SCHOOL HOCKEY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 188, 14 July 1925, Page 8

SCHOOL HOCKEY

THE BENNETT CUP. DANNEVIRKE AND PALMERSTON NORTH SCHOOLS. On Saturday afternoon a team of hockey players representing the Palmeryton North Girls' High School travelled to Dannevirke to play their animal home-and-home game with a team from the Dannevirke High School for the Bennett Cup. This is the fourth year of competition for, this cup, and for three years the cup has been held by Palmerston North. The scoring during that time lias been unique as all the games played in Palmefs'ton North have been drawn, while those played locally have been won by Palmerston North by the narrow margin of one goal (says the Dannevirke News). The conditions to decide the holders for the year .stipulate that the cup is to go to the team scoring the greater number of goals in the two matches. Saturday’s match places the local girls in a strong position as their opponents will require to defeat them by a margin of four goals to retain the cup. Dannevirke won the toss and elected to play with the sun at their backs and with a slight advantage of downhill which the ground gave. Within two minutes of starting, the visitors soon placed the local girls on the defensive and narrowly missed scoring. This livened up the local girls who, chiefly through the agency of T. French, soon made an attack on the visitors’ goal, but the custodian proved herself safe by clearing splendidly. Dannevirke still kept up a hot attack hut the visiting goal-keeper (V. Blackburn) again saved splendidly. For some minutes the visitors were kept penned in their own twenty-five, and only the solid work of the full-backs and goalie prevented a score coming sooner than it did. Dannevirke still kept up a solid attack, R. Newling being conspicuous, and soon their efforts were rewarded by a goal scored by M. Ruby from a fine centre from her right wing. Palmerston North now took a turn and through the splendid efforts of J,. Fergusson and A. Vareoe hotly attacked and only a splendid save by Kura (goalkeeper) prevented even scoring. Dannevirke were, not long in taking play downfield and after a piece of pretty play I). McKinnon shot a splendid goal. The first spell ended shortly after this with the local team with a two goals to nil lead. On resuming Palmerston North played with more dash and throughout more than held their own, although tillable to score. L. Fergusson and A. Vareoe were now playing splendidly and through their combined efforts took the ball into the circle and only hard luck prevented a goal. For the rest of the game play was up and down the field, first one. side attacking and then th’e other. During one,of the Dannevirke attacks, the ball came out to J. Voss, who smartly took the ball to the edge of the circle and shot a splendid goal. Palmerston North were now playing more vigorous hockey, F. Tanner, in the hacks, being particularly good in supporting her forwards, who, however, were not showing up to advantage in the circle as they missed one or two chances to score. No further score was made and the game ended with the local team winners by three goals to nil. For the losers, the full-backs played well, while the goalkeeper (V. Blackburn) played pluckily throughout a hard-fought game. The outstanding half-back on the ground was F. Tanner, but she -was not supported sufficiently by her other halves. Of the forwards both L. Fergusson and A. Vareoe were outstanding and nut in a tremendous amount of solid work. The visitors were afterwards entertained at afternoon tea by the local team.