K. CUP LOST

Southland Times, Issue 22107, 30 August 1933, Page 8

K. CUP LOST

HOCKEY TOURNEY EASTERN DEFEATED BY OTAGO SPARKLING PLAY (From Our Special Reporter.) Danncvirkc, August 29. Eastern Southland lost their grasp on the K Cup, which they have held for the last three years in succession, when, in the semi-final of the Dominion Championship Tournament to-day, they went down in defeat to the clever Otago eleven by 2 goals to 0, in a keenly fought struggle for supremacy. Following continuous rain both yesterday and this morning, the ground was" on the holding side, and work by the nippy Eastern vanguard was prejudiced as a consequence. The champions had bad luck early in the match when M. Gerken, their sound left-half, developed cramp and was unable to continue. R. Mcßain was moved up from the full back line and J. Simms took her place, but the absence of M. Gerken thrust a heavy burden on the halves, who at times were strengthened by H. Reid going back to help them when harrassed by the Otago forwards.

There was little between the two opposing teams in the first spell, Otago, if anything, having the better run of the play; but after half-time Eastern initiated determined onslaughts into their opponent’s territory and only the stubborn defence of the Otago backs, who bunched continuously in the circle, kept them at bay. It was a sparkling exhibition of hockey and a draw would have been a good indication of the relative merits of the opposing teams. Eastern made valiant efforts to gain the day but Otago, with the moral support of two goals in their favour, did not let up. Eastern were splendid in defeat and won admiration for the sporting manner in which they saw the Cup go from them. M. Nicol played an outstanding game in the Eastern vanguard, as did H. Reid, who was always potentially dangerous. T. White and M. Mclntyre did not display their true form, -while K. Bond did not show her usual initiative, even allowing for the stickiness of the ground. M. Sanson was brilliant in the half line both on attack and defence, while A. McDonald worked hard in the full back line.

The teams were:— Eastern.—M. Wright; R. Mcßain, A. McDonald; M. Sanion, F. Allen, M. Gerken; M. Nicol, M. White, H. Heid, K. Bond, M. Mclntyre. Otago.—H. Johnson; V. Scott, Z. Morris; M. Blagdon, L. Vidal, A. Mackie; R. Hunt, M. Scott, G. Vidal, R. Kreft, S. Vidal. Tlie Play Described. Otago attacked at the outset, G. Vidal, the centre forward, gaining ground. H. Reid, M. White and M. Nicol retaliated in a« short passing rush only to be pulled up by the Otago halves. Otago pressed, R. Hunt entering Eastern’s circle but A. McDonald relieved to halfway and K. Bond broke through, but the ball went over. Sure hitting by the Otago backs saw the vanguard attacking strongly, but H. Reid, showing dash, let her forwards into their opponent’s territory. L. Vidal cleared and the Otago vanguard, with clever stickwork, penetrated right through, G. Vidal beating the Eastern full backs, but her shot just missed the net. Otago were having the better if anything of the play and Eastern had several anxious moments as the nippy Otago forwards surged into their circle. M. Blagdon was prominent in holding up M. Nicol, but H. Reid broke away, H. Johnson, the Otago goalie, rushing out to save an awkward situation. S. Vidal gained ground down the right wing and, beating M. Gerken, came into the circle, A. McDonald saving at the expense of a comer. Eastern conceded another corner and all the Otago forwards surged into the goal mouth. The goalie fell and in the melee G. Vidal netted. Otago 1, Eastern 0. Otago Aggressive. Otago, heartened by their success, became again aggressive and Eastern, being hard pressed, conceded a corner. K. Bond came away strongly to be just held in time. Otago retaliated and again Eastern were harrassed. Offside play by R. Hunt spoilt a dangerous looking Otago forward movement. M. Gerken had to retire and J. Simms took her place. M. Mclntyre broke away in a good solo effort and Otago were forced to concede a comer. Eastern attacked determinedly but the defence stood. Otago were holding the champions all the way. Eastern conceded a comer, EL Reid cleverly clearing, and the spell ended about half-way. Eastern attacked strongly on the resumption of play, M. Nicol gaining ground on the right flank to centre well, H. Reid accepting the shot but her shot missed. Twice again Eastern were within an ace of scoring from a corner conceded by the Otago backs in their grim efforts to hold the dashing Eastern forward line. H. Reid received a nasty blow with the ball but pluckily carried on. H. Johnson brilliantly saved a stinging shot from M. Mclntyre’s stick. R. Hunt was prominent in a good dash up the left wing, M. Senson coming across quickly to clear.

Clever stickwork by the Otago forwards had Eastern in turn defending stoutly. G. Vidal beat the defence completely when she dashed away on a solo effort from halfway and shot hard, M. Wright effecting a splendid save. Eastern counter attacked, M. Nicol sending across a beautiful centre, but K. Bond just missed the net. Cool clean hitters, the Otago backs were holding Eastern grimly, and play was fairly even. The Eastern forwards surged into the circle, but could not finish off their hard won advantages, the defence being very solid. M. White beat the Otago halves to pass to M. Nicol, whose shot was brilliantly saved by J. Johnson. A rush by the Otago forwards saw the ball come out to R. Hunt, who, from a difficult angle, sent in a high shot which gave the goalie no chance of saving. Otago 2. Eastern 0. Cool Defence by Backs. K. Bond was injured, but later carried on. Otago pressed again, Eastern conceding two corners in close succession. M. Mclntyre cleared and Eastern attacked solidly. The Otago backs were very cool and held the opposing forwards resolutely. Eastern made desperate efforts to wipe out the deficit, but although they were frequently right in their opponents’ circle they had the luck against them, and the final whistle saw Otago victorious by two goals to 0. To-morrow Otago play Canterbury in the final for the K Cup. Eastern and the losing team out of Otago and Canterbury each hold the Floyd Shield and the Holder Cup respectively for six months. The Eastern team leaves here on Thursday and, after staying a day in

Wellington, reaches home on Saturday night. An honour has been conferrred on Mr G. C. Hamilton, Eastern’s manager, for he is chosen to referee the final tomorrow. SOUTHLAND’S PROTEST SYMPATHY WITH TEAM. CANTERBURY’S SPORTING OFFER. (From Our Special Reporter.) Danncvirkc, August 29. Officials of the Southland team are well pleased with the performance of the Maroons at the championship tournament, for despite the dismal forecasts of the critics at home, Southland emerged in fourth (equal) place from among the eighteen teams competing. With four wins and only one loss, and that loss by only the narrow margin of one goal, the Southland team, composed mainly of young players, can claim a record of which they can be justifiably proud, and the Maroons certainly excelled themselves. The Southlanders leave here on Thursday and will now spend Friday in Wellington, returning south by Saturday evening’s express. All were very disappointed over the Canterbury game which they were unlucky not to win for they held their clever and more experienced opponents throughout. It was not the defeat that occasioned disappointment, but the manner in which the game was controlled in the first half and with every reluctance the Southland officials deemed it their duty, both to the Southland Association and the team, to enter a protest. The Dannevirke Evening News in to-night’s issue reports the matter of the protest as follows: “At the conclusion of the Southland v Canterbury match, Southland entered a protest against a win being awarded in favour of Canterbury who won by 2 goals to 1, on the ground that time extra to the prescribed 35 minutes had been played in the first spell. The protest set out that there was no time-keeper present and that the first goal scored by Canterbury was netted during the additional time, when the ball in effect should have been “dead”. As the Southland manager, Mr H. K. Emanuel, was a member of the tournament committee, and as his team was directly interested in the protest, Mr J. C. Hamilton, manager of Eastern was nominated by Mr Emjinuel in his stead, Mr Emanuel arguing the merits of the protest. Mrs Richards, the Canterbury captain was also present. Both the referees. Miss M. Wilkins and Mr W. Carson, gave evidence before the committee. It is understood that Miss Wilkins stated that although she had a watch, she did not observe the time of commencement and was relying on a time-keep-er to notify half-time. Mr Carson’s version was that he had no watch and when he saw the Eastern team taking the field again to commence the second spell in their match he knew immediately that overtime had been played and he accordingly went to the pavilion to ascertain both the position and where the time-keeper was. On his return the match was stopped for the first spell. It is also understood that both referees quite frankly admitted that extra time had been played and that the goal scored by Canterbury had been netted in the extra period. He also admitted that neither referee had consulted with the other before half-time was sounded. “After considering the merits of the protest, the tournament committee did not sustain it, holding that the evidence was so indefinite that the decision of the referees must stand.”

It may well be that even had the match been ordered to be replayed Canterbury might have inflicted a heavier defeat, but Southland would have been quite satisfied under those conditions. The tournament committee, after the withdrawal of the interested parties, took half an hour thrashing on the merits and demerits of the protest and finally held that the evidence was so indefinite as to the actual extra time played, that the decision of the referees must stand. Such final decision, it is stated, was the score card handed in by the referees showing Canterbury 2, Southland 1, and with no further comment. Nevertheless, Southland officials found it difficult to follow the committee’s decision, for if it were sound, any score card handed in would immediately quash any protest (on whatever justifiable grounds). However, the protest was not sustained and there an unfortunate matter ends. The tournament committee held that the protest was not in any way trivial and the Canterbury captain sportingly expressed sympathy with Southland in the matter and offered to replay the game. The tournament committee, however, held that it would be opening the door too wide in future tourna-

ments were teams allowed to replay under such circumstances. General sympathy has also been expressed here by players and townsfolk alike to the Maroons. The Southland girls have not got over the disappointment, though they all regret this unfortunate ending to their otherwise successful achievements.