HOCKEY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16497, 1 August 1924, Page 3

HOCKEY.

BILLCLIFF (TP CONTEST

AGAIN WON BY ( GENTRY

There was a large, attendance on tin; reserve yesterday afternoon, when the lowri and Country ladies’ hotkey teams played off for the Billclilf cup. The weather was ideal, and a good exhibition of the game was given, the Country team winning hv 4 goals to 3 after an even and exciting contest. Country attacked strongly for the be ginning, but by good defence were kept well out of scoring distance. Flay then worked up the held, where Town endeavored to reach the circle, the attack (icing smothered. Soon after Country made a concerted movement, the forwards passing in grand style, and from a tussle iii front of the goal Mrs. Thompson scored. Town then made determined at tempts to equalise, only to he driven hack into their own territory. The first spell ended. Country being in the attack, vyith the score one goal to nit in favor of Country.

The second spell was the game of the season. Each side scored three goals, and the spectators were in a state ol great excitement. Town led off from the bullv and charged right down to the circle, where Miss Hill fount! the net Country then took a turn, and combined passing movements reached the circle, where Miss Hepburn scored. Town 1. Country 2. Almost; immediately after Town launched another attack, and Miss Hill scored her second goal, making the scores two all.

The pace was getting faster as tire game proceeded, and the players and spectators were worked up to a great state of enthusiasm. Town found’ an opening and reached the circle, where, from a struggle, Country" hit. the ball over the hack line. From the resultant penalty corner hit Miss Hei found the net from a beautiful shot. Town 3, Country 2. Not to he beaten, Country rallied. The hall was in and out of (lie circle for some time in a hard-pressed attack, when Miss Feotn. found the goal, thus equalising the scores again. Town 3, Country 3. Town again maeje several attempts to penetrate the defence, but. from one of these attacks lost the initiative, and, from a nice movement. Mrs. Thompson scored the winning coal. Country 4, Town 3. Soon after the whistle sounded, leaving Country winners of the Billcliff cup for the second year in succession.

On the play, Country deserved their win. Their forwards were all good. Miss Hill, from Ngatapa, in the half-line, played n brilliant game, and is worth her place in any rep. team. The same applies to Miss Robb. The sturdy hacks have not much to learn, and put up a sterling defence, also the Country goalie. Town’s most prominent players were Mrs. Croskery, Miss F. Hill and Miss Hei in the forwards, .who combined well together. Miss Fanning gave a. fair performance at centre-half, while Airs. Wood and Aliss G. Newey played brilliantly in the hacks. Miss N'gata, in goal, made several good saves.

The match was ahlv controlled by Messrs. Oracle and Henderson. At the conclusion of the match. Mr. A. S. Parker, vice-president of the Poverty Ray Hockey Association, said : t was iiis intention to present the whiners of the match with the Billcliff cup, hut. through sonic misunderstanding, it was not available. Everyone who had seen the match that afternoon could not help feeling proud of the exhibition of hockey as placed by the ladies of Poverty Ray. The winners of the Haapu rose howl were present, and before asking Mr, George llaapu to hand over the trophy to the captain of the Alabaki club, Mr. Parker said lie must thank the donor for the valuable trophy, and congratulate him on the spirit in which it was given. Three cheers were then given for the winners, and also for Mr. Haapu.

Mr. Heapu then addressed the crowd, first in Maori and then in English. His idea in presenting the llaapu rose bowl, he said, was to foster hockey amongst country ladv players, and he contended that on the play shown in the tnnrna-. ment the people of Poverty Ray must feel justly proud. Mr. ITanpu then called upon Mrs. Thompson, captain of the Maliaki Ladies Club, to accept the Hnapn rose bowl, the recipient retiring amid cheers. MEN’S GAME : A DRAWN CONTEST Prior to the big match, a game was played between men’s A and B teams a good game resulting in a draw. Each team contained one"extra player as rover which made the game all the harder. The A team, led by Armstrong, had l r strong forward 'line, and brought, about some good forward combination. Their half-line, too, had some good material, which! should attract the selector's eve. The B team, led bv Auld and Doyle, were strong in the forwards, but their combination was not as good as it might have, been. The B’s half-line made n good showing, and .the hacks made sonic splendid saves.. ■,, -