WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 25342, 22 July 1935, Page 5

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

REPRESENTATIVE GAME SOUTHLAND DRAW WITH NORTHERN In ideal weather and on a fast ground, the representative womens hockey match between Northern and Southland ended in a draw, 2 all, on Saturday afternoon. Keen interest was taken in the fixture by a fairly lal 'Be crowd who were treated to a fast and keenly fought game throughout. When Northern played Southland at last year, the Maroons were defeated by five goals to one, but though Southland did not avenge the defeat on Saturday, they put up a promising showing against their formidable rivals and territorially had the advantage. Play at times was of a ragged nature, but bright combined movements and repeated onslaughts launched by each side made the game always interesting and, on occasions, exciting. Southland, had a 2—nil lead at half-time, but their opponents wiped off the deficiency in the second spell. Each side strove hard to gain the winning goal, but there was no alteration to the score. In order to give a thorough test to certain players, the Southland selector gave them a game throughout the whole match. One or two proved disappointing; on the other hand, others justified their inclusion in the team. The Maroons showed, in many directions, that they had profited by their coaching, but their circle work is still in need of improvement. O. McMillan, the Southland goalie, brought off some good saves, but, on at least two occasions was on the lucky side. She showed enterprise, though she should have used her feet more in kicking clear. V. Robb was the mainstay of the rearguard, and in a new position carried off the honours of the game, for she repeatedly extricated her side from trouble. R. Leith, B. McCallum and M. Gerken (the halves), all acquitted themselves creditably under a heavy burden. D. Gray was the outstanding forward in the Southland line. She showed clever stick-work and good ball-control and much of the play came from her wing. E. Bell played a hard, fighting game, being always at hand when required. The Northern goalie (M. Wright) also brought off some clever saves and was really called upon more often than O. McMillan. A. Hoffman and A. Bond were solid on defence while all the halves worked well. The outstanding forward was K. Bond, though the quintet, as a unit, were always aggressive whenever occasion arose. The teams were:— Southland.—O. McMillan; L. Shirley, V. Robb; M. Gerken, R. Leith, M. McCallum; I. Rewcastle, M. Mclntyre, E. Bell, M. White, D. Gray. Northern.—M. Wright; A. Hoffman, A. Bond; R. Mcßain, F. Shuttleworth, M. Sheriff; L. McDonald, K. Bond, C. Reidy, G. Jones, W. Mason. The Play. Southland were first on attack, but M. Sherriff sent play back to the twentyfive where V. Robb and L. Shirley each cleared in turn. Northern pressed and, after O. McMillan had run out to hit clear a shot from K. Bond’s stick, V. Robb ultimately put Southland on attack. M. Mclntyre and I. Rewcastle figured in some aggressive work on the left wing and M. Leith showed up in confining _>lay to her opponents’ territory. The Southland forwards combined well in a passing rush to test the defence. A. Bond cleared, but M. Gerken sent her forwards back again. E. Bell shot hard, M. Wright bringing off a good save. B. McCallum, who had taken some minutes to settle down, became steadier and, clearing hard in the face of a coUnter-attack led by K. Bond and C. Reidy, gave the ball to D. Gray. The winger gained ground on the right flank to send across a beautiful centre, which E. Bell picking up well, sent into the net. Southland 1, Northern 0. Play was fast, attack and counter-attack following in close succession though Southland were maintaining the territorial advantage. V. Robb was a tower of strength in the Southland full-back line, and repeatedly saved ugly-looking situations. The Maroons had a lucky escape when K. Bond, receiving from F. Shuttleworth, evaded L. Shirley and just missed the goalmouth. M. Mclntyre and I. Rewcastle returned play downfield and the line swung into action promisingly but offside gave relief to Northern. The Southland full-backs were playing high upfield and Northern found it difficult to break away. Good work by M. White saw the ball come in from her to her centre. M. Mclntyre failed to pick it up, but I. Rewcastle, from a difficult angle, sent in a stinging shot. Southland 2, Northern 0. Playing a cool yet determined game, M. Leith held up W. Mason when she broke away, but Northern persevered and weak clearing by L. Shirley had the Maroons defending stoutly. B. McCallum cleared strongly and D. Gray, playing bright hockey, twice sent across good centres. M. Mclntyre shot hard but missed. Each side attacked in turn, play travelling up and down field at a fast pace. W. Mason and G. Jones made a good run on the right wing but O. McMillan ran out to clear. Southland were playing with confidence despite one or two links in the team being disappointing. Just on half-time, C. Reidy, G. Jones and W. Mason combined well in a determined rush which broke down, however, when G. Jones’ shot went wide.

Northern attacked on the resumption, R. Mcßain sending L>. McDonald down the left flank. M. Gerken was prom.inent in sound defensive play and the Maroons looked dangerous as the ball travelled from I. Rewcastle right across to D. Gray on the other wing and back to the centre. A. Hoffman brought relief and a bright effort by W. Mason saw her beat L. Shirley and centre hard. K. Bond, unmarked, made no mistake with a solid shot. Southland 2, Northern 1. Southland retaliated, the forwards penetrating through to the circle only to be repulsed. D. Gray, who was playing a clever, aggressive game, beat the defence all the way but shot wide. E. Bell brought the ball handy to I. Rewcastle who, too, lost a great chance to score. Northern carried the engagement into the Maroons’ territory and C. Reidy sent in a fast shot from the edge of the circle. It was accidentally deflected from L. Shirley’s stick into the goal. Southland 2, Northern 2. Southland were infusing much vigour into their work and Northern were forced to concede three corners in close succession. From one, M. Mclntyre saw her hot shot brilliantly saved by the Northern goalie. A long clearing hit by Northern saw W. Mason dart into the circle. V. Robb cleared but K. Bond recovered the ball. With only the goalie to beat, she missed her objective. Northern were combining effectively in dangerous forward attacks, M. Gerken and V. Robb being outstanding in defence at this stage, though M. Leith and B. McCallum strongly supported them. Following aggressive play by I. Rewcastle, Northern conceded a corner and then another to save a hot shot from M. Mclntyre’s stick. D. Gray, M. White and E. Bell next became associated in a bright combined movement and a melee took place in Northern’s circle where the Maroons did everything but score. Southland were harassing the Northern rearguard as D. Gray worked play down the right

flank to send across several good centres. Then E. Bell carried all before her to shoot hard, M. Wright saving. Amid excitement, M. White broke through only to see her shot saved at the expense of a corner. Again, the Maroon forwards entered their opponents circle and Northern were lucky to save a score against them. Northern retaliated in a series of dangerous rushes, K. Bond being always prominent V. Robb extricated her side from trouble, as also 7 did L. Shirley. Back came L. McDonald, K. Bond and C. Reidy, however, and O. McMillan was somewhat lucky in just turning the ball round the post. E. Bell, M. Mclntyre and I. Rewcastle broke right through again, only cool work by A. Hoffman and A. Bond saving the situation. A torrid exchange of attacks ensued but neither side could score the winning goal, the match thus ending in a draw—two all. Messrs H.S. Cordery and F. Hinton refereed. CURTAIN-RAISER GAME. As a virtual further trial for several of the players taking part, a curtainraiser game to the main match was played between Southland A and Southland B. Pla ’ in the main, was of a ragged nature, though there were occasional glimpses of bright work. The A team were the first to score, J. Hagen making a good dash down the right flank to centre well. b. Holland was handy and found the net. Near half-time D. Maley equalized when she pic! _d up a centring hit from P. Steans. J. Hemmings goaled for the A eleven soon after the resumption of play, but D. Mulvey, in a solo burst, went right through the defence to equalize. In the dying stages of the game, V. Millard found the net for the A team to give then, a win by 3 gc to 2. Mr V. Taylor referc *d the game. VISITORS ENTERTAINED. Following the match, the visiting Northern team and officials were the guests of the Southland Association at a dinner at the Railway Hotel. In returning thanks, Mr A. J. Heath (president of the Northern SubAssociation) mentioned the sporting manner in which the game had been played and referred to the marked improvement in play of the Southland team that day compared with the eleven which had been defeated b Northern at Dipton last year. He congratulated the Maroons upon their performance and remarked that Northern had been somewhat fortunate in making a draw of the match. In conclusion, Mr Hea i extended an invitation to the Southland B team to play a Northern B eleven at Dipton. Such a match, he considered, would go far towards stimulating interest in the sport on the pari of the public and younge players alike. Mr J. H. Holland (president of the Southland Association) referred to the cordial relations existing between the Northern and Southland Associations and to the value of the annual matches between their teams. His association, too, was cognizant of the necessity for fostering the sport among the younger players and was catering for them by means of the curtain-raiser REPRESENTATIVE PRACTICE. The following players are requested to attend the next representative practice at 7 p.m. at the Drill Hall tomorrow: N. McKenzie, J. Jack, N. Bell, H. Myers, M. Belsham, M. Gerken, M. Mclntyre, I. Rewcastle, E. Bell, D.lBray, P. Steans. P. Wilson. The following country players are to keep in strict training: O. McMillan, V Robb, B. McCallum, I. Baxter, R. Leith, J. Hagen, L. Shirley, R. Kevern, M. Valli, E. Sinclair, M. McEwan, M. White. MEN’S GAMES COMPETITIONS CONTINUED. CENTRAL WIN AGAIN. HIGH SCHOOL DEFEAT COLLEGIATE A. The men’s hockey competitions were continued at Queen’s Park on Saturday afternoon, the weather overhead being ideal. The grounds, which are badly in need of rolling, soon became soft and were easily churned up, making accurate passing and clever stickwork difficult. Central maintained their unbeaten record, defeating Civil Service A by four goals to one. High School are now a force to be reckoned with and proved too mobile and too fit for Collegiate A. Civil Service I and Collegiate I. played short, but the former team won by means of their better combination. The following tables show the position of the teams in their respective grades:— Senior.

SENIOR MATCHES. Playing at Doon street, Civil Service I. defeated Collegiate I. by five goals to one. Both teams were short of a player or two, but the match was played at a fast pace and was, for the greater part of the game, evenly contested. Collegiate I. were the first to score, their long hitting tactics finding holes in the defence and allowing Shields to break away and score. Civil Service seemed unable to settle down and at half-time the score was even, one goal all. In the second spell the shorter passing methods adopted by Civil Service proved more effective and a general improvement could be noticed. Hardcastle (3), C. Anderson and Dakin scored for Civil Service who, at the close of time, were winning by five goals to one. Mr R. M. McLean was the referee. HIGH SCHOOL IMPROVE. High School scored their second consecutive victory on Saturday when they defeated Collegiate A by five goals to two. At halftime the score was one —nil in favour of High School, Rigby’s and Stirling’s sound defence stopping many likely looking movements. As the game progressed, however, Collegiate began to tire and School gained the ascendancy. McLean, who was playing in the forwards for some of the time, revealed his versatility by scoring four of his side’s goals. Kennedy, who played soundly throughout, also scored one goal. Donaldson and Mullen were the most prominent of the Collegiate I forwards and scored a goal each. The I School defence was sound, but lacked enterprise and initiative. Mr G. Hope was the referee. STILL UNDEFEATED. Central were too solid all round for Civil Service A, who are a strange mixture of good and indifferent players, and finally won by fourj

goals to one. The Civil Service backs found it difficult to keep the fast Central forwards from scoring and from a penalty corner Paterson opened his side’s account. Taylor, who is playing well, at present, was instrumental in keeping the score down to two-nil at half-time, Roberts beating him with a hard shot just before the whistle blew.

Civil Service began better in the second spell and Souness and McKelvey carried play to the Central circle where they had to be content with a corner. Smythe cleared with a hard shot and Central were once more on attack. Paterson found an opening and with only the goalie to beat sent in a stinging shot, but it struck one of the posts and bounded back into play, allowing Jenkins to clear. Woodfield had a scoring chance when a powerful clearing hit caught the Central defence napping. He was badly obstructed in the circle by Smythe, and from the ensuing penalty bully Souness scored a good goal. From this stage, Central’s superior combination had Civil Service in trouble, although Jenkins and J. Richards were outstanding on defence. Roberts gained ground on the wing for Central and passed to Paterson who sent in a hard shot which gave the goalie no chance. Central’s fourth and final goal was gained by Moore following a tussle in front of the goal-mouth. Messrs L. Holmes and J. Wren controlled the game. JUNIOR MATCH. Some interest was taken, in the junior game between Technical A ano High School B. High School defeated Technical in the first round by the narrow margin of one goal after a hard fought game. In the early stages of their second encounter it seemed as if High School would again emerge victorious, but their forwards were unable to finish off their movements. Technical were leading by one goal to nil at half-time, but scored three more goals in the second spell. Watson (3) and Crosbie scored for Technical and these two forwards and Melrose were largely responsible for Technical s victory. The other junior match will be played during the week. SEVEN-A-SIDE FINAL. Central scored a well-earned victory in the seven-a-side final, postponed from last week. A territorial advantage in a game such as this does not always mean Victory; defence may be turned into attack with one deft shot. Central scored their only goal in the first spell when a softly hit ball rolled into the corner of the net.. It was noticeable that when the Civil Service team tightened up their play they became dangerous. The looseness of their general play let Central obtain control of the ball and possession in a seven-a-side means victory. Fields played a fine game for Central and displayed undoubted ability.

P. W. Points L. D. F. A. Tl. Central 6 6 ■ - — 35 5 12 Civil Service I. 6 4 2 — 23 12 8 Civil Service A. 6 3 3 — 21 19 6 High School 6 3 3 — 18 24 6 Collegiate A 6 2 4 — 13 21 4 Collegiate I. 6 1 5—8 28 2 Junior. Points P. W. L. D. F. A. Tl. Technical A 4 3 - - — 34 5 6 High School B 4 3 - - — 13 7 6 High School C 3 2 14 26 1 Technical B 3 ■ 2 15 18 1