HOCKEY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 4 May 1931, Page 3

HOCKEY

FEDERAL DEFEAT WAKATU SATURDAY’S RESULTS Senior : Federal 5. Wakatu Stoke 8, Y.M.C.A. 1. Waitnai 5, Richmond 1. Kiwi, a bye. Q Junior : Y.M.C.A. 5, Waimai 3. Kiwi 3, Stoke 2. Federal, a bye. * The weather was perfect for the first day of the 1931 hockey championship series. Games were played at l lie Botanical Reserve, Stoke and Richmond. After a good game Federal defeated Wakatu at the Reserve while at. Stoke and Richmond, Stoke and Waimai respectively had victories in the senior grade. • FEDERAL V. WAKATU The ground at the Reserve was hard and inclined io be rough and the 'grass was rather long for hockey. Retween Federal and Wakatu a good, keen contest was witnessed, with an absence of wild slogging and very little "sticks." Wakatu had a better share of the game than the score indicates, but their goal shooting let them down. Fielding only nine men they were at a disadvantage in defending Llieir goal. Federal took advantage of every opening and when they got to the goal mouth put in accurate shots. The teams were : Federal —Palmer, Jansen, Terrill, Aydon, Best, Greiner, Allen, (Mcßride, Cassells, Nightingale and Hawthorne. Wakatu —Gaskell, Russell, Blundell, Duncan, Best, Wright, Gribben, Thomas and Hill. From the initial bully-off Wakatu attacked. Taking the ball up from a corner hit Federal were stopped in their rush bv Blundell. Federal later broke through again. Combination between Cassells and Nightingale, who followed up fast, resulted in Nightingale scoring the first goal. Federal 1, Wakatu 0. Wakatu made several attacks on Federal’s goal in vain, and Federal carried plav back into Wakutu’s 25. Jansen and then Best saved for Federal. From a centre by Aydon, Cassells sent in a good, shot, which was stopped hv Gaskell. "Wakatu made two efforts to equalise when Thomas sent in a close shot from a corner hit, and when Hill and Jansen had a tussle outside Federal’s goal mouth. After long range shooting Aydon look the ball down the line, but Gaskell effected another save. Russell (Wakatu) was promihent in checking several Federal rushes, when Nightingale hit through again and again. _ A wild struggle in front of the Wakatu goal resulted in a corner hit. and iliomas went up on his own. A free hit by Best, with the ball carried up further by Cassells, put 'Federal in a good attacking position, but “sticks” spoilt the effort. Wakatu beseiged the goal strenuously after Duncan had taken the ball up, and following a- corner bit Hill cut through and came near to scoring. The first spell ended with the score unchanged. At the commencement- of the second half Federal went off with a rush. However, the ball went out to Iliomas (Wakatu), who made a good run down the line until he reached Jansen, the 'Federal full back, when lie overran the ball, just as his chances looked nopeiul. Ay cion sent bis forwards up the held to be sent back by Russell, they re turned, however, with a fine rush, and with a quick shot Nightingale goiued agyin. Federal 2, Wakatu 0. Wakatu made further assaults on Federal’s goal. Hill s shot went just outside the net, and I aimer (Federal goalie) made a save when Duncan shot, hitting the ball behind the line. Following a Federal counter attack Wakatu came once more to their opponents’ goal mouth, out 1 lioinas skied the ball over the net. Aydon showed up in good dotensne work, enabling Federal to attack. Aftei a melee Best hit right through, and, following up fast, tricked Gaskell, running right through to tap the ball into the net. The rest of the players were 1 far behind. Federal 3, M akatn 0. Mcßride on the left wing did not gee past Russell, who sent a long shot upheld. For a while play was very last on the Wakatu 25 line, neither side gaining the advantage. Then the federal forward line broke through the scrummage, and raced forward with only Russell to stem the rush. Cassells scored, federal 4, Wakatu 0.

Federal rushed up again, overran Wakatu opposition and Mcßride scored their fifth goal. Federal 5, Wakatu 0. A filial effort by Wakatu to score, suffered as others had, the ball going just outside the net. ' The score was unaltered when the whistle went. Federal 5, W akatu 0. Messrs Russell and Lipscombe refereed.

JUNIOR GRADE

Two junior games were played at the Reserve: Y.M.C'.A. v. Waimai, and Kiwi v. Stoke. . . Y.M.C.A. and Waimai were burly evenly matched, hut the majority of the players, though showing keenness lacked skill and experience. The end o the season should sec a big improvement in both teams if they practice. * The score at half-time was two all, but in the second spell Y.M.C.A. scored 3 to Waimai’s 1. . Kiwi were several members short. This made a more equal game with the young Stoke team. The latter team showed promise, and if they stick together should be a good junior team later in the season.