SCHOOL GIRLS’ HOCKEY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 August 1924, Page 5

SCHOOL GIRLS’ HOCKEY.

EGMONT CUP. WON BY TOKO-HUIROA COMBINED An interesting series of games were contested at Kaponga yesterday irT the first annual tournament organised by. the Taranaki Primary Schools’ B-ugby Union and Sports Association for the Egmont Cup, donated bv the committee of the Hawera Ladies’ 3rd June Hockey Tournament, for competition among ' Taranaki primary schools girls’ hockey teams. Comparatively few schools were represented, owing doubtless to the fact that the competition was only recently inaugurated. In consequence a large number of schools were unable to make the necessary preparations, and travelling arrangements also presented "difficulties which ,in many cases could) not be. overcome at such short notice. The; t interest which will ho centred in .the cup, however, should do a great deal in fostering the game in the schools, and in ensuing years the competition may be confidently expected to develop on * an extensive scale".

The cup was won by the combined Toko-Hniroa team, who 'were undefeated. Pihama, who lost a. game to the cup winners, were runners-up. Each competing team met all others, two 10 minutes’ spells being played. The possibility of games being drawn was eliminated by observing the line rule, under which, in the event of the teams being equal at full time, the. game was continued and awarded to the team first crossing the other’s goal line. The Toko-Huiroa team was composed of the following players: Jean Bocock 1 (captain). Ivy Gernhoefer, Gladys Bielwaski, Winnie Grierson, Betty Bocock, Alma Cornish (Toko). Jeaii Allen, Gertie Rogers, Pearl Wallace, MaidaWallace, and Evelyn Wilmshurst (Huiroa). Goals were scored by Ivy Gernhoefer and Jean Allen, winning’ hits in playing-off being made by Ivy Gerithoefer and Jean Bocock. For the run-ners-up, goals were scored by Grace Neilson, Eileen Nickel and Monica. Crofsky, the first-named also making a winning hit, which in this case was an actual goal. . The following gives the results of the games in the order of play (where no score is shown, the team first named secured victory under the rule already mentioned): Waitara 2 v. Stratford- 0. Toko-Huiroa 0 v. Pihama 0. Stratford 1 v. Hawera 0. Toko-Huiroa 1 v. Waitara 0. Pihama 2 v. Hawera 0. Toko-Huiroa 0 v. Stratford 0. Pihama 0 v. Waitara 0. Toko-Huiroa 1 v. Hawera 0. Pihama 1 v. Stratford 0. Waitara 1 v. Hawera 0. On the conclusion of the competition Mr S. J. Catran, a member of the Hawera Ladies’ Hockey Tournament Committee, and one of the original promoters of that tournament, presented > the Toko-Huiroa team with the cup,, which was received by Jean Bocock, the team captain. Mr Catran fittingly coiir gratulated the team on being the first holders of the cup. He explained that it had l>een donated with the object of stimulating interest in ‘ the hockey game throughout the primary schools in the province, and also that it was for annual competition and conld not be won outright. Mr Bocock (Toko) responded. On behalf of the Primary Schools’ Rugby Union and Sports Association. Mr G. Lisle expressed appreciation of the generosity of the Hawera Ladies’ Committee in donating the valuable trophy. He expressed the opinion that the committee’s aims would l>e completely realised, and that at the cup fixtures in the future the presence of many excellent teams fully representative of the provincial primary schools could he expected. The organisation of the tournament was directed bv Messrs G. Lisle (vieenresident of the union) and C. F. Stratford (secretary). Mr M. W. Priest attended to all local arrangements. Messrs Priest and J. Davison officiated as referees. A committee of local ladies, including Mesdames M. W. Priest, J. Guy, J. Davison, T. Bennie, andthe Misses E. Law and M. Evans, provided luncheon and afternoon tea for the players, the refreshments being served in the Oddfellows’ Hall.