N.Z. WIN TEST.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 September 1934, Page 6

N.Z. WIN TEST.

AUSTRALIA BEATEN BY FIVE GOALS TO THREE. INCESSANT RAIN FALLS THROUGHOUT MATCH (By Telegraph—Press Association). DUNEDIN, Last Night. Heavy rain did much to mar the hockey Test match between Australia and New Zealand on Saturday, falling without cessation throughout the game and making the ground very slippery. Despite the conditions, a crowd of about 5000 witnessed an exciting display, the game being won by New Zealand by five goals to three. The first spell and half of the second provided good though not specially brilliant hockey, but the final stages of the game made up for any dull moments in the earlier part, goals coming quickly. At the commencement Australia appeared the stronger team, but as the game wore on, New Zealand became more quickly accustomed to the conditions and showed more thrust and slightly better combination. Early# in the game the New Zealand forwards took the ball through for Watts to score, and before long the same player again found the net, both times beating the defence cleverly. For the remainder of the spell the game fluctuated from one end to the other, but excellent defence by both sets of backs rendered the efforts of the forwards useless. In the first half of the second sped Ih teams were struggling against the conditions and good defence. For Australia the left full-back, Rotlnvell, saved cleverly time and again, and was the better of the pair, though Elliott also showed good form. Of the New Zealand backs Ewan was slightly the bettor. About half-w'ay through the spell Haytor opened the scoring for Australia, and in the succeeding five minutes no fewer than four goals were scored. Immediately after Australia's score, the New Zealand team forced the pace to beat the visitors ’ defence easily. Wellbourne scored an excellent goal and within a minute New r Zealand had returned for Watts to secure his third goal. Australia also showmd a decided improvement at this stage and the forwards swept through twice in rapid succession for Allen to score on each occasion, making the score 4-3 in favour of New Zealand. For a time there was little incident of note, Australia doing their best to score an equalising goal, and New' Zealand defending stubbornly. Eventually New Zealand wore down the defence and Betts went through to put his side two goals ahead, time being called a few minutes later with Australia threatening the Ncw t Zealand goal.

WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT WON BY EASTERN SOUTHLAND A. CLOSELY-CONTESTED GAME CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The final' match of the New Zealand women’s hockey tournament was played on Saturday as a curtain-raiser to the inter-provincial football match between Canterbury and Wairarapa. Eastern Southland A beat Marlborough in a closely-contested and keen game by 3 goals to 1. The weather was ideal and the ground in perfect order. Eastern scored in a movement originating from the first bully after a short scramble in the Marlborough circle, M. iSherrlff netted with a backhand shot. Play was even for a long term, with either side attacking in turn. Eastern had a penalty corner, from which R. Drake cleared for Marlborough, but M. Nicol and M. White came back and a neat centre gave H. Reid an opportunity to net with a simple shot. Half-time came with the score: Eastern 2, Marlborough 0. Eastern attacked at once after the interval. Their first attack was arrested through offside pi'ay, but Eastern came again and K. Bond scored with a shot into the top of the net. — Eastern 3, Marlborough 0. Marlborough’s goal came from a smart centre by B. Mills in Eastern’s 25. Her shot went hard across the field to G. Woolley, who went in and netted from Marlborough’s right. Marlborough was defending for most of the remainder of the play. The final score was: Eastern Southland 3, Marlborough 1.