HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 21430, 26 June 1931, Page 4

HOCKEY

EASTERN DISTRICT FIXTURE. The following is an additional result of the Eastern Southland hockey fixture played on Wednesday:— EDENDALE 6 v. WYNDHAM 2. Edendale defeated Wyndham on the Edendale recreation grounds. The heavy Edendale eleven was too good for the less experienced Wyndham players, although the lighter team put up a very good showing and managed to secure two goals to the opposing team’s six. Mr H. B. Paulin held the whistle. SOUTHERN DISTRICT COMMENT. (By “Side-liner.”) The first match of the second round sees no alteration in the relative positions of the teams. Waimahaka defeated Waikawa 4—2 at Waimahaka, and Fortrose, at Fortrose, defeated Gorge Road by 8 goals'to nil. Otara journeyed to Tokanui and there, after a great game, managed to secure victory by 4 to 1. This match was easily the best I have seen this year. Both sides played good clean fast hockey, and the issue was in doubt almost to the end. Otara won on tactics, and were, if anything, the fitter of the two teams.

The game opened with Otara attacking strongly to have two hard shots saved in splendid style by L. McEwan, who is really brilliant between the posts. She saved some that I would have called almost impossible to stop. After this, play travelled up and down very quickly. The Tokanui forwards repeatedly got the ball, but were off-side. The centre and left wing, M. McEwan and E. Crosbie, were the worst offenders as well as being the pick of Tokanui forwards. They repeatedly lost chances by this fault. Eventually E. Blair managed to goal for Otara-* one of those slow ones just pushed over the line. Much fast play followed, but neither side had any further score when half-time w;s called. On resuming play. Tokanui came away strongly and eventually M. McEwan got away on her own to goal. This evened up the score and from then on both sides strove mightily to get the lead. In the last 20 minutes Otara seemed to gain the upper hand and B. Jennings, M. Milne and N. Ericson each netted one, while L. McEwan was called upon to save several hard shots. The last few minutes saw her move into the backs and E. Neill, right half, moved into her place Once the Tokanui forwards learn to combine they will have learned to score. They have some good material, but one or two of them are inclined to be selfish and once they are stopped there is no one to follow up. M. McEwan played a splendid solo game, but solo work was ineffective. She was apt to occasionally over-run the ball. J. McEwan, at centre half, is improving rapidly and did some very effective work, as also did'E.-Neill on the right half. This player is a great grafter and usually gets things done, though her play certainly lacks finish. M. Leith, the left half, plays a little too far back, but does good work. E. Smith and M. Lee, in the full-backs, did a great deal of effective spoiling work, but should try longer passes to their forwards as well as short ones to the halves. L. McEwan was splendid and, should anything prevent her playing in the full-backs for Southern, she should have at least an even chance for the goalie’s pads. _ Otara won on combination. No one player was outstanding and to single out any for special mention would hardly be fair. It was their best game to date, and even so they had no easy time. -,