WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27443, 17 July 1950, Page 2

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Rain Mars Play LEADERSHIP MAINTAINED Conditions were very unpleasant on Saturday for matches on the Oval and at Logan Park. At the beginning of the afternoon the grounds were . reasonably dry, but before the finish of the later games, heavy showers of rain made the surfaces very unsuitable, and the standard of play consequently deteriorated. The leading teams were involved in some very exciting and even games. University A and Training College A both won by the narrowest of margins. In the Senior B Grade OGHS retained its lead by defeating University C by the odd goal in three. Results in the Senior A Grade were:— University A 2, Kings A 1; Training College A 2, Momona 1; University B 2, Otago nil; Training College B 1, Kings B nil; Taieri, a bye. The positions of the teams in the Senior Grade is now as follows: — Championship Table

KINGS UNLUCKY After having the best of territorial advantage for most of the game, Kings A lost to University A in the last few minutes of the game. The game was played at a fast pace to begin with, but heavy rain made the surface greasy and play deteriorated into something of a slogging match in the final stages. From the opening stages, Kings pressed strongly and, in fact, for most of the first half, play was mainly in the University territory. Apart from occasional sorties by the University forwards, the Kings team appeared to be superior in all departments. There was no score until just before half time, when D. Wood scored for Kings. In the second half University improved and struggled hard to equalise, but the .sound defence of P. Hendry at full-back, and, particularly the brilliant goalkeeping of B. Hendry, kept the University forwards at bay. The equalising score came when M. Norris accepted a centre from J. Howie and scored with a neat flick shot. Play thereafter was very even and exciting, and it was only a few minutes before the final whistle that University scored the winning goal when P. Bryce followed up well and passed to M. Norris, who scored again. The umpires were Miss T. Sew Hoy and Mr W. McLeod.

A GOOD RECOVERY After being one goal down at half time, Training College A rallied well in the second half and snatched a narrow victory over Momona. Early in the first half, Momona staged several break-away movements, although the general run of play favoured the College team. The only score in the first half came when play in the large puddle which had developed in the goal-mouth, completely demoralised the College defenders and a somewhat lucky goal was credited to J. Ashby, although the College defenders had quite a lot to do with the score against.them. The first half had seen a series of determined attacks by the College forwards leading to a number of penalty corners, but no score resulted. In the second half. Training College dominated play, apart from some solo efforts by C. Middleton and J. Ashby, for Momona. The equalising score came when P. Poppelwell accented a good centre from V. Latta, and shortly afterwards B. Cook scored the winning goal from a rebound from the Momona goal-keeper, who was suffering from the same disadvantage of a small lake in the goal-mouth that had caused the College defenders so much trouble in the first half. For the winners, M. Cowie played well throughout, P. Mills played one of her best games this season, and the two wings, B. Robinson and V. Latta, made a lot of ground. For Momona, D. Leckie was conspicuous. The umpires were Messrs W. A. Scott and M. A. Kilpatrick. A GOOD WIN University B registered a d convincing victory against Otago in an early game on a ground which was reasonably dry and fast. In the opening stages, Otago pressed strongly, but the University defence, which was without the services of H. Black in goal, proved adequate. University scored first after 15 minutes’ play, when J. Crawford accepted a good opportunity. There was no further score in the first half, and play was very even. University scored again when the leftinner, J. Myers, scored a goal. For University, Y. Ellis, J. Crawford and J. Sonntag played well. For Otago, the two fullbacks, J. Cherry and S. Stewart, were outstanding, and A. Simmers played her usual cool and steady game. The umpires were Mrs E. Sonntag and Mrs J. Barnes. MISSED CHANCES Although Training College won by the only goal scored in the match against Kings B, the score could have been much higher if the College forwards had made the most of their opportunities. The College team had much the best of the game throughout, and occasional raids into College territory by D. Budd, S. Joyce and C. O’Connell in the Kings forwards, were broken up by cool and clever play by H. McCormick and K. Lepper. The College wings played well, and the only weakness was apparent in the inside forwards, who could not accept the many chances offered to them. E. Roberts, on the right wing for College, was outstanding, and scored a very godd goal. The umpires were Misses N. Gourley and T. Sew Hoy. Results in other grades:— Senior B Grade—Wesley 2, Training College C 1; Concord 6, University D nil; OGHS 2, University C 1; Columba College 8, Otago B nil; Momona B a bye. Intermediate A Grade.—Columba College B 5, Kings C 1; University E 1, Training College D 1; Momona C 5, Opoho 1. Intermediate B Grade.—OGHS D 5, OGHS E nil. ' Junior A Grade.—Momona D 2, Wesley B 1. Junior B Grade.—Technical College B 1, OGHS F nil.

Taieri P. 6 W. 6 L. D. Goals F. A. Pts. 37 7 12 University A 6 6 — 30 8 12 Training Coll. A .. 6 4 2 — 17 12 8 Kings A .. 6 3 2 1 15 6 7 Momona 6 3 3 — 12 12 6 University B 6 2 3 1 13 20 5 Otago 7 1 5 1 11 25 3 Training Coll. B .. 7 1 5 1 8 26 3 Kings B 6 — 6 — 6 33 —