HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19991, 6 July 1928, Page 16

HOCKEY.

COUNTRY WEEK TOURNEY.

WHITE HORSE CUP CONTEST.

RODNEY DEFEATS PIAKO. The fourth day's play of the country week hockey tourney at Romuara took place under the most unfavourable weather conditions experienced during the week. Rain fell in tho morning and several heavy showers iust previous to play rendered tlio grounds troacherous and heavy. Tho standard of piny deteriorated on account of the difficulty experienced in keeping control of the ball, and fow matches were as interesting as those on the previous day. Two games were played in tho White Horse Cup competition. Rodney. 4. defeated Pinko, I, and Waipa, 2 (Spiers 1, Thompson 1), defeated Tnurnnga. 0.

The match between Rodney and Pinko was tho more interesting, but was spoiled by careless hitting. Combined play was lacking, but individual rushes provided exciting moments.

Piako opened with a spirited attack, a shot J*»eiiiK stopped by th© Rodney goalkeeper. Bodney cleared but Pinko came back again from a forward attack Cleave opened the score. Rather erratic nlnv followed the players appearing to find difficulty iri adjusting themselves to the Tround conditions. Pinko kept up tho pressure on its opponents' goal and a fast "hot just missed. Rodnev had the next chance to score but its effort was spoiled by bad shooting. Rodnev continued to press, good saving bv Tnlkington relieving. Then the Piako forwards combined in a promising movement, which was stopped by Tomlinson.

Grimmer scored tine first coal for Rodney by taking the ball back after the goalkeeper had kicked clear. Further pood movements by Rodney were nullified at the circle edee by good fullback play on the part of Pinko's rearguard. Powdrell, rightwing for Rodney, secured the ball near Tub own poal and carried play into the circle. His shot, went a foot outside the post. Relying on hit-and-run principles Piako frequently penetrated the defence, but was unable to finish off its movements. Bad contring by the Rodney forwards when in an excellent position, spoiled a chance of scoring. The scores at half-time were:— Rodney, 1; Piako, 1. The second spell commenced with an attack by Rodney, Matthews driving the ball into the net for the second poal, from a difficult angle. Persistent attacks by Rodney kept Piako on the defence, a sh6t by Matthews being stopped just in time by Thompson. A magnificent shot by Rodney was disallowed on apcount of & stick fault. Immediately afterwards Goertz scored, to bring Rodney's score to 3 goals. A fine rush by the Rodney forwards was spoiled by the right wing centrinj badly. The Rodney players rushed the ball to the goal, but were stopped when a score seemed imminent. The Rodney right wing, however, centred to Goertz, who scor.ed. The game endod with the scores:—Rodney, 4;. Piako, 1. Mr. L. C. Kent was referee.

A friendly match between Hauraki Plains and Auckland B resulted in a. draw, each side scoring one goal. WHITE HORSE CUP FINAL. RODNEY PLAYS FRANKLIN. The final of the White Horse Cup competition will be played to-day between Rodney and Franklin on No, 2 ground at Remuera, at 3 o'clock. Mr. H. B. Speight has been appointed referee. A match will also be played between Whangarei and Piako for the Kent Cnp, which wa3 presented for competition between these two team#. The game will be played on No. 3 ground at 1.45. Mr. L. C. Kent will referee. A friendly game between Whakatane and University will be played on No. S ground at 1.45. Mr. D. Frasor will referee

COUNTRY TEAM SELECTED. Following is the team which will represent the country in the match against the town representatives to-morrow: —Goal, J. Thompson (Piako): fullbaoks, J. Hammond (Tauranga), L. Spier* (Waipa); halves. R. Smith (Rodney), C. Turnbull (Whakatane), H. Crickett (Piako) s forwards, R. J. McNamara (Franklin), Candy (Thames), T. Grimmer (Rodney), J. Goertz (Rodney), B. Spiers (Waipa), Emergencies: Backs, J. Salmon (Whangarei). E. Smith (Franklin): forwards. C. Finch (Waipa), C. Hewlett (Whangsvrei). LADIES' PROVINCIAL CUPPLAY IN SEMI-FINALS. Play in tho ladies' competition for the Auckland Provincial Cup is now drawing to a. close. The result it still in doubt, as a draw yesterday between Auckland Collogiate and Waipa. winners of the A and B sections respectively, necessitates a replay. Two games in the C section will be played this morning, and one of the winning teams will play Auckland A afternoon.

A cloae contest was seen between Auckland Collegiate and Waipa. Waipa scored tho first goal and it was some time until Collegiate equalised. No further score was made, although an extra fifteen minutes were played. In spite of the heavy ground the standard of play was high, the Waipa backs showing ub particularly well. The Tauranga team collapsed badly and was defeated by Waikato, which appeared to adjust itself more quickly to the playing conditions. Details of yesterday's results are:— Semi-final.—Auckland Collegiate, 1 (Mis# Black, 1). drew with Waipa, 1 (Miss A. Hyde, 1). Section C.—Auckland A, 9 (Miss Law 6. Mrs. Hamlin 2, Miss Simpson 2). defeated Pinko. 0. Waikato. 10 (Mrs. White 5, Miss A. Newoll 2. Miss R. Craig 2, Miss E. Newell 1), defeated Tauranga, X (Miss Merriman 1). TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. The draw and ground arrangements for matches to be played in the Provincial Cup competition to-day are as follows: —Section C: Waikato v. Piako, No. S, 10.30, Mr. R. Avery: Franklin A v. Tauranga, No. 6, 10.30, Mr. D. Frascr; Auckland A, a bye. Fifth round: Auckland A v. A. N. Other, No. 3, 3 p.m., Mr. R. Avery. Semi-final: Waipa v. Auckland Collegiate, No. 4. 3 p.m., Messrs. O. Fraser and H. Watts. PARTICULARS OF PLAY. < t POINTS IN CHAMPIONSHIPS. Following are details of the games and scores in tho White Horse Cup and the Ladies' Provincial Championship:—

WHITE HORSE CUP. A Section. Goals. W. L. D. For. As- Pts. Rodney uv r.-v 4 — — 23 4 8 P Waipa r.v 3 1 — 10 5 Piako t.v r.v 1 1 1 7 4 3 Tauranca r.v 1 1 1 11 R 3 Maniapoto .. — 4 B 8ecticn. 3 30 Franklin A a — 1 6 4 n Whakatane 1 — 2 5 5 4 Whangarei — 1 9 4 2 Thames-Hauraki — 2 1 6 10 I AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL CUP. ') A Section. Auck. Collegiate 3 — — 33 4 6 Whakatane ..2 1 — 11 2 Franklin B , — 3 _ 2 14 — Uauraki Plains B Section. 2 8 0 Waipa .. ..3 — — 11 1 6 WhftnB'iroi ,..2 1 — 14 n 4 Kaipara ... 1 2 — 1 n 2 Auckland B .. — 8 — 1 14 0 Auckland Collegiate, 1, drew with Waipa, 1, in tho eemi-finals. C Section. Auckland A ... a l — 10 7 C Tauraniia r.-a 2 1 —■ 10 14 4 Waikato r.v 2 1 — 19 0 4 Franklin A i a — 11 13 2 Piako wa GW —" i 8 20 —