College Girls' Brilliant Hockey

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 93, 11 July 1927, Page 11

College Girls' Brilliant Hockey

GREAT GAME IN THE MUD | WHAKATANE HANDICAPPED 4 WHOLE team movinq as one V down the field, the leather under control all the way, no erratic stickwork, teach hit having a purpose, the head combining with the hand to outwit an opponent. That is hockey at its best, and that is the class of play the Collegiate team exhibited for the greater part of the game in its contest with Whakatane in the final for the Auckland Ladies’ Provincial Cup on Saturday. Despite grounds being in a deplorable condition, both teams played an outstanding game, and Collegiate owes its win to a - standard of combination and calculated stickw r ork seldom seen on Auckland fields. Whakatane plays a hard game with one or two outstanding players and a strong defence. In the mud, however, they could not keep their feet or concentrate on attack. Collegiate on Saturday’s play with slightly more force and speed, and the culling out or brightening up of one or two players, would undoubtedly win a high place in the New Zealand tournament. In fact, even now, the Ruahine or Southland champions could only give it points on force. Team work is the keynote to Collegiate’s success but, apart from that, it possesses several players well above Auckland hockey standard. COLLEGE IN ACTION Note the movements of the team. Opponents are forcing the circle. A fine struggle ensues. Miss Cranwell saves, and the ball goes to Miss Gernhoefer or Miss Blakey. The ruck opens out and a tricky flick of the stick sends the leather to the feet of Miss Bilham. Then away. Down the field it goes on the end of the stick of this heady player, opponent after opponent outwitted. No blind swiping here, the ball is always under control Right along the line it goes. Misses Jurd, Dods, McMiken and Davoren

combining to outwit their opponents. Miss Bilham in top form is the star of the line, while Miss Dods tends to lose control and play ahead to opponents. A strong half line features Miss Dilworth with an eagle eye for an opening, and whose hard and well-directed stickwork is a power of strength to the team. Misses Carter and Hodges in the halves are also not to be trifled with. Miss Gernhoefer on Saturday was prominent in the backs. WHAKATANE’S SOLID PLAY Whakatane playing for the most part bare-footed in the mud were seen at a disadvantage with players slipping and sliding in all directions. Its defence was strong, Mrs. Lawson in goal, especially wielding, a strong stick.In the forward line "Whakatane possesses an outstanding player in Miss Black, whose speedy and clever stickwork time after time carried play to the town girls’ territory. Miss Rangi also displayed clever hockey, while Miss Ratahi was also prominent. The team’s weakness was in combination, though on firm grounds it would undoubtedly prove a tough proposition. COMPETITION RESULTS Other junior girls’ competition contests resulted as follow: Papakura 7 (Misses Dryland 2, Andrews 2, Hollis 1, Muir 1, Derbyshire 1) beat Y.W.C.A. B 0. Training College 13 (Misses Clark 8. Farley 3, Greatbach 2) beat Somerville 1 (Miss Goldsborough).