COUNTRY WEEK HOCKEY TOURNAMENT OPENS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 88, 5 July 1927, Page 14

COUNTRY WEEK HOCKEY TOURNAMENT OPENS

FAST VIGOROUS PLAY LITTLE BRILLIANT WORK Country week for Auckland Province hockey enthusiasts opened on the Remuera grounds yesterday. Eight men’s teams are competing for the White Horse Cup, while 14 girls’ teams have entered for the Auckland Provincial Cup. The grounds were in fair order, though inclined to be slightly rough and heavy, and considerable interest was evinced in the results of the various contests. Fast play and hard hitting was featured in the majority of the men’s matches, but combination and scientific hockey was not a strong point. Each match was keenly contested, and fast, vigorous hockey resulted. The too-common tendency, however, was to over-reach, and by miscalculated hard hitting to play the ball into the sticks of opponents. One of the best games of the day was the contest between Franklin and Waipa, the match ending in a draw, 1-all, after a battle from start to finish. Hard hitting and shooting from end to end of the field was featured by both teams, though some very weak work was exhibited in the circle. Fast, vigorous hockey marked the Whakatane-Piako * contest, though little brilliant play was evidenced. Play was open and clean, and Whakatane succumbed to superior combination, Piako winning by five goals to nil. By its handsome win to the tune of 9 —o over Tauranga yesterday afternoon Rodney has made a sound start. Possessing a vigorous forward line, with a thorough knowledge of the meaning of combination, the whites have proved themselves a dangerous side in their opponents’ circle. Goertz and Grimmer are forwards who would do credit to any representative side. Both fullbacks are safe and heady exponents of hard hitting. The half-line keeps the van well supplied with the leather, and although it has not yet met with much opposition, nevertheless it appears to be a reliable trio. Tauranga’s backs are quite good as individuals, but they do do not seem to work together well. If yesterday’s exhibition is any criterion Tauranga’s weakness lies in the attacking department, which is sadly lacking in combination. From the sideline Tauranga’s forwards seemed to rely too much on individual play, and passing movements were few and ragged. Possibly the team has not yet had an opportunity of much combined practice. If the side is to come anywhere in the tourney a big improvement in the vanguard will be required immediately. WHANGAREI V. KING COUNTRY By registering its win by 3—o against King Country, Whangarei has shown itself to be a powerful eleven, hard hitters, and dashing bustlers. KingCountry is making its bow in the White Horse Cup series, and for a start put up a great fight against a more experienced side. This was one of the brightest exhibitions of the day, and King Country will probably win more fixtures than it will lose. The blue jerseys showed plenty of pretty combination in the forward department, Hewlett’s work being particularly attractive. The fullbacks on both sides were responsible for some solid stickwork.

The result of the first round was as follows; Piako. 5 (Watterspoon 2, Prause 2, Harvey 1). beat Piako, 0. Waipa, 1 (Spiers), drew with Franklin, 1 (Duff). Rodney, 9 (Toovey 4. Goertz o. J. Smith 1, Grimmer 1), beat Tauranga. 0. Whangarei, 3 (Hewlett 2, Warin 1), beat King Country, 0. GIRLS’ CONTEST Hard hitting and fast play, rather than tactics and combination, was featured in the girls’ contests. Little hockey of outstanding merit was exhibited, and practically the only team which introduced well-directed stickwork and combination into its play was the Auckland. Collegiate team. In its contest with the Auckland juniors the collegiate girls were seen in some pretty moves, the whole team working hard together. Weak and thoughtless hitting will have to be guarded against by this team, however, if it desires to go far) in the tournament. Hard, vigorous hockey sums up the Auckland A-Whakatane contest. The game was a battle from beginning to end, with neither side registering any special claims to brilliance. Creditable stickwork and fair combination was exhibited in the Franklin West-Waihi match. Though little outstanding hockey was exhibited, play was clean and open, both teams showing a fair knowledge of the rudiments of the game. Keenness was the players’ main attribute in the Franklin East-Hauraki Plains match. Play was fast and evenly contested, but the stickwork was scrappy and combination weak. THE DAY’S RESULTS Results are as follow: A Section Whakatane, 1 (Mrs. Clark), drew with Auckland A, 1 (Mrs. Robinson). Franklin West, 4 (Misses McTusker 2, Brown and Masters) beat Waihi, 3 (Misses Moorland, Wheaden, and Inglis). Whangarei, 2 (Mrs. Babe) drew with Waipa, 2 (Mrs. White and Miss Hyde). B Section Auckland Collegiate, 4 (Misses Dodds 1, Jurd 2, and Clevely 1), beat Auckland Juniors, 1 (Miss Burton). Hauraki Plains, 2 (Misses May and Marjory Beaver), drew with Franklin East, 2 (Misses Raines and Stevens). Tauranga, 2 (Misses Hunter and Kennedy), beat Rotorua, 1 (Miss Rateha).