EXPERIENCE GIVES DECISIVE MARGIN IN P.B. HOCKEY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23042, 5 September 1949, Page 4

EXPERIENCE GIVES DECISIVE MARGIN IN P.B. HOCKEY

Conditions were perfect for the series of non-competition matches played on the Gisborne grounds on Saturday under the auspicies of the Poverty Bay Hockey Association. Most interest centred round the Married v. Single match, which was really a trial between the older Poverty Bay Representatives and the most talented of the younger players. The onesided nature of the game and the obvious superiority of the older players in all departments of play create problems in replenishing, in the immediate future, the representative side which over the past three years has remained parctically intact.

The scoreboard Is: Men, Senior.—Married 8 v. Single 2; Pirates 3 v. Waituhi (B) nil.

Women, B Grade.—Kia Toa 1 v. Mahaki nil; Shamrock 1 v. Nurses 1. Married 8 v. Single 2

In the opening phases the Married men carried play to the opposing circle and Shields, the outstanding single player on the day. was called on to make some hurried relieving strokes. Tupara and Turbitt. made determined dashes along the left flank and assisted by Taylor and Harrison subjected the opposing goalie, P. Cassin, to a barrage of shots, but he was equal to the occasion and with remarkable kicking and accurate speculators kept the goal intact. Taking up the attack the Single men, with Adcroft at centre-half playing a heady game, made a sudden thrust through Lewis, who bustled his way past the backs and found the net. Single I.

Almost immediately play was carried to the Single circle where, from a penalty corner, Cassin netted with a forceful drive. Single, 1; Married, 1. > Shortly afterwards a good combined movement between 11. Underdown, M. Roderick and D. Grey placed the Single team ahead when the last-mentioned player cut between the opposing backs and pushed the ball into an open goal. Single 2. Married 1.

At this stage lire Married men began to assume control and R. Low, with his sure stickvvork, ball control and ability to find openings, became the most prominent player on the field. At lefthalf G. Cassin was solid and reliable and switched play with excellent results. Tight work began to ensue near the Single circle and from a free hit G. Cassin threw the ball through a gap for Turbitt to drive it into the net. Single 2. Married 2. In the second half the Married men were almost continuously on attack and Tupara, Turbitt, Slade, Harrison, and McLean made a well-knit forward line that cut past the opposing backs with monotonous regularity, to add four more goals in quick succession. Married G. Single 2.

From a penalty bully R. Low pushed the ball into the net to increase the Married tallv and the last goal came when A. Taylor, who had transferred from centre forward to left full-back, secured the ball in his own 25 and ran the whole length of the field, cutting out player after player to drive the ball into the net. Married 8, Single 2. Pirates 1! y. Waituhi nil For the greater part of the game Pirates team were in the attack, with Adcroft dominating the half line, B. Russell displaying prominence in the backs, and Halliwell, Monk, Grey and Sullivan being outstanding in forward play. The opening stages" saw Pirates pressing on the Waituhi goal mouth and penalty corners were conceded from which Pirates, through faulty shooting failed to gain an advantage. In open play Monk. Grey and Sullivan combined well and advanced into the circle but

M. Coleman blocked the shots at goal and relieved with hard drives. From a melee in the circle, however, the center half, N. Adcroft, thrust himself through to find the net. Pirates 1.

In the second half Waituhi were more prominent and M. Mahia and W. Tupara made some good attacking movements along the left flank. The Pirates combination was still superior, however, and ably supported by N. Adcroft, Monk and Grey went through to add two further scores. Women, B Grade

Kia Toa 1 v. Mahaki nil.—This match was very one-sided with Kia Toa holding the territorial advantage almost throughout and displaying much better combination. Mahaki relied on solo bursts, but these broke down on the sticks of J. Jones, B. Cahill and D. Freebairn. In the forwards for Kia Toa, J. McKenzie. L. Carlson and N. Hearle played well and formed most of the attack. For Mahaki, M. Halbert, H. Edwards. Q, Edwards, and J. Terekia were the pick on the day. The only goal was secured by N. Hearle. Nurses 1 v. Shamrock I.—Owing to ■the absence of their regular players, members of other teams filled in the gaps and engaged in a very friendly game. There was a decided lack of combination, most of the play being of a solo nature. The goal for Shamrock was secured by J. McAneney, and A. Lincoln scored for Nurses.