WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 22916, 15 June 1936, Page 4

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Saturday’s Games WINS TO EX-HIGH AND COLLEGIATE The grounds were firm underfoot and the weather was fine but cold on Saturday afternoon when the Southland Women’s Hockey Associations competition was advanced a further stage. In a game that was not as onesided as the final score might seem to indicate, Ex-High defeated Technical by five goals to one, while Collegiate won its match against Union by seven goals to one. TECHNICAL v. EX-HIGH. The teams were:— Technical. —H. Eunson; A. Bateman, J. Hansen; K. Spence, P. Birch, I. Tuffery; H. Valentine, J. Hemmings, E. McDonald, N. Johnston, E. Sinclair. Ex-High:—C. Espie; E. Clapp, T. James; L. Fraser, B. Turner, J. Livingstone; B. McColl, E. Chamberlain, M. Woods, I. Dickson, N. Woods. Ex-High attacked at the outset, but Technical was quickly into its opponents’ territory. E. McDonald and J. Hemmings broke through the defence and Ex-High had a lucky escape when E. McDonald, a minute after the start, made a good attempt to goal, but was just outside the net with her high shot. T. James held up H. Valentine and then B. Turner sent her forwards away. M. Woods and I. Dickson, combining well, entered Technical’s circle, but A. Bateman was safe. B. McCall gained ground on the left flank and the ExHigh forwards tricked the defence and I. Dickson sent in a hard shot which H. Eunson, the Technical goalie, saved well when M. Woods was almost right upon her. “Sticks” by a Technical defender gave Ex-High a free hit. M. Woods took the hit and goaled with a good shot. Technical retaliated in a series of attacks, P. Birch letting her forwards away. E. McDonald, in particular, was aggressive and another shot from her stick just missed. ExHigh from this stage to half-time began to dominate the play and only a stubborn defence on the part of the Technical backs, who conceded several corners in efforts to keep the attackers at bay, saved awkward situations. H. Eunson was prominent in bringing off good saves, but finally I. Dickson found the net. N. Johnston and E. Sinclair led a Technical rush which L. Fraser repulsed and just on half-time H. Eunson saved a hot shot.

The second half was more evenly contested, Technical making several attempts to open its scoring account only to find the Ex-High backs sound on defence. Ex-High broke away, the Technical goalie saving a shot by L. Fraser (now playing contre-forward). I. Dickson rushed in and scored off the rebound. Shortly afterwards L. Fraser figured in a solo dash and had no one but the goalie to beat, but she failed to connect with the ball and a great chance was lost. After a period of even play, E. Chamberlain, with M. Woods and L. Fraser in close support, broke away and shot. The ball was partially saved by the custodian, but it rolled into the net. Technical, undeterred by a four-nil score against it, redoubled its efforts, I. Tuffery sending her forwards away. J. Hemmings, entering the circle, sent in a smart shot. C. Espie stopped the ball, but E. McDonald was handy to open Technical’s scoring account. L. Fraser soon afterwards finished off a bright Ex-High combined movement by goaling. Just on time E. Sinclair put her inside forwards on attack. The ball came out to E. McDonald whose shot, however, went wide. There was no further score. Mi’ J. Hargreaves refereed the match. COLLEGIATE v. UNION. The teams were:— Collegiate:—D. Shuttleworth, N. Bell; M. Smith, E. Belsham, E. Smith; J. Hannon, I. Rewcastle, P. Steans, D. Gray, M. Thomas. Union.—M. Marshall; V. Robb, M. Bolger; A. Robb, E Darlison, L. Birch; F. Robinson, D. Mulvey, P. Hall, Mrs Malloy. Collegiate, after the first quarter of an hour, always held the upper hand against Union, which, though it fought well, was unable to ■ avert a defeat by seven goals to one. P. Steans as centre forward for Collegiate, played a fine fighting game throughout, M. Thomas taking her place on the right wing. Half a minute after the start Collegiate opened its scoring account. I. Rewcastle, using the reverse stroke effectively in her control of the ball, outstripped the defending backs and goaled. Quickly Union came back again, P. Hall catching the Collegiate backs out of position. She centred well and D. Mulvey was handy to make no mistake with a shot. Up and down play followed, each side in turn being within an ace of scoring. A. Robb cleared when Collegiate was given a corner in its favour and then M. Smith extricated her team from trouble right on the Collegiate goal-line. Good work by I. Rewcastle paved the way for another Collegiate goal when P. Steans picked up the ball well and shot hard. M. Marshall, the Union goalie, was prominent in bringing off good saves in the face of Collegiate attacks, but ultimately I. Rewcastle, though temporarily held by V. Robb, penetrated the defence and scored, D. Gray adding another goal shortly afterwards. Just on half-time D. Mulvey, P. Hall and Mrs Malloy broke away, Mrs Malloy entering the circle to shoot. The others were too slow in following in and a good chance was lost. The second half was mainly a repetition of the first, Collegiate gaining a further three goals. The scorers were D. Gray, I. Rewcastle and P. Steans. The Union forwards, strengthened by V. Robb,, tried hard to break through, but N. Bell and D. Shuttleworth were generally safe, while the Smith sisters in the half-line frequently repulsed attacks. Mr J. M. Davies was the referee.