HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18459, 24 July 1923, Page 4

HOCKEY.

WHITE HORSE CUP TOURNEY. I COUNTRY WEEK COMMENCES FRANKLIN BEAT WHANGAREI The annual White Horse Cup hockey tournament ; was; commenced ati the Remuera hockey grounds yesterday. The weather was fine, but the grounds were somewhat heavy and bumpy. The six teams competing showed good form and a very : fair standard of hockey was reached. Of the three matches played, only one was a really close contest, that between Whangarei and Franklin. This game was most exciting and resulted in a narrow win for Franklin by one goal to nil. Rodney, the holders of the cup, beat Thames by , six goals to nil, and Piako beat Mangawai-Albertland by four goals to nil. FRANKLIN V. WHANGAREI. Franklin were first away and play hovered in the opposing twenty-five. Whangarei came away on the right and midfield play followed till the ball ! went to the other end, where a twenty-five bully resulted. Whangarei kept np a solid attack, offside spoiling a good chance. Franklin pressed, but the shooting , was wide and a period of undecided play followed. On resuming after an accident. Whangarei brought off a movement along the right wing, and Fmnklin conceded a corner. The positions were soon reversed. however, and Franklin were dangerous for a while. Another accident delaved play. Franklin kept up the offensive, "and a couple of ishots narrowly missed. There was no score at half-time. The second spell opened in Whangarei'a favour, till Franklin mad# a loose rush, which was spoiled by an infrinfifeim.ut. Exciting play in Franklin's twenty-five ended with a free ; hit for the defenders. Too hard hitting spoiled Franklin'* chances, and play swung to midfield. Franklin cleared well from a comer, till Whangarei again came ilong tho right and went close to scoring. Fr&nfcljtt removed the danger, and with time drawing short, play became strenuous. A forward rush bv' Franklin' looked promising but the ball went behind. The team was not to be denied, however, ; tnd persistent efforts were finally rewarded throucrh Molloy scoring. Whangarei made a desperate attempt to equalise, i but the game ended: Franklin .. . . . . 1 .Whangarei . . ..... . a 0 Mr. Ralph Avery was referee. RODNEY V. THAMES. Fast play followed the bully; both sides attacking with eagerness. Rodney (white) were first to be dangerous, and the forwards had a couple of shots. Another sortie followed, but ill-directed shooting brought plav into neutral territory. Clean hitting by the Rodney backs kept the ball in favourable territorv. although Thames replied with good .defensive work. Infringements spoiled several Rodney attempts, and at last Thames gained a comer. Play soon swung back to Rodney's favour. The whiles were having the better of play, but the forwards were not able to break through the defence, till a determined rush ended in Goertz netting. - Scoring commenced early in the second spell, when, after indecisive play, Rodney scored their second goal. Long hitting followed, and no decided advantage was gained till Rodney pressed hotly, and another goal was netted. ; The northern team held the upper hand at this stage of the game, and were 'keeping Thames strictly on the defensive. At last Thames' made a good movement, but weaknesses in stopping and hitting nullified good opportunities. Rodney returned to the onslaught, and scored three times more before time was called. Tho scorers were: Goertz (4), Simmonsen and S. Morrison. ■ The final scores were: Rodney . . ~ 6 . ft Thames : .. . . : „ 0 Mr. R. 0. Avery was referee. MANGAWAtf V. PIAKO. Loose work characterised play till the Piako forwards made a determined rush, a twenty-five bully resulting. Mangawai made a breakaway, but again t the ball came back, and a shot by a Piako forward hit the post. The forwards made another good rush, and a shot : narrowly missed. Scrambling play in the goalmouth followed till the Mangawaj t backs relieved, f ™ some anxious moments till the fullbacks sent the forwards away. After punching play, Piako scored. They maintained the pressure, and another goal ; followed shortly A minute J later a third goaj cama from a difficult angle. Halftime sounded without further scere. ♦w xwl the san against them, had ohe best of matters early in the second spell, end their efforts were rewarded, the goal tally now being four. Mangawai then set up a hot attack, the danger, however, being shortlived. They returned to the onslaught a little later, till the defenders cleared from the corner, and sent the ball to the opposing territory. The resulting v play brought no further score. The scorers for Piako were Harvey (2), Murray, and F. Quinton. The game ended:— Piako ... ... 4 Mangawai-Albertland "" 0 Mr. F. Nicholson was referee. MATCHES FOR TO-DAY. The following are the match an an ce- ' ments for to-day:— . White Horse Cup.—Franklin ▼. Rodney, No. 1 ground, 3 m., referee, Mr. L. H. Norton Whangarei v. Piako, No. 2 ground, 3 p.m., referee, Mr. Lowe; ManAlbertland v. Thames, No. 3 ground, 3 p.m., referee, Mr. Haggett. Ladies' Auckland Provincial Cup: Section I.—Raglan v. t Taumarunui A, No. 4 ground, * 3 p.m., referee, Mr. F. Nicholson; Rotorua v. Auckland, No: 5 round, 3 p.m., referee, Mr. R. C. Avery, ection Franklin v. Taumarunui B, No. 2 ground, 2 p.m., referee, Mr. Avery; Piako v. Whangarei, No 1 ground, 2 p.m., referee, Mr. K. K. Mnllins.

COUNTRY TEAMS' AFFAIRS. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEE C 3. The' annual meeting off managers of country teams competing in the Wflite Horse Cup tournament was held yesterday, Mr. L. C. Kent,: chairman of the Auckland Hockey,, Association,.presiding!, There were also present:: Messrs, L. H. Norton and R. C. Avery. (Auckland) :: (J. M. Day (Mangawai-ASbeirtland), V, W. (Rodney), v El. C. Humphreys V ®ko), A. C. Bourgeois (Whangarei), L. R. Menziea (Thames), and E. Hay (Franklin),. ■ The Franklin Association's colours, green and white halves (jerseys) and black shorts, were approved. It was decided to. alter the date .of the tournament to the second last complete week in July. The following territorial allotments were approvedßodney Association: All Rodney .County, south of Hoteo River to Fife's bridges, with the exception of Whangaripo Valley and ;; Pakiri. ; Manga waxAlbertland Association: The 1 Ooant* of Ofamatea, and all Rodney County north of Hoteo River, but including Whang.v ripo Valley and Pakiri. Whangarei Association: All Whangarei County. •. It was unanimously resolved that a subassociation which has not cornier,cd in the "While Horse Cup tournament shall no*, be allowed to challenge for the Nor den (.up in the following year. . It was also resolved that any sub-association winning the Norden Cup shall have the right to defend such trophy until lost. . v Ir connection with. the challenge of the Opotiki sub-association for . the • Norden Cup, it was resolved that 'the challenge bo approved conditionally on the understanding that: sub-associations: competing in the present country *: week tournament shall'retain the right (in order of preference as. already laid*; down) ;to defend thai : trophy in 1924 if won by Opotiki. Colours. : for the country representative i team, green and black halves : (jersey) Wd blftsk ehortaj wore approved,■ • J

j Should there be no tournament play on Saturday, it was decided to play , a repre- [ sentative match, North v. South. Messrs. I A. C. Bourgeois, S. : Morrison, and, G. J. Grant were appointed selectors for the Northern team, : and Messrs, R. C. Humphreys, E. R. Manzies, and R. C. Avery for the Southern team. The complimentary dance to bo held at St. Benedict's Hall to-morrow night, and smoke concert at; the Druid's Hall, Newton, on Friday night, as arranged by the Auckland Hockey Association, were both approved. LADIES' PROVINCIAL OUP. FIRST MATCHES PLAYED. The matches for the Ladies' Provincial Cup were commenced yesterday. Considerable enthusiasm and keenness was displayed by the eight teams competing. Taumarunui are the present holders of the cup.. The results of the matches are as follows:— Taumarunui A, 4 goals (Misses Carlson 2, Castles, G. Fraser), beat Rotorua, 0. Taumarunui played a good gamp and proved too strong for their opponents. The Rotorua forwards lost many chances through slowness and lack of combination. ■ Auckland, 3 (Misses Campbell, Dawson, Mrs. Nash), beat Raglan, 1 (Miss V Parkes) Franklin, 1 (Miss Muskett), beat Piako, 0 '■ Whangarei, 4 fMisses McKinnon 2, Ridings. Lowe), beat Taumarunui B 2 (Misses R. Lowe and D. Le Prou). NOTES. AND COMMENTS. THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR. Th© following, table shows the positions of the senior teams' in • the championship competition :— '

In the third grade a very interesting stage has been reached. Three teams are level for first place, namely Waitemata, Otahuhu and Devonport. Exciting contests should mark the dosing matches in this grade. The New Zealand team for Australia leaves from Wellington for Sydney by the Ulimaroa this week. The Auckland members of the team, Speight, McLeod, Watts, Alexander and Baildon, leave by the Main Trunk express to-morrow. Unfortunately, neither Fotheringham nor Steele can make the trip. Both these men woora nave done well in Australia. Fotheringham, who has not yet really had an opportunity to show what he can do on a dry ground, probably would have produced excellent , form under Australian conditions. The team, nevertheless, is a good one, arid should give a very fair representation of the standard of Dominion hockey! ; A curious incident occurred during the match between Nelson and Manawatu for the challenge shield. The match resulted in a draw, one goal each, Manawatu thus retaining the shield. ' While Nelson were leading, one goal to nil, the Manawatu | forwards set up a hot attack and, according to Neale, the Nelson ; goalkeeper, he accidently sent the ball behind the line with th© wrong side of his stick. Neale waa to one side of the net when he struck the ball.' The referee awarded Manawatu a penalty bully, but this was taken 'in front of the goal and rtot on the spot of the infringement. Neale won the • bully for Nelson, but tripped. Fitt, the Manawatu forward, recovered control of the ball, and shot for the net. The ball was going straight between the posts, when it struck the leg of the referee, glanced off, and crossed the line to tho side of the goaL • The referee awarded a goal. There was . no further / score, ; and a draw resulted. '.Such, a combination of circumstances ;is remarkable; The following points have 'to bo considered. Was a penalty bully the correct award for NeaJo's breach, and was it taken at the correct place? Was Neale tripped by the forward ? Finally, how - could a goal be awarded . unless ; the ball crossed th|i line between the ' posts? A penalty bully, which must be given on the spot: where the { breach S occurred, ;; should Dbe n"v£n, according ,to a - penalty ; clause to Rule 12, for a wilful breach of ; a rule, or when a goal would have most probably been scored, but for the: occurrence oil' the breach of the rule.- A penalty goal can be awarded if the offender (i.e. the defender) commits a breach of anv rulo during the progress of the . penally bully. If the"' attacker infringes, the defending team must be awarded, a free hit.; The Kelson Association has lodged a protest" with the New Zealand Association. The senior championship' matches under the of the Auckland Hockey Association were continued on Saturday under very unpropitious weather conditions heavy rain and the bad sta.ie of the playing areas militating all possibility "I ? 6 00 " exposition of the game. Nevertheless, the play was bright and open, and interest did not flag. * Though • there are fewer senior teams this season than hitherto, the standard of play has been consistently high. . Somervell continued their ran of successes by : accounting for University. Play was very open, and the shooting wss exceptionally good. The general run t. f the game favoured the winners, more especially in tho second half, when University' defence crumbled and their goal was | : continually at : th'j mercy of the attacking ' forwards. The University backs lad : a tendency to keep : too far up, and so ware often out of position. . Outstanding players ' for Somervell were Roberts, Cole, and Baildon (backs), and Sercombe, E Watte, and C. Watts (forwards) Promising displays for University were those of Speight and Player In the backsi, and Harman and Clayton in the '■ forwards.} '

St Luke's had considerably the better of v matters in the match with Mount Eden; many sparkling forward movements breaking . through the Mount Eden defence, and the goal was nearly always in a state of . siege. The winners' backs played with complete understanding,, backing un well and judiciously feeding this front line. Steele played , a sterling game, and it 18 a pity this player, is unable to make the trip to Australia with this Now Zealand team, r as he is at the top of his form.' Rowe and McLeod both acquitted themselves well. The former received a bad knock on the head, bub carried on successfully. Hookham was a host in. himself in the forward line, making many nice flanking runs and centring Beautifully. Judging this player on his present form he is one of of i the best wing : men in New Zealand. Mount Eden's team work wa 3 .very poor. and practically all their attacks wero from individual • efforts. Alexander was the best of a moderate lot of forwards. His centres were , nicely placed, but the inside men seldom connected,: and movements continually ' broke down in the centre. Rankin got through a tremendous amount of hard work in the half line, and Hornpool played his usual spectacular fullback game .

Goals Chp. P. W. L. D. For Agst. Pts. BomervelJ . . 9 7 1 1 34 17 15 St. Lake's . 10 6 2 2 27 13 14 University . 10 3 5 2 25 29 8 Mount Eden 10 • 3 5 2 23 31 8 Areta . . . 9 0 6 3 16 35 3