LADIES' HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20967, 2 September 1931, Page 9

LADIES' HOCKEY.

NEW ZEALAND PREMIERSHIP. DEFEAT OF CHAMPION TEAM. AUCKLAND COUNTRY SUCCESSFUL As a result of yesterday's play in the continuation of tho New Zealand ladies' hockey tournament at Remuctti. Auckland Country is now well ahead in the A soction, with six championship points. The team defeated Eastern, Southland, joint holders with Wellington o'. the K Cup, by 'hrec goals to two yesterday. In the B section, Wellington retained its lead. Poverty Ba; being ono point behind it. Tho results ot yesterday's games were:— A SECTION. Auckland Country, 3; Eastern, 2. Manawatu, 2; Akitio, 1, Southland, J; Wairarapa, 1. B SECTION. Poverty Hay, 1; Rotorua, I. Wanganui, 3: Auckland City. 1. Wellington, 1;., Ruahine, 0. Tho positions of tho teams in the tournament to date are as follows: A Section.—Auckland Country, 6; Eastern Southland, 4; Manawatu, 3; Southland, 2; Akitio, 2; Wairarapa, I. B Section.—Wellington, G; Poverty Bay, 5; Rotorua, 4; Wanganui, 2; Ruahine, 1; Auckland City, 0. CHAMPIONS DEFEATED. AUCKLAND COUNTRY. Auckland Country played a dashing game in dofeating Eastern, Southland, by the odd goal in .five, and its defence in withholding continuous attacks by the clever Eastern forwards in the last 20 minutes of the game was very effective. Eastern secured tho ball from the bully and in a fast combined rush reached Auckland Country'n circle, where Miss M. White took advantage of an opening and netted. Auckland Country fot*varda tried hard to equalise, but Eastern held them stubbornly back. After some time, the defence was broken down by Miss V. Shand who netted. Brilliant forward play by both sides kept the game fast, Eastern holding the advantage. Tho score at half-time was:— Eastern, 1: Auckland Country. 1. Shortly after tho reopening Auckland Country penned E(intern up and the goalie. Miss M. Wright, in stopping a shot, was penalised for obstruction, Mrs. Carnao adding a second score to Auckland from the penalty bully. Miss Wright was called upon to sn vo a couplo of further shots. After some time Eastern advanced up tho field and Miss White finished off with a shot which gave tho Auckland goalie no chance. The deciding goal was secured by Miss D. Stirling from a melee. Eastern attacked vigorously in the concluding aunrter of an hour, but the gnme ended with the score:—Auckland Country, 3: Eastern, « "N A DRAWN GAME. POVERTY BAY AND ROTORUA. Rotorua had to defend strenuously during most of tho second half in order to maintain tho equality it had established earliec with Poverty Bay, but its clever defence prevailed, and the game ended in a draw. A period of attack by Poverty Bay was spoilt by offside play and Miss J.' Chaytor retaliated with a fast run. Mlbs' Larsen stopped ond Miss M. Lenane advanced for Poverty Bay. Finally, tho Rotorua backs cleared and the forwards swept • dbwn the field, a splendid goal being secured by MiSB G. Rogers, who scooped tho ball over the soalio's head. Poverty Bay took the offensive from tho bully and only splendid work by the Rotorua bucks and goalie saved several imminent scores; Miss To Ote saw an opening and equalised, 'the halftime whistle blowing with the score:—Rotorua, 1: Bay, 1. -... - Tho Rotorua goalie was called to save within a minuto ; of • the reopening of the game, a shot by Miss Sisam being deflected. Miss, M.. Nicol made a . nice solo run down tho left and an exciting melee ensued, tin obatrueti6n stiviii;; a free hit to Rotorua. poverty Bay . continued to press and Rotorua had to work harid to prevent further goals.v? The prame ended with the ecorc;—Rotonta, 1; Poverty, 1. > -,/• ; v' . ' ! * , \ j , ' * . •,' . ■ •, MAiTAWATU < SUCCESSFUL. CLOSE GAME WITH AKITIO-. In a very evenly contested game. In which both teams played similar hockey;, Manawatu defeated Akitio by three goals to two. Akitio was the first to score,- Mi»& M. Ryan sending in a high shot after a long drawnout tussle in the goalmouth. A few moments later Miss L Seal equalised after a combined forward attack, making tho half-time score:—Manawatu, 1; Akitio, 1. In the second half honours v.uia again evon, the deciding goal being secured for Manawatu by Miss B. Hakaraia from a melee in the circle The final score was:— Manawatu, 2; Akitio, 1. EVENLY-MATCHED TEAMS. SOUTHLAND AND WAIRARAPA. 7 There was very little between the Southland and Wairarapa teams and tho result of one goal all was a fairly true reflex of the play. Wairarapa pressed from the bully, but Southland advanced to the circle. A free hit. however, sent the team back_ to its own half. Miss I. Booth opened Wnira,rapa'a account with a long shot. Southland attacked vigorously, and, after a strenuous tußsle, Miss N. Thomas equalised. Up and. down play followed and there were .several unsuccessful attempts at. goaling. The at half-time was:—Southland, 1; Wairarapa, 1. Wairarapa pressed, but good Work by Mioses E. and M. Ilillis kept the goal clear. Southland's forwards carried tho ball to its opponent's quarter, but it was soon returned. Two fine runs by Miss R. Hunt took play again to Wairarapa's half. From a melee in the circle, Wairarapa sent into the net. but the striker was offside. Play was fast, the 1 all passing continually from one end to the other, but there was no. further goal, and the frame ended with the score: —Southland, 1; Wairarapa, 1. A STRENUOUS CONTEST. WELLINGTON BEATS RUAHINE. Although it gained its victory by a very lucky goal in the last stages of the match, • Wellington would have been very unfortunate had it been ;orced to go down to Ritahino. ' After a period of midfield play the Wellington forwards worked toward tho Ruahine circle. Miss Pickering, with clever stick-work, eludod two backs and centred, the pass being accepted by Miss D. foreman, who pushed through to within five yards of the goal, but then phot outside. Manoeuvring well. Miss R. Miller sent the Ruahine forwards (way, but Miss E. McCallum intercepted in fine fashion and staged a in which Miss Foreman was again prominent. Just before half-time Ruahine received a penalty bully almost on the goal line, but lost a fine chance through a "sticks" infringement. There was no score at the interval. Wellington made strenuous efforts to take tho lead Bubseq lent to the spell, Misses Pickering and Wilkins combining prettily to menace the Ruahine goal on several occasions. Tho defence triumphed, however, and a swift counter by the Ruahine van' Raw the ball aim ist bustled through the Wellington goal, the custodian managing to divert the attack. Wellington pressed, and Miss Foreman goalcd. but was ruled outside the circle when she shot. Miss Pickering dribbled past three R.uahinfi backs, and Miss Wilkins accepted ft pass and gooled. The final score was Wellington, 1: Ruahine, 0. WANGANUI TRIUMPHS. DEFEAT OF AUCKLAND CITY. Although holding a decided territorial advantage, Auckland City had to to defeat at the hands of Wanganui. the latter possessing a forward line which made tho most of the opportunities it received. A series of attacks in which Misse? Greaßer and Brooks were prominent gave Wanganui a temporary advantage, but stout defending sent them bock, and Miss Lowe took tn£ ball from half-way to the Wanganui circle, only to have the goalkeeper save well. Auckland continued to dominate the same, but a Burprißo attaok by the Wanganui forwards saw Miss J Brooks cross occutatelj to Miss J Walker in the circle, and tho last-named lost no time in netting. Another of Wahganui's spasmodic raids surprised the Auckland defence and Mibs J. Brooks whipped across a fine centre, which Miss ,T Grainger received and shot into the net. The scoro at half-time was:—Wanßanui. 2: Auckland City. 0. Shortly after the resumption Miss J. Brooks, who wos playing a fine attacking game for Wanganai, received near half-way, and, after a brilliant run, shot a great goal

from just inside <i'e circle. Auckland was roused by tho fresh reverse and, the forwards swarmed the Wanganui goalmouth, but tho goalkeeper leapt into the mass and cleared at tho expense of a corner, which proved-fruitless.-* Misa Joflkinn reduced the deficit shortly afterwards, however, with a good shot. Wanganui maintained its lead to the end, when the score read: —Wanganui, 3; Auckland City, 1. PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY. The following mutches will bo played today:—Poverty Bay v. Wellington. 3.15 p.m., Mossrs. 11. Avery and R. C. Avery; Akitio v. Eastern, 3.15 p.m., Messrs. A. Rivers and PJ. J. Hewitt; Auckland Country v. Southland,' 2 p.m., Messrs. A. Rivers and J. Gray; Wairurupa v. Manawatu, 2 p.m., Messrs. C. Clark and Grace; Auckland City v. Rotorua, 8.15 p.m., Messrs. Gra:e and J. Gray; Ruahine v. Wanganui, 2 p m., Messrs. R. C. Avcfry and H. Watts.