HOCKEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2993, 26 July 1911, Page 65

HOCKEY.

SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT.

The seven-a-side tournament at Forbury Park on Saturday was a complete success from every point of view. The grounds were in good playing condition, and though the afternoon was none too warm for spectators on a rather exposed ground they were kept interested by a long programme of evenly-contested games. Out of 29 matches only five were won by a greater margin than one goal. In quite a number of the games extra time had to be played in order to decide the contests, and this resulted in the Men’s Senior final not being reached until 5 p.m. A start was made in the endeavour to get the series completed, but after seven minutes’ play the referee whistled the teams off, ae the darkness was beginning to make the game dangerous. This competition will have to be settled between Otago and St. Martin’s at a later date. The attendance numbered between 700 and 800. The teams took the field promptly at the ""proper times, and there were matches continually in progress from 2.30 till 5 p.m. The results are as follows: — LADIES’ A GRADE. First Round. Waiata 3 goals, defeated University nil. University attacked strongly in the first few minutes, and the best of Waiata’s defence was wanted'. Waiata then took charge, and playing with- fine judgment and combination scored 3 goals in rapid succession, and ran out winners by that margin. Otago 1, defeated Monona nil, in a strenuous game. There was very little between the teams, but Otago’s pass'ng gave them the slight advantage they had. Ravensbourne 1, defeated High School nil. Both teams played fast, neat hockey, but Ravensbourne were quicker to push home an advantage. Mornington and St. Joseph’s were 1 all at the call of time, and had to play three extra spells before Mornington secured the deciding gcal. Mornington 2, St. Joseph’s 1. Second Round. Waiata 1, Otago nil. Otago put up a strenuous resistance and occasionally threatened Waiata’s goal. The defence of the latter was very sound, and when the chance came was quickly turned into attack with the above result. Mornington 1, Ravensbourne nil. Good play by both teams, but Mornington a little the better. x F'nal. Waiata and Mornington provided a very exciting game, each side attacking very strongly. Waiata just missed the net at the end of a fine passing run, but shortly afterwards came again and secured the only score of the game, thus winning the banner. LADIES’ B GRADE. First Round. Braemar 1, defeated Waiata ml. Albion 1, defeated Momona nil. Dunedin .2, defeated St. Joseph’s nil. Girton 1, defeated Otago nil. High School 6, defeated St. Joseph’s II nil. Second Round. Dunedin 1, defeated Girton nil. There was no score at the call of time, and three extra spells were played before Dunedin netted and won. A very exciting game. Albion 1; defeated Braemar nil in a close match. Third Round, Albion defeated High School, 1 goal to nil. Final ' Dunedin established an early lead over Albion, and continued to attack, ending up the gome with a score of 4 goals to nil, and thus winning the competition, MEN’S SENIOR. First Round. St. Martin’s, 1; University, nil. The play was very fast and even. St. Martin’s scored in the first spell, and ’Varsity, though attacking very hard at times, were never able to equalise. Otago, 1; Gymnastic, nil. Otago played with fine combination, and though Gymnastic contested every inch of the way. the Black-and-Whites were just a little the better of two good teams. Hardware, 1; Union, nil. The winning forwards were' very fast, and quick .to take advantage of openings. Union made a good gam© of it. Y.M.C.A., 3; City, nil. Fin©combination, hard hitting, and fast following soon placed Y.M.C.A. in the lead, and in the last live minutes the game was theirs. Second Bound. St. Martin’s, 2; Hardwatfe, nil. Hardware mad© a good attempt, but St. Martin’s seven played like clockwork, and soon put matters beyond doubt, Otago, 1; Y.M.0.A., nil. The best game of the day, and a very gruelling one. Both sides played almost faultless hockey, passing, fielding, and clearing being brilliant, and the pace exceptionally fast. No score was registered .in the two regulation spells, and time had to be extended twice. The game was still even in the fourth spell until Oulliford got away on Otago’s left wing, centred to Oalder in the circle, and the latter caught the net with a smart shot. Final. Still to be played between Otago and St. Martin’s. MEN’S JUNIOR. First Round. Gymnastic, 2; Union, 1. , Hardware, 1; Y.M.C.A., nil. City, 1; All Saints’, nil. A very hard game, requiring six extension spells. Second Round, University, 1; Hardware, nil. Gymnastic, 2; City, 1. In each of these games play was very even, and extra time had to be played. Final. University defeated Gymnastic by 1 goal to nil in a very stubborn battle. Gymnastic did most attacking in the first spell, and kept the ’Varsity goalkeeper very busy. The play of both goalkeepers was above junior standard, and each saved his side repeatedly. WEST COAST v. BULLER. GREYMOUTH, July 19. A hookey match for the Mawhera and Nordon cups was played here to-day between 'West Coast and Buller, and resulted in a win for the Coast by 2 goals to nil. AUCKLAND MATCHES. AUCKLAND, July 23. The hockey matches yesterday resulted as follows: —Auckland and University teams drew, each side scoring 2 goals. United and Ponsonby also played’ a drawn game, and North Shore defeated Christchurch by 3 goals to 1. University has now a clear

lead for the championship, which should be won by them.

HAWKE’S BAY v. WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, July 23. Another challenge has been stalled off by the holders of the Hockey Shield. Hawke’s Bay met Wellington at Day’s Bayyesterday, and suffered defeat by 3 goals to 2. At half time the challengeis seemed sure of victory, the score standing at 2 to nil in their favour. The ground was slippery, and this militated against a good display of hockey. Owing to an injury sustained on Friday, Bullick (Hawke’s Bay) stood down, Nioholls taking his place. From the “ bully ” the Wellington (Yellow) forwards carried the ball to the goal, where it was mulled. Then the White forwards secured, but Hickson pulled them up. The Wellington forwards came on, but Bottrell saved very well, and play became neutral.' Hallett took a shot, but gave sticks. Nevertheless Dwyer saved. At this stage play was somewhat desultory, entirely lacking the excitement of the Canterbury match. Alter 20 minutes play Hallett scored by a fine shot —too fast for Dwyer. I—o.1 —0. Then Shalky scored. Dwyer ran out, and failed, and the hit in was easy. The goals followed each other in) quick succession. r t —$. It did not appear that Wellington had infused any life into the game up to this stage, and their opponents appeared to be considerably faster. They continued to remain in Wellington territory. Then the Wellington forwards came on, but Loader overran himself, missing a fairly easy shot from a corner. Wellington threatened vigorously, but a kick stopped the play. Loader hit in, but the ball struck a stick, and went behind. Atkinson beat three Wellington forwards, and carried the ball well down. Hickson missed through one-handed play, but Hallctt’s shot failed. The visitors still attacked, and exhibited far and away more dash than their opponents. Again Wellington were in the circle, but the solitary forward was entirely unsupported, and the Hawke’s Bay men gained possession. Then the half-time whistle blew. On the resumption of play Wellington came on gamely, but Bottrell rescued by giving a corner. In a couple of moments Wellington scored. 2—l. Loader passed to G. Strack, who hit in. Tomcana, in goal, put his hands down to save, but Strack was too quick, and found the net. Fraser (Hawke’s Bay) had a shot at goal, but it went wide. Wellington started on a pretty rush, Loader passed to Murphy, who was cleverely intercepted by Bottrell. From this on the game was more willing. Wellington attacked very hotely, hut could not penetrate the defence. Loader, when in an excellent position, collided with a player, and seemed hurt, - but he went on. From a corner, resulting on the late attack, G. Strack stopped the ball, and 0. Strack hit in easily. 2 —2. The game became more exciting. Just then Wellington just missed another chance. Hickson made a brilliant strike. Loader centred, but Murphy failed to stop the ball when the goal was almost undefended except for the goalkeeper. Murphy did not appear to be as resourceful as G. Davies. Play became more open and more spectacular. Individual play improved, hut the same cannot be said for the combination. Just after this the forwards did show some combination, but the effort was resultless. C. Campbell passed to Loader, who scored. 3 —2. In response to an exhortation from the crowd Loader was given more of the ball, and this was advantageous. -Hawke’s Bay attacked for a spell, but they were repulsed. Again Campbell got hurt, play being hung up for a couple of minutes. Loader found the net, but a breach had taken place. The visitors attacked very strongly. Near the close they had a difficult chance, but the backs extricated themselves. No further score took place. Messrs J. Gendall and G. Carver were the referees.