HOCKEY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 19, 7 September 1911, Page 5

HOCKEY.

LADIES’ TOUR NAM ENT. TARANAKI NOTCH A WIN. (Per Press Association.! Wellington, September 6. The fourth day of the New Zealand ladies’ hockey tournament was played under perfect weather conditions. So far as good exhibitions of hockey wont, the games were practically the worst seen in the tournament, although several of the matches were very close. The play was scrappy and I uninteresting to the spectators, who attended in large numbers. The match between Auckland and Wellington was a disappointment, the latter failing to come up to their previous day’s form. Auckland’s victory over Wellington by 1 to nil would have been greater had it not been for the splendid display of Miss Jackson in goal, who stopped many hot shots. Auckland wore the first to get moving, but after many speculating attempts Wellington got the upper hand and pressed solidly. For some time play hovered round Auckland’s goal mouth, and Miss M. Dement had hard luck in not scoring. One of her shots went clean over the cross-bar. Miss Cook then relieved the situation for the northerners, and play then became more even, each team attacking alternately. Finally the Aucklanders succeeded in running their opponents down in their own territory, but the northern forwards, who wore, .nuen eloaverer with the stick than the local vanguard., wore unable to shoot at all accurately. What shots idid lo ne dangerous were well saved by +ho goalkeeper. Auckland’s superiority was evidenced in the second spell, and they had the game in their own hands practically all the time. Their one goal, ■secured by Miss Delauney, was fully deserved. Wellington c eemrd to lose heart after this, and the remainder of the play was one-sided. Only occasionally did the local team break past the half-way lino, hut were able to do nothing. The whistle sounded without further score. In the Manawatu A versus Southland match, the exhibition of hockey was the host of the day, and the combination and back play of each team was very clean and exciting. The opening five minutes was rather dull. From then onwards the two teams attacked with vigour, and play drifted rapidly from goal to goal. Each team’s backs in turn played very creditably, but the Manawatu backs wore most conspicuous. After several fruitless attacks, Manawatu secured their first goal through good work on the part of the right winger. Southland’s custodian stopped the ball from a “shoot,” but Manawatu’s winger was too quick, and the ball flew into the hot. Early in the second half Manawatu scored their second and filial j goal. Miss Kerslake, by a sudden rush, drew Southland’s goalkeeper and enabled the bully to send a hard shot, into the empty goal. The pace was hot until the call ,of time, when Manawatu were oh the point of scoring. The scores were: Manawatu 2, Southland nil. The matph between Marlborough and Manawatu B resulted in a win for the former by ;2 to 1, and iwas a very scrappy contest ,as far as spectators were concerned. Neither‘side scored in the first spell, and the combination was not conspicuous. The second spell saw an improvement on both sides, and the three goals ( scored were obtained by fast forward play and excellent following up. Marlborough, on their play, deserved to win, as they had the slight advantage. Wairarapa beat Wellington B by 4 to nil. The play in the first half was ragged on both sides. In the second an improvement was shown, and play proved very oven, although Wellington had the worst of the attack. At half-time Wairarapa were leading, through Misses Orr, R. Neilson and A. Hawke notching a goal a-pieco. Miss Orr registered the only goal in the second spoil. Taranaki beat Canterbury B by 3 to 2. It was a hard-fought game, but monotonous, owing to the hall moving rapidly up and down the field. Taranaki had most, combination and the better forward work. Miss Young secured the first goal. Then bliss M:. Pearce equalised for Canterbury, and just previous to half-time the northerners registered their second goal. The second spell was far harder. Miss Winks was responsible for Taranaki’s third goal, and Miss Pearce registered Canterbury’s second goal just a second before, the whistle sounded. ' •'

Wanganui beat West Coast by 4 to 1. The winners were too good for the latter, who went to pieces suddenly. Goals were scored by Misses Perrett (2), Sutherland and G. Jones for the winners, and Miss D. Liedsav for the losers.

Buller defeated Nelson by 3 1o 2. The game was very poor, as 'ar as hockey was concerned. The winuns displayed good hitting in I he 'ir_;c. but iu the field their play was j aicli criticised. Scores were regisreavd by Misses Emms and Simpson for Nelson, and Misses McKay, Vitig'ih and Greenland for Buller.