MEN’S HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 22994, 14 September 1936, Page 9

MEN’S HOCKEY

Otago Seniors Beat Southland ONE GOAL TO NIL After a week of spring weather and a Saturday morning that promised better things, the rain that has come to be associated with men’s hockey in Southland fell on Saturday afternoon and once again the Southland and Otago teams played at Queen’s Park in rain. After its defeat in Dunedin last month under- similar conditions Otago was out to win and succeeded by one goal to nil. There was little between the two teams, however, and, sometimes, little in the two teams. Whereas the Otago juniors won comfortably in Dunedin, they lost to a stronger team on Saturday by 3 goals to 1. The Southland primary schools’ representatives defeated Otago by 4 goals to 1 in a game that was disappointingly aimless. SENIOR GAME OTAGO (1) v. SOUTHLAND (0). It was unfortunate that once again the game between Otago and Southland should have been played in the rain. However, the rain did some good in that it covered up some of the more obvious lumps in the ground. Otago’s victory by one goal to nil was far from convincing. It was due, in a large measure, to the excellent goalkeeping of Blair. But there was no doubt that his task was made easier by the failure of the Southland inside forwards to work him out of position. The Otago half-line was very solid and gave its forwards plenty of ball. Hore was, perhaps, the best of the three in that he passed with more discrimination and was not afraid to take his time about his work. Densem also played a fine game, especially on defence. Ward was not as prominent, but was always sound. The Otago forwards were on a par with the Southland forwards, neither line seemed clever enough to outwit the opposing backs —and true interpassing and reverse passing was rarely seen. The defence of both teams was sound; it was the old, old story of the need for a forward line which could not only carve holes in the defence, but work the goalkeeper out of position. The teams were: — Otago (Dark Blue). —Blair; Boocock; Brebner; Hore, Ward. Densem; Meinung, Edgington, E. Rennick, Dey, Graham. Southland (Maroon and Gold).—N. Poole; Jenkins, Hanning; Goldstone, Sharp, Semmens; Souness, Dakin, V. Poole, H. Kennedy, H. Rennick. The Play. Southland attacked from the outset and Otago conceded a penalty corner. Tlie circle was very treacherous and the opposing backs very energetic, however, and it was difficult to flick the ball past the goalie or even the fullbacks. Dakin and Souness were receiving plenty of ball, but the former was slow in the circle and drab outside it. The passing was, if anything, rather long. Southland was definitely having the better of play and it seemed as if it must, score. A melee took place in the goalmouth, but the ball refused to cross the line despite the attention it was given by eight players. A penalty bully was awarded against Otago, but still Southland could not score. Meinung was prominent in some fast dashes down the left wing, but nothing came of them. N. Poole stopped the ball well on many occasions, but was unable to kick clear and, as a result, play hung about Southland’s circle till Goldstone cleared to his forwards. H. Rennick broke away, but hit too hard, and Boocock cleared. Sharp, _ Goldstone and Semmens were anticipating well and gave their forwards a feast of ball, but Blair made three magnificent saves in quick succession. Another penalty bully was awarded against Otago, but Goldstone was unable to score, although he actually won the bully. Half-time sounded shortly afterwards, neither team having scored. The Second Spell. Once again the Southland forwards started off with a rush. There was too much of a rush about it, however, and Brebner cleared to Dey, who sent on to Graham. Tire right wing entered the circle and smashed the ball high in the air towards the top of the net. N. Poole sprang upwards and made a splendid save at the expense of a corner. A great deal of the play, at this stage of the game, was on the right flank, H. Rennick and H. Kennedy being prominent. Many of Rennick s centres, however, were intercepted snd those that did get across were at such an acute angle that it was impossible for the other forwards to obtain possession without getting off-side. Otago was now having the better of the game, and Southland was forced .to concede two penalty corners in quick succession. The forwards got out quickly, however, on both occasions and E. Rennick was unable to get in a clear shot. Meinung and Edginton kept hammering away and it was a tribute to Southland’s stout defence that no goal was scored. Jenkins was slipping on the slippery surface, but intercepted well. Hanning was playing particularly well and with more restraint. He held up Dey and Graham on many occasions and passed well. Otago was not to be denied, however, and Dey, catching the defence out of position, scored from close in with a fast shot. Otago 1, Southland nil. After this reverse there were some exciting exchanges. Semmens, playing with remarkable dash but less judgment, gave the Otago defence little peace, penetrating as far as the circle. Then came Southland’s 20th, and best, opportunity of scoring. Souness, whose play was a mixture of good and bad, had worked right down to the goalline. He then drew Blair and flicked the ball across. The goalmouth was open and V. Poole had only to touch the ball, but he missed it altogether. H. Rennick then came thundering down and, from point-blank range, shot hard for the goal. The ball struck Blair on the chest and, once again, the goal was intact. Blair had to leave the field, being replaced by Carr. Until the end of the game H. Rennick and Semmens kept up a constant attack on the right, but indiscriminate centring and a desire to go too near the back-line robbed Southland of ct least one goal. Just before time Otago attacked, but the forwards were inclined to bunch and the final whistle blew with the score unchanged. Otago 1, Southland nil. Messrs F. Hinton and J. D. Gregg were the umpires. JUNIOR GAME SOUTHLAND (3) v. OTAGO (1). The Southland juniors defeated Otago by 3 goals to 1. The Southland team was a stronger one than that which played in Dunedin and, on the day and on the ground, was definitely superior. There was not a great deal of difference territorially between the two teams in the first spell, but there was some difference in the tactics adopted. The Southland forwards kept the passing comparatively short and received better support from their halves. It was not that the Otago forwards did not make the best use of these opportunities. At half-time Southland was

leading by one goal, scored by F. Poole, to nil. Richards was playing a fine game as centre-half, both on defence and attack. In the second spell F. Poole and Ferris scored for Southland and Mong, the active inside forward, fox - Otago. It was obvious that Otago missed thed irccting force of Alldrcd. Messrs G. Hope and E. Hargreaves were the umpires. PRIMARY SCHOOLS GAME SOUTHLAND (4) v. OTAGO (1). The annual match' between the primaxy schools’ representatives of Otago and Southland resulted in a win fox’ Southland by foux- goals to one. There was no doubt which team possessed the most natural ability, but there was doubt, for some time, which team would win. The Southland team, despite its victory, has probably never played so poorly. From the bully-off Otago rushed play to Southland’s circle, where bad speculation by the backs allowed Guthrie to goal. Otago 1, Southland nil. Southland equalized soon afterwards when McMillan scored. McCormack put Southland in the lead when he beat the goalie with a good shot. Before half-time McMillan scored again with a shot that went into the net over the goalie’s head. In the second spell Otago attacked vigorously but stout defence and lack of combination prevented them from scoring. Just before time Robertson scored for Southland, making the final score: Southland 4; Otago 1. Messrs S. C. K. Smith and L. Holmes were the umpires. VISITORS ENTERTAINED In the evening the visitors were entertained to dinner at the United Friendly Society’s Hall. Mr J. A. Doig welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Southland Men’s Hockey Association. Mr Begg, manager of the Otago teams, replied. The following toasts were honoured: “The Otago Team” (proposed by Mr J. D. Gregg and responded to by Mr O. Dey); “The Southland Team” (Mr Begg —Mr L. Souness); “The Umpires” (Mr F. Brebner—Messrs F. Hinton and E. Hargreaves); “The Press” (Mx- E. Rennick).