HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 16 August 1934, Page 3

HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

TARANAKI TITLE TO KAPONQA I I 1 1 MANAIA BEATEN BY ONE GOAL 1 REPRESENTATIVE TEAM CHOSEN. Kaponga in defeating! Manaia by. one goaL to nil at? Hawera yesxeidaj afternoon, annexed the Taranaki mens ( hockey championship, in a. game wlncn at all stages was exciting, and might quite easily have gone the other wav. Kaponga. had .some olosie calls, but tneir defence was well nigh perfect under d!he eiifminstances and Mamaia Jost opportunities, which should have been used to better advantage. A feature of the match was the exeeLlent game played by Morgan, the Kaponga left half. His defence was sound and ms clearing shots on occasions uncannily accurate. A trip with ai touring team would do this player a world of good and give him the experience necessary to make him one of the best* players in Taranaki, and a future All Black hockey representative. He always had the measure of Duncan when they dasher, which was a frequent occurrence, and heat him for the ball on every occasion but one. Stan Betts played true to form, as did his brother, Viernj, at centre half. Paynje, the Manaia goalie, had to stop some hot shots, which he did admirably. if anything the odds were .slightly in his favour when compared with McLeod, his vis-a-vis. There were occasions when Kaponga had to play all they knew to keep 'Manaia out, bht they wcre successful m so doing, partly because Manaia did not take advantage of chances' which were absolutely presented to them. Then a«uin had the shots been sent in, it may ’have been that McLeod could have kept them out. Both sides displayed good combination, although Mauaia played almost religiously the* one way and fed ■fell© sam*© "two pXciy©i■& with the ball almost continuously. Kaponga deserved their win because their defence proved equal to the demands maw upon them. . At the conclusion of the match the cup and shield for the champion team of the province were presented to v . Betts, the captain of the Kaponga side by Mr J. Ebbett, vice president of the Taranaki Men’s Hockey Association. Kaponga have now won the Taranaki championship more times than am’ team in the province. The teams were as follow: Kaponga (black) : (McLeod. Pitehei, Noonan; Albon, V. Betts', Morgan; Marx, S. Betts, Pasooe, Belli, puff. Manaia (yellow): Payne; \Y. Budd, Davis ; Bennett; Duncan, My hi 11; L. Budd, G. Surgenor, J. Surgenor, Scanned, Hemsley. Manaia were the_ first to open up an attack, and carried the' game from the initial bully down to the Kaponga circle, Morgan, V. Betts and Noonan playing a fine defensive game. "When ultimately Kaponga cleared to the Manaia circle, penalties for sticks ruined their chances of goaling, and «’ abled Manaia to send the ball back to the Kaponga twenty-five. The blacks appeared to be over anxious and unable to settle down to the game. Play was very willing at this stage l , both sides hitting the ball hard, and begging no pardons. Kaponga were the first to score, Morgan sending a long drive down to the circle which was stopped successfully and then from a scramble Behl netted to put the blacks one up: Kaponga 1, Manaia. 0. This goal appeared to be what’ Kaponga needed to make them settle down Sn (paralest, for they charged down the field to the circle before being stopped, Stan Betts receiving a out on the cheek which held the game up for ai few minutes. On resumption Kaponga again assumed the offensive, and in spite of the fact that they were sent back to their twenty-five, the movement was only spasmodic, for they returned almost at once to the Maniaia circle wliere JP&soo© 'Sent* in hoi:- snot which Payne saved in; a wonderful manner. Returning again to the circle, a penalty corner resulted, the shot going slightly wide. Kaponga were called uDon for defensive work from the resultant bullv off, the game being taken by Duncan and Scanned to the circle, a scramble ensuing right in the mouth of the Kaponga goal. Free hits ill the Kaponga twenty-five made matters look very dangerous for the blacks, but a penalty against Manaia ga-ve them the opportunity for relief, and the game went back to half way. Attacking strongly, Kaponga were again within scoring distance, a free nit sending them back, Morgan clearing nicely well down the field. Manaia gained possession of the ball at hallway and were making a rush to the Kaponga. circle when Vern Betts el fected a save, which cleared the blacks position temporarily. _ A penalty corner had Ivaponga on their toes tor a> nunute or two, but the shot at goal went behind. From the twenty-five bully, Kaponga were able to hold their own, ,«.nd transferred the play to half-way, a ■ penalty bully being awarded in miafield, Stan Betts and Surgenor participating. The blacks then assumed control of the game and carried all before them to the circle where Belli sent in a daisy cutter, which whs well stopped by Fayne. The spell ended with no change in the score: Kaponga 1, Manaia 0- . , On resumption, Manaia opened an or-) tensive, hut were sent back by a tree hit and Marx and: Stun Betts were associated in a movement which carried the ball to the Manaia twentyfive before accidentally going out of touch. A long hit down the field went behind the line and from the tv enty five, Marx gained possession and took the ball ill a solo effort down the line to the Manaia twenty-five. Here Manaia gained possession,. and the forwards were associated in a movement which culminated in two penalty corners. From the second one a free hit to Kaponga sent the yellows hack down the field, but they were soon back, where another bracket of penalty corners resulted. Marx gained possession from the second one, and with a long hit well down the line had Manaia on the defensive. When in a. scoring position. twice Kaponga. were .penalised for “sticks.” and Manaiai were <nablcd to take the game again to x he Kaponga circle. Tire blacks were able to deal*, but two free hits against them spoiled their chances ol an advance. Ultimately they were able to get away and for the first time, tor some, minutes Manaia were really in a dangerous position. The defence was equal to the occasion, and ultimately they were able to clear, the ball ending up in front of the Kaponga circle, free hit eventuating, which had Kaponga thinking for a moment. . The blacks gained possession in the circle, and cleared effectively, the forwards taking the ball right to within striking distance before being pulled up

A quick transfer of play saw Kupouga defending, and L. Budd netted lor Manaia, the goal being disallowed for off-side play. The free hit sent Manaia back to their own territory, the blacks being sent hack by a series of free hits. Play then followed for a few minutes in the Kaponga circle, but Manaia were unable to penetrate the defence. The game ended without further score- Kaponga 1, Manaia 0. Messrs R. McKoy and J. Ebbett were the umpires. At King Edwaixl Park, Hawera. yesterday afternoon for the purposes of enabling the selectors, Messrs O. J. McFadyen and J. Ebbett to select a Taranaki men’s hockey team to go on tour a match was played between teams representing North and South Taranaki. The match resulted in a draw, one goal each, after the southern eleven had had the 1 letter of the game territorially. The game was a fast one, and provided hockey of a fairly high standard. Naturally, under the eyes of the selectors a certain amount of over-anxiousness was in evidence, but nevertheless a team ed from the material available should do well on tour.

The selectors also viewed the championship final between Kaponga and Manaia, and players from those teams were also under consideration.

Both games were also under the ooservation of Mr R.. L. C. Aitchison of Palmerston North, the examining authority for the New Zealand Hockey’ Referees’ Association, and four candidates were examined, Messrs R.. McKoy, J. Ebbett, M. Priest, and Rev,. J. A. R.yburn. The trial game provided an interest, ing problem, as there were players who were obviously up. to> representative standard combining with players who will aways he good club players and nothing more. .Three goalies* were tried out and all gave fine exhibitions which kept the scoring down considerably. On the day’s, play any one of the three tried in the triaL game as well as the two in the championship match, would do well with a touring side. Miller played a game far superior to anything he has done in club matches this season, while Bennett and Watson were well up to standard.

The teams were as follows: North: Watson; Parkinson, Barker; Hale, Page, W. Clarke; Little, Tiplady, Starling, Longstaff, Jones. , South: Bennett; Ryan, R. Clarke; Brough, Cruiekshank, Simon- Percy, McGlaislian, Fleet, Howatson, Windie. North commenced an offensive early, and assisted materially by Page hail the southerners hemmed in their twen.. ty-fivo for some minutes, Ryan, Clarke and Simon putting in some excellent defensive work .A fine clearing .-hot by Simon was taken well by McGlashan but unfortunately before he was able •to clear, the hall was played on to Parkinson, who kicked the ball forward and nullified a movement which had good prospects of resulting in a score. The ball was cleared to the southern goal once more and l again Simon’s work in saving was above par. I His ultimate clearing shot was spoiled 1 by offside play tand Page from a free hit returned the game to the south twenty-five. A hot shot v r as sent in, and in effecting a fine save, Bennett received a nasty bump on the knee. From the resultant twenty-five out, the game was quickly transferred to the northerners’ circle, a penalty for sticks bringing relief. Again the southerners made for the circle, Howatson •and Wiindle putting in (some good work, all of which was nullified by the fine saves of "Watson in the northern goal. From a long comer, south had a good opportunity to net the bad, hut once more' the defence w as equal to the occasion, and north were able to transfer the game to the other circle. At this stage Parkinson, at full-back for north, was replaced by Thompson, achange which was signalled by south scoring first blood, Howatson sending in a daisy cutter from aj penalty corner; South 1, North 0. , South had settled down to their game now’, and had the northerners *>n the defensive for some minutes. Offsideplay, however, on two occasions ruined their chances, and permitted north to clear swell down the field where play was in progress as hahtime sounded with no change in the score: South Taranaki 1. North Taranaki 0. ■ , . On resumption Miller replaced Bennett in the south goal, and Purser went inside left in place of Howatson. The southerners pursued the same tactics as they adopted in the first speb, and were quickly in the northerners’ circle. Play was briefly, returned to midfield, but a free hit sent the tamo back to the north’s twenty-five, a rusk J>y the attackers culminating over the back line. From the twenty-live out the game was transt'cired to midfield, and following a series of quick movements, the southerners were called upon for defence for the first time in the spell. A penalty corner occurred, and from the resultant shot Miller made a fine save. The game once more went to the other end 1 of the field from the ensuing bully, and again the northerners were on the defensive. A free hit just outside the north’s circle looked black as far as the defenders were concerned, but Jones was able to clear, ard the game went temporarily down to Miller. The movement was only brief, however, for R-yan cleared effectively, assisted by a free hit for “sticks” The game became more or less tame following this movement, neither side being in any material danger. The next movement of any consequence resulted in the score being evened' up, the northern forwards combining nioelv jn a rush to the circle, and after Miller, had cleared effectively once. Starling he.it him before he got back into position, to make the score: Nortli 1, South 1. The concluding stages of the match saw first one side on the point of scoring anil then the other, but no change was effected, and the game ended: South Taranaki 1, North Taranaki ltev. J. A. ltyburn and Mr M. Priest were the umpires.

Representatives Chosen NOMINATIONS FOR ALL BLACKS The selectors for the Taranaki Men’s Hooke v Association, Messrs. C. J. McFadyen and J. Ebbett, announce the following team to go on tour, 'leaving on September 4, and playing matches with Feilding, Rush, Wairarapa, Wellington and Horowhen.ua: ..... Goal: Bennett (Eltham). Full-backs: A. Ryan (Alhambra), M. Thomson (Egiuout), Morgan (Kaponga). Halves: L. P. Page (New Plymouth Wanderers, captain), N. Simon (Alhambra). Cruickshank (Hawera), V. Betts (Ivaponga), F. Hale (Stratford). Forwards: Jones (Eltham), G. Surge nor (Mnnaia), E. Fleet (Hawera), G. MoG la shan (Hawera), R. Howatson (Alhambra), Windle (Egmont), S. Hpladv (New Plymouth Wanderers). Mr E. Urry, Eltham, and Mr J. Ebbett, Stratford, will travel with the team as manager and referee respectively. Several players originally chosen' have had to decline through inability to travel. The first match wilL be against Feilding at Feilding on September 5. . The following Taranaki players have been nominated for the New Zealand hockey team to play Australia at Dunedin bn September 8: L. Page and R. , Duncan (half-backs), S, Betts (for--1 ward).