HOCKEY TOURNEY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 237, 3 September 1927, Page 10

HOCKEY TOURNEY

YZSTERDAY’S GAMES. GROUNDS IMPROVE. The grounds at the High School Were considerably drier yesterday afternoon for the continuance of the ladies’ hockey tournament than they had been in the morning. The sun shone brightly all the afternoon and this helped matters considerably, especially at the Sportsground, it being hard to realise the area was a lake on Wednesday afternoon. Auckland, who had been well beateu by Otago on Wednesday, sprang a surprise by getting the better of Feilding after an even game. The other results were more or less anticipated. Details of the play follow. SECTION A. CANTERBURY BEAT MANAWATU B Canterbury were the first to show up, the home side retreating to their own line. A forward rush, however, soon put them in a better position as they managed fo take play to half-way where it stayed for some time, till Miss Jorgenson led a strong Canterbury attack which culminated in Miss Mullichamp goaling. The greens tried to even the scores, but Miss Watt was instrumental in the southerners working loose. A nice centring pass from Miss Dickson enabled Miss Mullichamp to increase their lead to two. They continued hammering away till Miss Morgan set up a strong Manawatu attack which was halted by a breach. From the resultant penalty Canterbury worked downfield for Miss Bowden to shoot a third goal. Miss Blackbourn (Manawatu) unfortunately came out of goal shortly after this and Miss Bowden netted a fourth point. Canterbury maintained the pressure but the green defence proved sound enough for them to avert any further score before half-time. Manajvatu, in the second spell attacked from the bully, but the southerners worked down to their opponents’ territory where they remained till Miss Tanner led the greens back to halfway. Up and down play ensued without any great advantage accruing to either side, though Centerbury maintained a slight ascendancy, till a run by Miss. Dickson forced Manawatu to concede a corner from which Miss Mullichamp goaled. The westering sun was rendering it hard for Canterbury to score, as it shone in their eyes while shooting; nevertheless, Miss Ellesmore managed to score their sixth goal. The game ended soon after. Canterbury 6, Manawatu B 0. Messrs Stead and Sim refereed.

RUAHINE A BEAT TARANAKI. On the better of the High School grounds Ruahine A played Taranaki. Within a tew moments of the start Mrs Hoppi (centre half) goaled for Ruahine. The play was fast, ranging up and down field. Taranaki were hard pressed and the ’keeper and fullbacks only prevented a second score by dint of strenuous, able defending. But the Ruahine team was not to be denied and with the spell not more than half through a centre from Mrs Hoppi allowed Miss T. McDowell, the left winger, to goal. Taranaki livened up, and, the Ruahine right back losing her stick, Miss N. Hedges (inside left) followed through to net. Miss B. Watkins (centre-lorward) had been mainly responsible for the taking up of the ball on this occasion'. The score at half time was unaltered: — Ruahine A 2, Taranaki 1. After resumption there was a spell of up and down play characterised by much hard hitting, but little concerted action. The Taranaki goal-keeper (Miss L. Johnson) had a leg twisted and was replaced by Miss J. Ward. A cross from a corner of the circle a short time afterwards let Miss T. McDowell enhance Ruahine’s score with a flying shot. The succeeding fifteen minutes’ play was very ordinary, Ruahine having a slight advantage. Misses D. Foreman (centre-forward) and T. McDowell each had a shot, but sent the ball over the goal. Taranaki were doing little attacking. Miss V. Redfern was substituted lor Miss D. Foreman, who received a nasty knock on the forehead. A brilliant solo effort ended in Miss R. McDowell goaling, and just before time Miss V. Redfern drove home a good one. The final score was: Ruahine A 5 Taranaki 1. Messrs W. W. Scott and W. Fanthorpe refereed. B SECTION. SOUTHLAND BEAT WELLINGTON. On the better of the two High School grounds Southland and Wellington fought a hard game, in which the ladies from the far south outclassed those of the capital city, winning by a comfortable margin. Wellington made the initial attack and for some time were hammering at Southland’s goal, till at length the superiority of the Southland, forwards enabled them to clear the position, and for the major portion of the first half keep Wellington on the defensive. It appeared that, from a scramble in the circle, Miss W. Clark, Southland’s inside right, goaled by sending the ball right througn the net, but the referees did not award a goal. More even play followed. The ball was sent to Miss K. Hunt, who made a splendid run down the right wing and centred beautifully, Miss Winsloe finishing off a fine movement. A Wellington assault broke down in the circle before Southland returned to the attack and Miss McIntyre scored from a scramble. Southland were 2—o at half-time.

Very speedy play was seen in the second half, with Wellington valiantly trying to open their scoring account. The sides shared fairly evenly in the attacks, but hard hitting, combination and accurate passing proved useless. A Southland girl (Miss R. Burt) was Btruck hard on the head by the ball and rendered unfit for play for some minutes. Miss S. Swinburne, a speedy Wellington' wiDger, played a great game, making, a lot of openings that her supporters could not successfully utilise. Miss J. Harper 1 (Wellington; Blissed an open goal, sending the ball about a foot wide, butc Miss Swinburne goaled with an excellent high shot during the portion of the second half in which the teams were on even terms. Towards the finish the Southlanders were wearing the Wellingtonians down. Misses Mclntyre and Winsloe each scored again (or Southland, whereas the opposition failed to add to its one goal. The final score was: Southland 4, Wellington 1. Messrs . H. D. Milne and J. Herdsman refereed. 1 SECTION 0. AUCKLAND BEAT FEILDING. Feilding were the first to attack, but though they forced the northern team to concede a corner they could not keep them there and Miss R. Black took the scene of play to Feilding’s circle. The northerners also were unable to remain there and Feilding pressed strongly to score a goal, it being disallowed as Miss Pengelly was offside.

They maintained the pressure) for some time without being able to score, Auckland eventually relieving and attacking in their turn. Bad luck, however, dogged the northern players and they were unable to score. After some- ten minutes Feilding took a share of the game for a time, only to see their opponents make a sudden rally which was followed by Miss Lowe scoring. They kept on the offensive for some time, Feilding playing With their backs to the wall and conceding several corners. Poor shooting was the northern team’s trouble and at length' Feilding w’orked loose and attacked in their turn, a mistake by Miss Dawson nearly giving Feilding a goal, but the half-time bell sounded with no alteration in the score.

Auckland attacked strongly on resumption, but a shot went astray and Feilding took play to midfield where it hovered for some time. The northern players then w'ere forced back to their own goal line. At this juncture a few minutes were taken off when Miss Black, of Auckland, was hit on the head. Following this Feilding made determined efforts to square the game, but though they were pressing for the greater part of the second spell they were doomed not to score. Miss Worsfold made one very good attempt which Miss Twiname nullified. The closing stages saw Auckland resume the ascendancy, Miss Lowe scoring again for them to win by the following margin:— Auckland 2; Feilding 0. Messrs Sim and King refereed. OTAGO BEAT RUAHINE B. No. 2 playing area at the Sportsground was the venue for the OtagoRuahine B match. The Otago ladies had an easy victory. From the start Otago pressed, and the pressure was maintained throughout the first spell, excepting when Ruahine B made one of their occasional rallies. Otago found only one of the rival rushes in the first half really dangerous, and that was the one from which Ruahine’s first goal came as a result of a mud scramble. Offside play in the first spell spoilt Otago’s chances of a bigger score. Up to half-time Mrs Purvis had scored thrice and Miss Cormack once for Otago, and M. Gunderson had netted for Ruahine. The second spell was evenly contested. ■ The Ruahine left winger made all the play for her inside forwards, but erratic shooting annulled her side’s chances of scoring. The Ruahine custodian tended to slowness, though that team’s backs were good. Offside play by both sides was very marked in this spell, in which Misses V. Cormack and L. Gray, and Mrs Purvis each goaled once for Otago, while Miss F. Rendle (captain) netted for Ruahine B. The scores at the end of the game were:— Otago 7; Ruahine B 2. Messrs Wilson and Blackbourn refereed.

The following players will represent Palmerston North schools v. Wellington for the Cliffe Shield on 7tli inst.— Goal, D. Buick (Central): backs,, G. Wackrow, V. Smith (West End) ; halves, G. McMinn (Central), I. Thompson (West End), Moxon (Central) ; forwards, G. Robertson (West End), Peck (Central), H. Apatan (Central), H. Christensen (West End), Morgan (Central), F. Owen (West End). Practices will be held on the Sportsground next Monday and Tuesday at 3 p.m. All players must attend.