LADIES' HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20969, 4 September 1931, Page 7

LADIES' HOCKEY.

NEW ZEALAND TOURNAMENT. SECTION WINNERS DECLARER EASTERN AND WELLINGTON. As a result of yesterday's games in the New Zealand ladies' hockey tournament Eastern Southland and Wellington, the present holders of the "K" Cup, will meet tomorrow afternoon in the final of the tournament. This afternoon, Rotorua and Poverty Bay, which have equal points in the B section, will meet on the No. 2 ground at three o'clock, the winner to play Manawatu, run-ners-up in the A section, for the, Holden Cup as a curtain-raiser to the main game to-morrow. Yesterday's contests provided two of the :best and most exciting games of the tournament. Spectators were thrilled by Rotorua's hard fight to equalise the score in the game Wellington won by oqe goal to 0. Little below it in interest was the match in which Auckland Country, having a good chance of drawing with Eastern Southland in the A section, was finally defeated by Manawatu by three goals to two. The result* of yesterday's games were:— A SECTION. Eastern Southland, 5, Southland, 1. Manawatu, 3, Auckland Country,; 2. Wairarapa 4, Akitio, 0. B SECTION. Wellington, 1, Eotorua. 0. Wanganui. 1, Poverty Bay, 0. Auckland City, 3, Ruahine, 2. The position*, of the teams in the tournament to date arj as follows: A Section.—Eastern Southland, 8; Manawatu, 7 ; Auckland Country, C : Southland, i; Wairarnpa, 3: Akitio, 2. B Section.—Wellington, 9; Poverty Bay. 6; Rotorua. 6: Wanganui, 4 : Ruahine, 3; Auckland City, 2.

EXCITING CONTEST. WELLINGTON AND ROTORUA. Tho game in ■which Wellington defeated Rotorua by the narrow margin of one goal to 0 was the moat exciting yet seen in the tournament, and the frequent tussles right in the goalmouth gave supporters of both aides some thrilling moments. Particularly in the second half. Rotorua did most of the attacking, but just failed to, overcome the stubborn Wellington defence. The first few minutea of the game were evenly contested, play seldom being allowed past the twentyfive yards' lines. Wellington's goalmouth was the first to be dangerously beeieged, the left Rotorua flank reaching the circle in a fast run. Miss Miller cleared and the Wellington van had Rotorua working desperately to avoid a score. Miss Tanner finally cleared but Miss D. Foreman trapped the ball and in a fast solo run reached Rotorua's quarters. A pass to the left was not accepted and Misses M. Mitchell and G. Rogers advanced to Wellington's circle. Strenuous defence asjved ecores, but Rotorua rqtifrned again and again to the attack, the Misses Ratema doing particularly good work. Finally, Miss E Maule broke clear and in a fast nolo run carried the, ball half the length of the field, only to lose it in the circle. A few moments later Miss M. Wilkins repeated the performance, but lost her stick in the circle. Miss Tanner was doing good work and she gave a good opportunity for Miss Rogers to dash down the wing. In trying to stop, Miss A. Smith slipped and a goal seemed iminent. However, the ball was mißhit and Mrs. T. Morris retaliated with a fast wing movement, which was cleverly blocked by Miss E. Mitchell just on half-time, no score having then been made. Kotorua made a dashing opening. Miss M. Ratema racing down the wing. The ball appeared to have gone too far down the field, but she brilliantly centred right from the line. Mies G Rogers shot. Miss A. Smith blocking. Miss M. Black immediately secured and shot, the ball passing a couple of inches to the wrong side of the posw. Amid excitement, Rotorua continued to press. JMiss M. Mitchell narrowly missing. Following a brief period of attack, Wellington was forced 'to concede a penalty corner. Wellington succeeded in saving the situation temporarily, but Mise M. Mitchell again returned play to the circle: ■ For the first time since the opening or the,half. Botorua s circle was besieged when Miss M. Wilkins made a spectacular dash. Miss E. Maule ahot, but lifted the ball too hich. Wellington was now doing most of the attacking, and after eome Qiumtes of circle play, Miss D. Foreman eaw an opening and opened Wellington's account with a stinging shot. Right from the bully, the Rotorua forwards advanced down the field. Excitement grew tense as fierce stick work duels right in the goalmouth between Misseß M. Mitchell and G Rogers and Mis* A. Smith finally resulted in the ball being cleared. Rotorua returned play to the circle, but only for a moment, Miss Foreman breaking clear in a beautiful run that reached the other end of the field. The attack was repulsed but Miss Foreman ogain raced down the field, passing across to Mrs.- Moms. Miss E. Mitchell blocked the attack and a. period of exciting up-and-down play ensued. Wellington was now attacking nard. and the goalkeeper, Miss J. Tanner, was called on to save. Miss M. Mitchell returned play to the other end. but the ball went : over the .back line With only a couple of minutes to go. both teams were playing their hardest, but no further score was made, tho game ending: Wellington, 1: Rotorua, 0. , MANAWATTJ

DEFEAT OF AUCKLAND COUNTRY. Manawatu was fully extended to defeat Auckland Country by the narrow margin of three goals to two in a fast and exciting : K ame. After a period of pressure by Country. Manawatu went to the attack. Eventually the Manawatu forwards penetrated the "Country defence and Mrs. L. Seal netted. A good breakaway by Auckland saw Miss V. Shand beat the defencb and equalise. A fine run by Mrs. L. Seal and Miss B. Hakaraia took play to Auckland s circle, but Miss L. Chirney sent Auckland again to the attack. Half-time came with ploy in rnidfield and the score I—all. On resuming Mrs. Carnac secured and took play to Manawatu'e circle, where ehe "dummied" a fullback, but failed to score. Manawatu attacked and from a forward rush Miss W. Hanson netted, putting Manawatu one goal in the lead. An Auckland rush led by Miss Shand was checked by Miss E. Robson. Mrs. Seal took the ball to Auckland's quarter, but her shot was stopped by the goalkeeper. Mrs. Carnac took the ball to the other end before passing to Miss D. Stirling, who goaled with a fin© angle shot. Manawatu pressed, but the Auckland defence held. Miss L. Chirney doing excellent work. Miss Hawea kept Manawatu' on the attack and Miss Ainsworth, on. the left wing, passed m to Miss Rnnson, who scored. Auckland immediately attacked. Miss Shand receiving a pass from Miss Edmons, but missing the goal. Mrs. Carnac made a fiue dash down the wing, but the Manawatu defence just cleared. A run by Miss W. Ranson put Auckland on the defenco. Auckland forwards persisted, however, and almost scored. The game ended with Manawatu presifing. the final score being:—Manawatu, 3: Auckland Country, 2. AN EASY VICTORY. EASTERN BEATS SOUTHLAND. Eastern Southland had little difficulty in defeating Southland by five goals to one in an uninspiring game. Honours were fairly even in the first half, but in the second Eastern's penetrating power was too great for the Southland defence. Eastern took the attack from til© outset and Miss M. Nicol shot a few minutes after the opening. Miss Crighton making a good save. Southland retaliated with a series of attacks. in which the left flank figured prominently, but opportunities in the circle went begging. In spite of strenuous work by the Southland defence, "the Eastern forwards. led down the left flank by Miss Nicol, broke through and without being stopped Miss K. B«nd finished off with a rising shot Miss Smith and Miss M. White retaliated, but the attack did not penetrate far and Southland was again penned in the circle. Misa Sherriffs slipped while shooting, but Miss Bond regained control of the ball for Eastern and sent to Mrs. Reid, who scored with a tricky shot. Right from the bully, Miss Mdntyre ran down the wing and passed to Miss M. White, who netted for Southland with a high shot just before half-time," the score then being:~Easteirn, 2; Southland, 1. Play sparkled up from the resumption, Southland having (the territorial advantage, but not being tble to break through. Eastern's third goal was secured by Mrs. Reid after » tussle. The Eastern van attacked again immediately and Miss M. White shot Eastern's fourth goal. Spurred by their adverse position, the Southlanders redoubled their efforts, but the defence held and just before time Mrs. Reid goaled again from a tense melee, the game ending with the score Eastern, 5; Southland, 1.

LOST OPPORTUNITIES. POVERTY BAY DEFEATED. In a game of lost opportunities Wanganni was very fortunate to defeat' Poverty Bay by 1 goal to 0. In the first half Poverty Bay did most of the pressing, but in the second the Wanganui defence improved considerably and succeeded in checking the Poverty Bay attacks. Early pressure by Poverty Bay failed to realise a score, although Wanganui was cornered several times. Occasionally Wanganui advanced to its opponent's circle, but v Poverty Bay s rearguard easily held it- back. "Wanganui finally succeeded in penetrating the defence and Miss M. Wakling netted.. Half-time came with Wanganui one goal in the leadOn resuming Poverty Bay pressed, but Miss J. Walker cleared several times. The Poverty Bay forward line combined well, however, to keep Wanganui on tlio defence Misses G. and R. Brooks cleared well, but Miss M. Sisam made two good runs, her passes going wide. Poverty Bay was trying hard to equalise, but Wanganui s defence, which had improved considerably, held. A promising Poverty Bay movement broke down at the circle. Misses G. and R. Brooks, who were defending well for Wanganui, kept all attacks out, although Mrs. Algie and Miss U. Halbert almost got through. Several likely movements by the Poverty Bay forwards were checked only by stubborn defence. A brilliant movement by Miss M. Sisam resulted in Mrs. Nicol netting, but she was bffside. .The game ended with the scoreWanganui, 1; Poverty Bay. 0.

AN EASY WIN. .WAIRARAPA AND AKITIO. In a rather scrappy game Wairarapa ran home easy victors over Akitio, winning by 4 goals to 0. Good clearing by Misses A", and F. Booth prevented Akitio from scoring in the early stages of the game. Wairarapa took its turn on attack and Miss I Booth netted. Akitio advanced, but Misses A. and F. Booth drove it back. Forward attacks on both sides failed to realise a score and the first spell ended with Wairarapa in'the lead. - - \ will" dash by Miss E. Dick was well stopped by the Akitio defence. Wairarapa, however, persisted, and soon increased its lead, further goals being gained by Miss I. Booth, Miss E. Dick and Miss f. Booth. The game ended witjh the score rapa, 4; Akitio, 0. . A SCRAPPY GAME. AUCKLAND CITY SUCCESSFUL In a scrappy game Auckland City succeeded in defeating Ruahine by three goals to two. All the local team's goals were secured by the centre-forward, Miss G. Lowe. The scorers for Ruahine were Mis« | F. Rendle and Mrs. Karaiti&n*.