HOCKEY

Otago Witness, Issue 3833, 30 August 1927, Page 54

HOCKEY

NEW ZEALAND TEAM. WIN AGAINST VICTORIA. - BRISBANE, August 22. Ihe New Zealand hockey team defeated a strong Victorian combination at the hockey carnival at the Exhibition this morning by 8 goals to nil. The New Zealanders played a hard game throughout. Penalties "were awarded against them, from which, however, their opponents failed to score. In the second spell, a s on Saturday, the visitors settled down to steady combination, and towards the end of the game the Victorians were visibly tired, although they tried valiantly to stop the rout. Bell was a prolific scorer for New Zealand. Bough play was frequent.

The visitors played a splendid attacking game, Cole feeding the forwards admirably. From the outset the New Zealanders pressed strongly, plav immediately going to the Victorians’ end. At half time the New Zealanders were leading by two to nil. Of the total of eight goals, Bell scored four, while Seccombe, who also played a fine game, scored two. Spiers one, and Watts one. Although he had a comparatively easy time, Fletcher, i n goal, showed that he is an excellent custodian.

ANOTHER BIG WIN. • BRISBANE, August 24. Th-e New Zealand hockey team played a second Queensland team at the Exhibition this afternoon, _aud gained an easv victory by 11 goals to nil. The Queenslanders, lacking experience and combination, were unable to hold th e New Zealanders. The match was in the nature of a try-out, the visitors fielding mostly reserves.

lhe game was without special incident, although the New Zealanders pleased the onlookers with their excellent combination and knowledge of all branches of the game. 'lhe half time scores v.-ere 4to nil.

Seven more goals were amassed in the second half. Seccombe and Watts each scored three goals. Bell and Worsfold each two, and Edson one.

The play of the local men can only be described as scrappy. The New Zealanders have now played 12 matches in Australia, and have scored 103 goals as compared with 10 against. TEST MATCH IN AUSTRALIA. A DRAWN GAME. rl „ BRISBANE, August 28. lhe hockey test exhibition yesterday surprised followers of the game here, who anticipated a victory for the New Zealanders. but the Australians gave an excellent display and the match was drawn, each side scoring three goals. The game was free and open, the fortunes varying throughout, the issue being always in doubt. The brilliant combination of the New Zealanders was countered by the individual dash and doggedness of the Australians. After a quarter of an hour s play, as the result of a scrummage round the Australian goal, Spiers netted. Half time saw the board reading ■ New Zealand, 1 goal; Australia, 1 goal. Up till this time Australia appeared to have the better of the game, but after the resumption the New; Zealanders attacked strongly. Lusty scoring cleanly from the wing.

The New Zealand lorwards followed up again, forcing the defence back, and Bell scored. With an advantage of three goals to one, the New Zealanders were playing well, when Australia took the offensive, Nettleton scoring the second goal and completing an excellent movement. The Australian forwards attacked again, the New Zealanders falling back and losing position. Fletcher cleared, but Nettleton snapped up the ball, scoring the third goal and making the tallies even. Open play followed, but there was no change in the scores, although the New Zealanders showed superior combination.

The scores give a fair indication of the evenness of the game.

INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES. OTAGO DEFEATS SOUTH CANTER BURY. Otago had two successes in interprovincial hockey on Saturday afternoon, when junior and senior home elevens defeated the visit ing South Canterbury teams. Both games were played on the Oval under excellent overhead, but soft and greasy ground, conditions. In the senior game (Xago was victorious by 5 goals to 2, while the junior game resulted in a win by 4 goals to 1. The following teams took the field at 3 p.m. for the senior match:— South Canterbury.—Goal, D. Tunner; backs, R. Rcnnett and V. Fronting; halves —C. Henderson, A. Goodman, M. Brown; forwards—A. Quartermain, A. Bryant, A. Sharpe, G. Hughes (captain), and C. Voss. Otago.--Goal, R. Twose; backs, L. Ireland, J. Munro; halves—H. Withel, D. Gurr. H. Mayston; forwards—E. Rennick, L. Silver, A. Hinton (captain), R. Johnstone, C. Mayston.

South Canterbury launched an attack from the first bully and gained ground, but the rush was stopped bv Ireland, who put the ball across the field. A rush by the Otago forwards ended in a goal a few moments after the opening of play.—wago 1, South Canterbury nil. For a time thero was an even struggle about midfield. South Canterbury secured a position and a score was likely, but the opportunity was lost by an infringement. Otago then attacekd and Withel put in a good dribbling rush which was stopped bv Fronting, who cleared with a fine stroke. This gave the visitors another chance, and the forwards, with Voss and Hughes prominent, broke away. The movement ended in a corner, from which Otago secured' the ball, and the shot that followed a rush down field was well saved by the South Canterbury gaolie. Otago continued to attack. Mayston gsming possession at. the twenty-five and launching an attack that was broken by Rcnnett clearing. South Canterbury brisked up, and returned the attack, but a centre by Bryant was intercepted by the Otago forwards, who took the ball’ down field, the

movement ending in a bully on the twentyfive. H. Mayston took the ball from the bully smartly, and sent it out to the wing, but it was intercepted by Gurr. Play hung in midfield until South Canterbury up the attack, and a good rush ended by Twose stopping a shot by Bryant. Otago replied with a promising movement in which Ireland, Silver, and Rennick were prominent. This placed the ball in good position, and Mayston shot, but it went high. A free hit then gave Hinton a chance. Ho secured and threatened the visitors’ goal, but the chance was lost ->y offside play. Again Otago attacked, but the position was suddenly reversed when a centre from Silver was taken bv Sharpe, who carried play to the Otago circle, and beat the home goalie with an excellent shot.—Otago 1, South Canterbury 1. With the opening of their scoring, the play of the visitors improved and, for a time, they continued to attack. Then a pass by Hughes was defeated by Ireland, then Mayston headed a rush, taking the bail into the South Canterbury circle. The chance offered was thrown away by offside play. Otago kept up the pressure, and Hinton essayed a shot, but it was stopped by Tunner. Again the home teain was penalised for offside play, Johnstone being the culprit. A free hit gave Mayston chance to get away, but Otago was pulled up by the whistle, and South Canterbury followed with a brisk attack, in which the forwards got away and gained a corner. Bryant shot, but Twose saved. The call of half-time ended an-Otago attach in which <}. Mayston was prominent. When the game was recommenced there was a repetition of the events in the earlier portion of the first half. A few moments of play saw Otago on the attack. and Rennick scored with a shot from a difficult angle. Otago 2, South

Canterbury 1. Otago kept pressing the visitors hard, but the defence was strong and sound. Flay hung in midfield, the state of the ground preventing any real snap and speed in the efforts of either team, but Johnstone, Mayston, and Hinton combined in a rush that carried the ball well into opposing territory. There Johnstone goaled after a good solo run. Otago 3, South Canterbury 1. Shortly afterwards evidence of the state of the ground was provided when the ball was temporarily buried in the mud. Rcnnett retrieved it, and sent his forwards away. The attack ended by an obstruction given against Bryant, and Johnstone took the ball downfield and into the South Canterbury circle. Tunner saved, and a corner followed, from which South Canterbury cleared. Again Otago attacked, and Hinton broke away, but an infringement by Mayston spoiled any chance that might have been offering. Otago continued to press hard, but a shot by Gurr was cleared, and another by C. Mayston went high. Then South Canterbury took up the running, a score rapidly following a rush to the opposing circle, which ended in Quartermain gaining successful possession. Otago 3, South Canterbury 2. Bryant was injured, and was compelled to leave the field, after which South Canterbury attacked with Voss at the ball. Gurr relieved, and an infringement by Munro gave Hughes possession. A short rush was beaten, and the ball went to Silver, who took it down the line, and centred to Mayston, who shot wide of the goal. For a few moments South Canterbury attacked, but the Otago forwards reversed the position, and a good rush closed with a melee in front of the visitors’ goal, where Hinton found the net with an easy shot. Otago 4, South Canterbury 2. From then on Otago were on the attack almost continuously, Johnstone goaling after a further rush. The home eleven was still attacking strongly when the final whistle blew. The scores were: Otago 5 goals. South Canterbury .... 2 goals. Messrs G. Hewitt and L. Davis (South Canterbury) controlled the game. THE JUNIOR MATCH. The junior match was played earlier in the afternoon, and under better ground conditions. Throughout both halves the Otago team had the better of the game, and the scores—4 goals to 1 in favour of Otago—are a fair indication of the play, although for the most part it was limited to midfield, with no open or fast work. Both matches were attended by a fair number of spectators.

WELLINGTON v. TARANAKI. M ELLINGTON. August 28. Wellington beat Taranaki by four goals to three, Brown (2), Sykes, and Roberts scoring for Wellington, and Pennington, Free, and Nairn scoring for Taranaki. At halftime the score was 4 —o in favour of Wellington. LADIES’ GAME. WELLINGTON, August 28 Wellington 1 beat Wairarapa nil. Miss Dewhurst scored for ’Wellington. HATCH CUP TEAM. The following is the Hatch Cup team to play Canterbury Primary Schools next Saturday at Christchurch:—Forwards— E. Lerrigo (Albany). S. M’Curdv (Albany), E. Densem (Albany), K. ’Brown (Caversham), R. Harrington (Forbury) ; halves—L. Evans (Caversham), D. Densem (Albany), C. Veitch (Caversham); full-backs—J. Fowler (Caversham), P Sincock (Albany); goal, A. Marett (Caversham); emergencies—W. Abbot (Normal), R. Meinung (Albany). , If the Oval is unsuitable for play on Tuesday, the practice against a High School team will be played at St. Kilda Domain. OTAGO JUNIORS. The following team has been selected to represent Otago Juniors in the match against Canterbury Juniors at Chrischurch next Saturday Lane, MTiitburu, Barnett, Clark. Smith. Moore, Greenslade, Howie, O’Brien, Warrington, ArClatchie; emergencies—backs, C. G. Sew Hoy, Chapman; forward, Holden.