TARANAKI ON TOP.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 161, 19 June 1936, Page 2

TARANAKI ON TOP.

Piako Hockey Team Defeated 6-3. SOLID STRUGGLE. Central Taranaki defeated Piako iepresentatives in a match at Kaponga yesterday by 6 to 3. The.'better combjlnaiilton ..'of the home side proved superior to the individual brightness of the Piako play. era, particularly in the early stagey of the game. Taranaki had two goals to their credit and were ahead by three to one .at half time. Piako combination improved in the second half, and although Taranaki still maintain, ed their superiority, hard-fought play was witnessed. A. John&on, Taranaki centre, was the outstanding player on the held and worked continuously to feed the forwards. There was good combination Between Nicholls and B. Johnson, who repeatedly penetrated the Piako defence. Fleet, Betty and Hailwood were also a good scoring trio and ihared ■ honours with the goals. Greasy conditions militated against fast work,, players often losing their footing. As a consequence play generally was more rugged than scientific, Piako's chief inferiority to the Taranaki team was in positional play. i The teams were: —

Central Taranaki: McLeod; Barker, Noonan; Paton, A. Johnson, Nicholls; Hailwood, Fleet, V. Betts, Longi-taff, li. Johnson. i Piako: Penney; Reynolds, Barlow; Topham, King, Rigden; Ellison, Oliver, Evetts, Stirling, Ruddock. ' Brisk Opening. Taranaki fought back on opening attack from Piako, and Fleet made the opening score. Topham and Ellison led a further Piako sally but play was returned for V. Betts to net. After a spell of brisk attacking play by Taranaki Stirling made a splendid rush right through alone and netted a splendid shot—Piako's first score. Betts replied with a further score for Taranaki and half time was called; Taranaki 3 Piako 1 Fau play was witnessed in the opening of the second half. Piako were showing more confidence and launched several penetrating movements. After Stirling had missed through skieing the ball over the bar Evetts was successful in goaling for Piako. Ellison added another, almost immediately following good play on the right. Taranaki pressed to the attack and Hailwood netted. The final few minutes produced a sterling struggle, Fleet goaling once more for Taranaki. Final time was called. Central Taranaki 6 Piako 3 Messrs J. R. Bennett and H. D. Hastie refereed.

JUNIOR MATCH. In a curtain-raiser Riverlea beat Stratford juniors by 5 goals to nil. The scorers were Benton (2), McGargan, H. Gargan and Rothe. CENTRAL DIVISION PLAY. Only the women's and junior men's fixtures in the Thursday hockey division were played yesterday owing to the Piako representative match. Retults were; Women. Stratford Old Girls 3 v. Eltliam 2. School 3 v. Tariki 1. Junior Men. Mahoe 6 v. School 2. Riverlea 5 v. Stratford 0.