HOCKEY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 12 June 1939, Page 9

HOCKEY

SENIOR GAMES GOOD CONDITIONS ON SATURDAY RESULTS AT A GLANCE Senior: Federal 3. Waimai 0. Stoke 4. Wakatu 2 Junior: Federal 2. Wakatu 1. Waimai 12, Stoke B 0. Women’s: Huia 3. Rewa 0. Wakatu 4, Kia Ora 2 Conditions were excellent for hockey on Saturday, and the grounds at the Botanical Reserve were smooth and fast, though greasy. The two leading senior teams. Stoke and Federal, improved their positions, though the country team were given a surprise by the improving Wakatu team. WIN FOR FEDERAL Federal defeated Waimai by 3 goals to nil, all the goals being scored in the second half. Waimai lacked thrust in the forv/ards, and were one short, at inside right. The Federal forwards did not impress as a combination and lacked the snap they showed in earlier FPmes. The teams were: Federal: Beach, Frost, Thorne, Lamb, Gibbons, Griffiths, Aydon. Abrahams, Best, Patterson and Terrill. Waimai: H. Holland, Jury, Tarrant, Hill, Simpson, Scott, Canning, McLean, Holland, Crooks. Players found footing uncertain on the greasy ground. Aydon made a nice opening for Best who threw away an easy chance. For a while Waimai gave the Federal defence a warm time. Federal attacked mainly down the right wing, but could not s’ore, Holland handing out one high shot and taking another on his pads. The teamwork I generally was poor, the passing being easily intercepted with the result that neither side got anywhere. Again a splendid save was made by Holland on his pads when the Federal forwards combined to give Patterson a shot. Waimai had a gap at inside right and were relying on the left flank who made some good attempts from difficult positions.

Federal were without Terrill in the second half. Within a few minutes Best worked his way into the circle and flicked the ball in from an awkward position. Federal 1, Waimai 0. Aydon retrieved the bail from the backline and his pass was picked up by Abrahams who dashed in and scored from about a foot off the poal. Federal 2, Waimai 0.

Crooks made a good run but pul the ball straight onto the goalkeeper’s pads. Waimai by this time seemed to have lost some of their dash. Players in both teams were not keeping their positions and were getting in each other's way. Then Best enticed the ’keeper out of goal, tricked him and took the ball into the open goal. Federal 3, Waimai 0. Messrs C. Lipscombe and M. A. Nightingale were the umpires. STOKE EXTENDED BY WAKATU Wakatu unexpectedly extended the championship leaders, Stoke, and were leading 2-1 halfway through the second spell. Stoke then scored two goals in quick succession and finally won by 4 goals to 2. It was quite an exciting and well fought match. The following were the teams:

Stoke: Lusty, Powell, Guthrie, Gribble. Scholfield, Walker, Wilkinson, Amos, Allport, Weston, Corby. Wakatu: Collier, Hunter, Blundell, Wise, Russell, Highet, N. Batchelor, Thomas, A. Batchelor, Parker, Boyes. Play started at a good pace, with Stoke attacking keenly, Collier saving twice. Hunter worked like a Trojan for Wakatu, and the Wakatu defence was covering up well. Amos just missed scoring from a corner hit. A penalty bully was ordered between Weston 1 and Russell, and when the latter obj structed a penalty goal was awarded | Stoke. Stoke 1, Wakatu 0. The first half otherwise was fairly even and Wakatu had held Stoke well. In the second spell a hard hit up and follow through by the Wakatu forwards caught the Stoke backs before they could clear and Boyes netted with a clean shot from well out. Wakatu 1, Stoke 1.

The Stoke forwards were standing well up on attack and kept getting offside. Fast up and down play followed, each side having its turn. The Stoke halves were placing the ball well and feeding their forwards to advantage. Play continued keen and willing. Wakatu just failed to score from a corner hit. Stoke pressed hard and netted but the score was disallowed. From a 25 bully Wakatu attacked and Thomas put Wakatu in the Jcud. Wakatu 2, Stoke 1.

Stoke soon evened the scores when the ball came from the right wing to Amos who netted. Stoke 2. Wakatu 2. Wakatu bad two corner nits without success, and Stoke took play to the other end where Allport sent the ball over the net. Allport and Weston combined in a neat bit of play from the 25, which ended in Weston scoring a good goal. Wiihin a minute Wilkinson maile a good run down the wing and beat the goalie. Stoke 4, Wakatu 2. Wakatu made several good breakaways but Stoke were always dangerous, and the score was unaltered at the end.

Messrs J. W. Russell and J. Wright umpired ihe game.