HOCKEY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 40

HOCKEY

WELLINGTON DEFEATS OTAGO. The interprovincial hockey match Wellington v. Otago, was played at Day’s Bay on Wednesday afternoon. The weather was excellent, and the ground was fairly dry. The game was a ver.y interesting one, although a good deal of the play was below representative standard. Wellington put in a strong team, and entered the field favourites in the eyes of the large, gathering of spectators. The opening of the game was characterised by some very . scrappy play, whatever advantage there was resting with Wellington. After a few minutes, the Otago men livened up; and a determined forward rush was instituted by Calder,, Cuttle, and Gower. An excellent chance of scoring, however, was thrown away by Rutherford, who failed to stop the ball, letting it out of the ring. Then followed a fine struggle in front of the. Wellington goal, but the good defensive work of the local backs averted a score. The centring of the blues (Otago) was also very bad, and lost them some fine chances of reaching the net. A free hit for obstruction on the part of Rutherford gave the yellow-and-blacks relief for a time, and White justsaved a goal by kicking out m the face of the Wellington forwards. A few moments afterwards another goal was prevented bv Moore, who, running iu, brilliantly hit out the ball from the goalmouth. Otago once more took a hand m the attack, but Goodman hit too hard, and drove the ball over the goal-line. Some very fine give-and-take play ensued round the Wellington goal, but the game was soon shifted to the other end of the field. The Otago backs, however, were sound in defence, and beat off the attack. Coming up strongly again, the blues almost scored, but. good play on the part of Hickson and Shuley prevented disaster. At this stage of the game Murphy, who had been playing well for Wellington as inside left, received a severe blow on the face, which necessitated his retirement for some time. He returned, however, a little before the end of the spell. ‘ Otago continued to press hard, but the excellent work of Hickson, and too hard hitting, kept the Southerners from scoring. Just before the end of the spell, the Wellington forwards instituted a scrambling rush, from which Eiliqtt shot the first goal of the match. Roused into action by this reverse, the blues swept down the field, headed by Rutherford, but Shuley kicked out. Soon after, Calder essayed a shot at goal, which narrowly missed, and the spell ended with the score—Wellington, 1; Otago, nil. On the opening of the second spell the ball .was secured by Smythe, who brought it dangerously near Otago s goal. Elliott, however, failed with the shot. The Otago men again began to press, and their forwards played ex-

cellently. Hickson carried the ball im the ring, and from the penalty shot the blues almost found the net, but the ball being knocked out, it was secured by Smytlie, who 6oon took it well out of. the danger zone. Wellington began to press hard once more, but great forward play on the part of Otago shifted the play to the other end. Hickson, however, was too good a full-back for even the Otago forwards, and with Ashbolt lie set up a defence which was impenetrable. A brilliant opening was made by Calder, and a score seemed certain, but once more Hickson was in liis place, and the rush resulted in nothing. Seeming to tire for a time, the Otago men fell back, and the Wellington forwards, taking advantage of the cessation of the attack, rallied, and Mufphy shot a line goal from the outside of the ring. Wellington 2, Otago nil. A few minutes after liirkett headed a fine rush, and was rewarded with another goal. Wellington 3, Otago nil. Otago now awakened from tlieir lethargy, and an almost certain score was saved right under the bar by Ashbolt:, Soon after, from a corner hit, Gower shot a magnificent goal, (Hawing first blood for his side. Wellington 3, Otago L From a throwin Rutherford got away in fine style, but the ball was stopped in time by Reid. Calder, with a neat shot, placed the ball in the circle, but was obstructed by Shelley. A penalty bully was granted,- and Murphy getting over the line, the referee awarded a goal to Otago. A short period of even play followed, and the whistle sounded with the score: Wellington 3, Otago 2. During the spell, Thomsen, of Otago, received a nasty knock in the face, but was able to play, although with an eye bandaged, which" considerably effected his usefulness. Of the Wellington team perhaps tho most prominent was Hickson at fullback, ' who played an excellent game, and who may be said to have won the game for his side by keeping down Otago's score. His companion, Ashbolt, was also “on the spot" whenever he waa needed, and put in some pretty work. The halves were not a great success, although Campbell played a good game at times. Murpliy, Birlcott, and Elliott, of the forwards, were often prominent, but their play was not in any way exceptionally brilliant. Shuley, in goal, was as safe and cool as ever. The Otago keeper, White, also played well, but was not so cool as liis rival. All the forwards, Rutherford, Gower, Cuttle, Carder, and Madill, did well, and proved a fine scoring line. W lth a less deadly defence they would run up a big total of goals. Tho backs were not so' good as tlieir opponents, although Goodman and Moore at half put m some good work. > Mr A. J. Cathie made an excellent referee.

After the match the Otago team was entertained at tea at the Y.M.C.A. rooms. Mr H. N. Holmes was in the chair, . and a welcome was extended to the visitors by Messrs H. S. Hart, and C. S. Falconer, wlio complimented the team on their came. Mr Goodman, the Otago captain, replied on behalf of liis men. The team went straight to the Southern boat, a number of members of the association bidding them farewell. A match between representatives ot the Wednesday players, and the Saturday juniors provided a very close “go," each side scoring three goals. SENIOR COMPETITION. The senior hockey matches were continued on Saturday afternoon at Day s Bay. Just before the commencement of the games rain began to fall, and continued incessantly until the call of time. Good play was, therefore., out of the question, and the games degenerated into a mud scramble. The hitting of the ball was more a matter of luck than of skill, as players could hardly keep their feet long enough to make anything like a good stroke. UNITED (7) v. VICTORIA COLLEGE (0). For some time after the opening of the game it looked as if the collegians were going to lower the colours of the hitherto invincible United. Time and again they broke through the defence of the reds, maintained as it was by Hickson and Ashbolt, a very fine pair of backs, but almost invariably bad shooting lost the greens wliat should have been a certain goal. It was not till well on in the first spell that United made any kind of a rally at all, and then it was more by good luck than by good play that they succeeded in scoring. They placed in all four goals, obtaiued by Hollis (2), Elliott, and Smytlie, but to say that on the play United were four goals better than tlieir opponents would be to miss the mark by a very considerable margin. In the second spell the reds added three more goals to their total, the scorers being Hollis, Birlcett, and Elliott. KARORI (6) v. VIVIAN (2). •

The result of the Karori-Vivian game could never be doubted, but still the blacks had to go hard for their win. There is not a piuckier team in the competition than Vivian, who every week play the uphill game with the greatest courage. The first spell was rather the easier one for Karori, for they scored five goals, as against their opponents one. For Karori—Putnam (2), Willis, Cathie, and Campbell found the net, while Donovan scored for Vivian. The second spell, however, showed a considerable difference, for Vivian soared another goal, obtained by Browning, while Karori succeeded in getting only a goal from a penalty bully, which was placed by Horrox. A REPRESENTATIVE GAME. PALMERSTON, July 27. The representative hockey matcliJNelson v. Manawatu was played heretot ~resulted in a win l£>r ManaSSk'by 5 °goale to 1. The game .-was vorV open. Manawatus score .should ■have *eu larger, huh faulty shooting prevented its augmentation. The Nelson men hardly showed their r6a^' having played four matches on ; the eoafifc ainca Monday, •"! me R