OTAGO’S WIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26791, 7 June 1948, Page 6

OTAGO’S WIN

Hockey

REPRESENTATIVE GAME SOUTHLAND DEFEATED SOME BRILLIANT PLAY In an exhibition marked by intelligent iforward play and smooth teamwork, U, uo o oeai ouuuiiana uy b goals to nil in a representative men’s hockey match played at the Oval on Saturday. The ground was in first-class condition and a good crowd of spectators gathered to watch an exciting game. Southland fought a losing battle most of the way. Their forwards lacked the ability to penetrate the! Otago defence, but determined efforts by the Southland full-backs prevented a heavier defeat. From the first whistle Otago attacked strongly gnd from a penalty corner L. Poole, the centre-forward, narrowly missed a goal. With effective short passing Otago had Southland on the defensive for the first few minutes of the game. Poole went through again, gave the ball to Sturman, who passed to the left-wing, D. St. John. The Southland goalkeeper saved a well-directed shot from St. John. , , , Soon after, P. Cassin, the Otago rightwing, made a dazzling run down the side line, but his centring shot had no results. Poole continued to feed the right wing, and Cassin narrowly missed the goal with> a good shot. Throughout the game Cassin gave an outstanding exhibition. He used his speed to the best advantage and gave the inside forwards plenty of the ball. 11. Crooks, who was accepting every opportunity in the inside-left position, beat the defence and went through by himself, but a melee in the circle prevented a goal. The Southland forwards then swept down the middle of the field, but Bedford cleared the ball. D. B. Semmens, the- Southland centre-forward, dodged three men and passed to his inside-left, but again the Otago defence was too solid. With a brilliant burst of dribbling, Cassin sent the Otago forwards away, but bustling tactics by the Southland fullbacks broke up the attack. After about 25 minutes of play, Poole passed the ball to Sturman who, after one attempt, found the net with an accurate shot. Two minutes later the ball came in from the Otago right flank, and Crooks, who was waiting in front of the goal, patted the ball in. , . . , The Southland forwards carried play into Otago territory, but the ball went to the Otago left-wing, St. John, who tested the goalkeeper with a stinging shot. St. John saw a good deal of the ball in the first half, and he was playing at the top of his form. The first spell ended with the score: Otago 2, Southland nil.

Otago had two successive long corners at the beginning of the second spell. From the second corner Poole passed to Crooks, who made no mistake. D. Davidson, the Southland inside left, then broke away and reached the Otago circle, where Bedford infringed. Southland was awarded a free hit but Carr maije a good save. Soon after Crooks missed from a penalty bully with the Southland goalkeeper. The Southland halves were playing with confidence at this stage of the game, but the frowards were not functioning smoothly enough. Otago’s fourth goal came when Crooks scored after receiving a pass from St. John. Near the end of the game Poole made a solo run to score with Sturman backing up in a handy position. Otago missed a grand opportunity to goal when Cassin smacked the ball across the field to Poole, who speculated, and the ball went into touch. Final score:—

Otago 5 Southland Nil The umpires were Messrs A. Hamilton and A. Chapman.

The teams were:—Southland: K. Davidson, M.' R. Keane, P. Skelt, A. J. Low (captain). W. J. Crawford, W. H. Seinmens, A. T. Skelt, D. Davidson, D. B. Semmens, W. J. Sinclair, J. F. Pettigrew. Otago: W. Carr, B. Bedford, E. Kofoed, Porter, L. Gurr (captain), D. R. Smith, D. St. John, H. Crooks, L. Poole, D. Sturman, P. Cassin.