MANAWATU EXTEND SECTION LEADERS IN HOCKEY TOURNEY

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7321, 3 September 1930, Page 8

MANAWATU EXTEND SECTION LEADERS IN HOCKEY TOURNEY

Wellington Still Unbeaten

BIGHT GOALS SCORED BY ONE FORWARD

Per Press Association,

INVERCARGILL, Last Night,

The New Zealand ladies’ hockey championship for the Iv cup was advanced a further stage this afternoon.

The games were played at the Showgrounds owing to the greasy state of Queen’s park and it proved a movo in the right direction. Though a little on the heavy side the Showgrounds provided the players with excellent turf

and the general standard of play improved in consequence. The weather was favourable and over 500 were treated to some sparkling exhibitions of hockey.

Wellington representatives with 0 points aro leading in A section and there seems little doubt but that they will play in the iinal for the cup. B section at present stands in an intecsting position. Though Eastern Southland A arc ahead of both Southland A and Otago by two points, there is at present no certainty that they will emerge victorious in this section. Manawatu°fully extended them in to-day’s game. Should Eastern Southland A be defeated by Otago then Southland A, Eastern Southland A and Otago will be level.

The results of to-day’s play were:— Section A:-Southland B 5 beat Eastern Southland B 2, Wellington 8 beat North Otago 0, West Coast 2 drew with Rotorua 2.

Section B: Southland A 9 beat South Canterbury 0, Eastern Southland A 4 beat Manawatu 0, Otago 7 beat Wairarapa 1. The championship points for the K cup arc as follow: A section: Wellington G, West Coast 3, North Otago 3, Southland B 2, Eastern Southland B 2, Rotorua 1. B section: Eastern Southland A 6, Southland A 4, Otago 4, Wairarapa 2, Manawatu 2, South Canterbury 0.

The Story of the Play

Per Press Association.

INVERCARGILL, Last Night

Following Eastern Southland A’s defeat of Southland A, the K. Cup holders, on Monday the fortunes of the Eastern team aro being followed with considerable interest. Should the eleven sustain a defeat Southland A, assuming they win their matches in the meantime, would again be in the running in the B section.

A large crowd witnessed the struggle between Eastern Southland A and Manawatu and although Eastern ultimately emerged victorious by 4 goals to nil there was not the difference in tho relative merits of the teams that the score might indicate. The first spell which ended in favour of Eastern by one goal to nil was strenuously contested and both elevens were evenly matched. The aggressive Eastern forwards embarked upon many dangerous movements, but the sound defensive work of the Manawatu halves and full backs frustrated the quintet again and again. In the sgcond spell Manawatu attacked desperately and had hard luck in not being able to find the net. They gave the Eastern rearguard little rest but in the last quarter of an hour the Eastern forwards proved irresistible and netted thrice in close succession. A feature of the game was the sterliing display given by tho Manawatu

goalie, S. Parker' and tlic full-backs, R. Kawea and M. Scott. Southland A both foro and aft were the better eleven in their match with South Canterbury who went down in defeat by 9 goals to nil. After their somowhat disappointing display against Eastern Southland tho maroon vanguard struck top form and with cleverly combined movements frequently harassed their opponents. The Southland halves also strongly supported their forwards and were always reliable and safe. M. Clark and M. McIntyre both infused more life into their play, tho last-named player being responsible for eight of tho nine goals netted. She was always aggressive and but for the sound defensive play of V. .Guthrie and R. Woodley, the South Canterbury full-backs, her tally would have been considerably larger. Though decisively defeated South Canterbury strove determinedly against an eleven undoubtedly superior in all departments and the.northerners must bo congratulated on their plucky fight. Improved standard of play was the feature of the gave between Southland B and Eastern Southland B. Both Southland and Eastern combining well under better conditions. Southland were a trifle slow to find their legs in the first spoil and were two goals down at one stage, but in the second spell they moved with much better cohesion and had-no difficulty in defeating Eastern, who though a very young side shaped very well and were little behind Southland in the matter of combined work but lacked strength in defence. North Otago’s good showing against Southland B on Monday indicated that they would give Wellington a hard game, but this did not prove to bo the case, tho city team running out winners by 8 goals to nil. Although North Otago defended pluckily and occasionally attacked they were not in the same class as the Wellington girls whose combination, pace and' effective shooting were such that they must be given a great chance of returning with the cup. It was not a particularly interesting game to watch, although the understanding and backing up of the Wellington girls was refreshing. The scorers for Wellington were Misses Foreman (4), Wilkins (3) and Gleeson. Rotorua after leading two-nil for the greater part of the game had to be content with a draw, for West Coast finished strongly and came close to running out winners. It almost looked as if the Rotorua team decided to r-e-st on their laurels for until Coast’s rally in the last quarter of an hour victory to Rotorua seemed assured. Tho game however is never lost till it is won and vice versa, as Rotorua found. Goals were scored for Rotorua by Misses Gray and Rogers and for Coast by by Misses Stapleton and Summer. Mis-s E. Mitchell played an outstanding game at full-back for Rotorua. Otago showed outstanding form in defeating Wairarapa so decisively and on to-day’s play the dark blues promise to be a hard team to beat. They were suited .by the better ground conditions and displayed pace, cleverness and solidity. Their combined work was a treat to watch. Wairarapa fought a losing game valiantly and deserve praise for their grand defence against big odds. Miss F. Booth, one of the Wairarapa full-backs gave a great display in her position and on her show - mg is entitled to be ranked as the most solid and versatile fullback playing. Misses Gosney and H-unt, Otago’s wings, were exceedingly fast and clever and most of Miss G. Vidal’s goals came from excellent crosses by thc-so girls. Miss Mackic displayed much resource at right half for Otago and repeatedly sent her forwards away on scoring missions. Misses Henderson, Jackson and I. Booth played outstanding games for Wairarapa. Th c game was fast from start to finish.