HOCKEY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 21 June 1937, Page 7

HOCKEY

SATURDAY’S GAMES FEDERAL AND UNITED WIN RESULTS AT A GLANCE Senior—- ’ Federal 2, Waimai 1. United'4, Stoke 3. Junior—- : Federal 5, Wakatu 1. : Tahuna 7, Boys’ Brigade 1 Waimai 3, Stoke 1. Women— Rewa 8, Wakatu 0. Huia 3, Kia Ora 1 . The-ground at the Botanical Reserve was in better condition for Saturdays hockey matches, the surface h -inp smoother though slippery. Waimai made a good attempt to defeat Federal, but found the latter team still too strong. United secured their second win, beating Stoke by the t.dd goal in seven in a game in which both were short. , FEDERAL’S SUCCESS

MARGIN OF ONE GOAL

After a clean, sporting game Federal prevailed against Waimai by two goals to one. The fortunes of the game fluctuated and at some stages Waimai had the upper hand. At half-time Waimai were-two goals down, but they rallied in the second spell and soon scored, but, though they fought hard, could not overtake Federal’s lead. The teams were:—

Federal: Jensen; R. Frost, Hunter; Terrill, Gibbons, Griffiths; Aydon, Sanders, Best, Bestic, and Patterson. Waimai: Holland; Louis, Jury; Weston, Sinipson, Crowe; Stewart, McKinstry,„Gil. Frost, Holland and Cox. In .the early stages of the game Waimai had an edge on Federal, the latter team being several times in a dangerous position; and Gibbons twice saved in the nick?of time with clearance’s to the sideline. When Federal were pressing Sanders narrowly missed scoring. Shooting in several penalty corners on noth side was poor, the defenders being too quick. Gil. Frost made a good attempt from a short corner, McKinstry following in well, A shot by Bestic was. handed out, but after a run down the wing by Aydon Federal were again testing the goalie and the second shot by Bestic caught Holland off his balance. Federal 1, Waimai 0. Fedoral were now asserting themselves, the forwards settling down to better combination. The second goal also resulted from a right wing attack, Aydon giving the ball to Sanders who put the ball'high into the net. Federal 2. Waimai 0.

Early in the second half a chance came to Waimai when the ball travelled across the goalmouth and Stewart tried keenly to score. One shot went in but the whistle had gone. They were 1 soon successful, Stewart scoring from a scramble. Waimai 1, Federal 2. A fast hit travelled past the Waimai backs to Sanders on the wing who turned on the speed but when he reached the circle sent the/ball outside the goat. Waimai played a determined hardhitting game, and penned Federal in their circle for some time. There was u melee in the Waimai goal when Louis failed to clear and each side made frantic efforts to score or to clear. The gamfi ended with the score unaltered. Messrs J. W. Russell and J. Miller refereed.

UNITED WIN AGAIN STOKE DEFEATED \ •, v When Stoke and United each took the field with only nine players the prospects of an interesting game' seemed remote and the first half was paten/, each team having secured one goal. But play became keener in the second half, and first one. side and then the other took the lead. The game was decided

in the last few minutes of exciting play when United scored two goals and won the game. The match was played at a fast pace. The following were the teams: Stoke: Lusty; Health, Gill, P. Wlaker, V. Allport, Jacques; V. Walker, Geo Frost, and Wilkinson. United: White; Parker, Edridge, Horrocks, Toms; Savage, Spence, Abraham, and Burdon.

Play was scrappy at first. V. Walker netted after the whistle had gone, but soon after the same player scored, the ball glancing in off the post. Stoke 1. United 0.

The game was slowed up by numerous penalties for “sticks” and obstruction. The United forwards rushed play down the field, beat the backs, drew the goalie and then Toms and Spence missed an open goal. The shortage of players on both sides threw the forwards frequently offside and made combined play difficult. United equalised from a scramble when Lusty stopped the ball but before he could clear from the mud several forwards followed in and rushed the ball into the net. United 1, Stoke 1.

Hard hitting and following through were the main features of the first half. United made a fast rush on the Stoke goal, Burdon receiving a pass while unmarked but he found the acute angle of the shot too difficult. Toms made no mistake when he received the ball from the left wing, beating the goalie with a hard drive from well out. United 2, Stoke 1. White managed to block a shot by Wilkinson when the other backs stood and waited for the shot, Lusty timed his kicks wel and came out to meet Abraham and Burdon when the rest of the defence had been beaten, safely booting clear. Wilkinson equalised for Stoke with a beautiful high shot from the left wing. Stoke 2, United 2.

There were anxious moments for United when the backs were slow in clearing, and Stoke took the lead from a corner hit when V. Allport scored with a ground shot. Stoke 3, United 2. Geo. Frost sent a hard shot onto White’s pads, but the goalie cleared from the danger zone before the forwards followed in. There was some hard work put in during the last ten minutes. Stoke pressing for the most part, but United drew level when Toms drove a hard shot along the ground through a bunch of players into the net. United 3, Stoke 3. Within a few minutes Spence was rewarded for following up with another goal. United 4, Stoke 3.

The game in the last few minutes was interesting and there was no let up by the players. Messrs J. Miller and Mills refereed.