White Horse Cup Hockey Tourney

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 91, 8 July 1927, Page 7

White Horse Cup Hockey Tourney

WAIPA DEFEATS PIAKO SEMI-FINAL DECIDED Amid great excitement at Remuera hockey grounds yesterday afternoon, Waipa, holder of the White Horse Cup, defeated Piako in a return match after a dashing struggle. This fixture was the only men’s match decided yesterday and was a replay in order to determine which was to meet Whangarei to-day in the final of the cup series. WAIPA DEFEATS PIAKO Waipa.—W. Douglas (captain), Carl, L. Spiers, Hinton, Macky, Lenihen, B. Spiers, Andrew, Finch, Andrew, T. Finch. Piako.—J. Thompson, Hawes, N. Harvey, Crickett, G. Moore, W. Harvey, D. Harvey, Prouse, Eastwood, Weatherspoon, Johnson. Piako secured from the bully and rushed Waipa’s goal, where scrambling play reigned. A hard shot from Piako’s van was brilliantly saved by Douglas, Waipa’s skipper. Further attacking by Piako saw Waipa hardpressed. Then a right wing rush reached Waipa’s circle again and the ball came across the goal mouth to Percy Harvey, who made no mistake with his shot. Piako, 1; Waipa, 0. Strenuous play followed, then L. Spiers obtained control from a free hit against Piako, and, sweeping down the line, arrived at the the opposite circle, where a scramble allowed H. Andrew to equalise for Waipa. Give-and-take play followed, with matters evenly discussed until, from a fine breakaway, Piako reached Waipa’s danger-spot, and from a rough and tumble Prouse saw his chance and netted comfortably. Strenuous and uneventful hockey followed until halftime, when scores showed Piako 2 Waipa 1.

After orange-time, Piako got going and a vigorous assault, which looked promising, was nullified by the Waipa backs. Waipa retaliated and Andrews and Spiers secured a goal within a few minutes of each other Waipa, 3; Piako, 2.

Roused by the reversal of fortunes, Piako set up a series of dashing attacks, and succeeded in cornering Waipa, but clever work by the back division removed the danger. Waipa’s vanguard now took charge of the game and had Hawes and N. Harvey busy defending. Attack after attack wore down the opposition, and during the last quarter of the game Piako appeared to tire, having expended a lot of energy in the first half. A few minutes before the final whistle Andrew netted his third goal for Waipa, bringing the cupholders to the safe figure of 4—2. The game ended without further score. The encounter was fought out in the finest sporting spirit and a rerharkably high standard of hockey was revealed. Two more evenly-matched sides would be difficult to find. In both forward lines excellent combination was shown, but Waipa was more confident in the circle and proved more capable of finishing off than were Piako’s men. A little more attention to circle tactics would ensure success in future contests.

Yesterday’s exhibition, though not so convincing as Wednesday’s struggle, goes to prove that countryhockey has made rapid strides during the last two years. Congratulations to Waipa and Piako on their splendid sporting battles.

REP. HOCKEY

COUNTRY V. TOWN TEAMS AND PROSPECTS Country w<*ek hockey invariably arouses great interest among enthusiasts of the stick game and not the least interesting of the fixtures during the series of matches is the annual test between Country and Town representatives, played off as a finale to the week of carnival. A powerful side has been selected to represent the country associations to-morrow and in view of the rapid strides made *by country hockey within the last tw.o years tomorrow’s fixture against a side selected from the city clubs should prove a great battle. Included in the country eleven are L. and C. Spiers, of the Waipa team, both of whom have been chosen to tour Australia. A bi'illiant forward line contains Goertz (Rodney), Hewlett (Whangarei) and C. Spiers, all of whom are goal-getters of ability. Auckland town eleven is a strong combination with a number of new men figuring in the side. Lucas, in goal, is a brilliant exponent of lusty kicking, and brings off some amazing saves. He is new to hockey, but has already made a name as a clever custodian. Town’s van is a dashing department, but as Seccombe, C. Watts and Hookham are not playing tomorrow the forward line is not as strong as it might have been. On the whole, indications seem to point to a victory for the country team this year. THE TRIAL. MATCH The A and B trial match is to be played between sides selected from the best players of the various city clubs. A team appears to be the

stronger eleveri and should emerge victorious. Mr. L. C. Kent, sole selector for Auckland, will choose his team to represent Auckland at the Dominion championship tournament to be held in August from the four teams playing to-morrow. The reason why C. Watt& and Seccombe are not appearing tomorrow is that both will be with the New Zealand team in Australia when the Dominion championship will be held, so that there was no purpose in including them in to-morrow’s team from which some of Auckland’s representatives are to be selected. TOWN v. COUNTRY Town.—Goal, Lucas (Wesley); fullbacks, Davis (Areta) and Roberts (Somerville); halves, Leonard (University), Radcliffe (University), Steele (St. Luke’s); forwards, Greenbank (University). .T. Carter (Areta). E. Watts (Somerville). E. A. Burton (University), Fhilpotts (University). Country.—Goal, J. Thompson (Piako): fullbacks, L. Spiers (Waipa) and E. Johnson (Whangarei); halves, W. Johns (Whangarei), G. Turnbull (Whakatane), H. Crickett (Piako); forwards, T. Finch (Waipa), C. Hewlett (Whangarei), Grimmer (Rodney)* J. Goert2 (Rodney), C. Speirs (Waipa). Emergencies; Backs, S. Winger (King Country) and A. Sloane (Whangarei): forwards. A. Salmon (Whangarei) and E. Smith (Franklin). A AND B TRIAL MATCH A Team.—Goal, Cooper (Somerville); fullbacks, Prater (Wesley). Nicholson (Wesley); halves, Ashley (Areta). Haggett (Somerville). Kelly (Mount Eden); forwards. Penman (Mount Eden), Fletcher (Mount Eden), Hayson (Areta), Anthony (Areta), Rogers (Somerville). B Team. —Goal, Vail (Mount Eden); fullbacks. Brown (University), Hume (University); halves, Mills (Epiphany), Savage (Areta), Smallwood (Areta): forwards, A. B. Burton (Weslev), Seelen (University), Fitt (Wesley), R. Tizard (Training College), R. Carter- (Areta). Emergencies: Mills (St. Luke's), Chiplin (Somerville Colts), Surman (Mount Eden). Wilmot (Training College), Postles (Mount Plden), A. M. Burton (Wesley), Foreman (St. Luke’s).