooping the ball rather than hitting it. For Wellington, Lawry and Tynan played a- good garife. ‘Although the personnel was the same, neither team was a shade of the one which played the Australians and the standard would. have been doubtful even in most ordinary club hockey. It was particularly disappointing considering a coveted trophy was at stake.