HOCKEY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4190, 29 May 1939, Page 4

HOCKEY

REPRESENTATIVE GAME. KING COUNTRY v. WAIPA. Playing at Taumarunui over the week-end the Waipa Hockey representatives were defeated by King? Country by four goals to one. The match was played under ideal conditions on a fast smooth ground, and as a result the play was open and interesting. Waipa were the first to score, an excellent goal coming from the stick of P. Hammond, and at half time the score stood at one all. On the resumption of play Waipa suffered a temporary lapse of form, and King Country were able to force two rapid goals within five minutes of the opening. Thereafter, the two teams were more evenly matched.

The Waipa defence was fairly sound, among the halves R. Burns at centre, playing a particularly vigorous and useful game, and B. Hawkins at full-back revealed the excellent form he has shown in his recent club games.

The forwards however, did not settle down to any understanding and they seriously felt the absence of A. Spiers and B. Gibson who were not able to make the trip with the team owing to injuries. In view of this as a whole the result of the game was not discouraging* for the team being able to make creditable showing in the White Horse Cup Competition.

GAMES AT ALBERT PARK.

CONDITIONS HINDER GOOD PLAY. With one exception the displays given by hockey teams at Albert Park on Saturday were disappointing. In all cases the teams were unevenly matched and the * grounds were so bumpy and the grass so long that there could be little in the way of constructive play. It was particularly noticeable that the younger and less experienced players were at a much more serious disadvantage than the older players. As a result such teams as Paterangi and Te Awamutu, in the men’s games, and Pirongia in the women’s early had the measure of their opponents, and the result of each match was never in doubt. The only game in which the issue was ever in doubt was the meeting of Otorohanga A and the Te Awamutu boys, when shortly after half time the boys took the upper hand, and after being four goals down they took the score to four—two and came very close to being within one goal of their opponents. After the short spell the boys tired badly and the positional play suffered to such an extent that Otorohanga put on two goals in rapid succession and the game ended six goals to two in the ladies’ favour. Lack of support by the boys’ team half line for their forwards, and the speed and experience of Miss J. Lithgow, Otorohanga’s centre forward, were the determining factors in the result.

The scorers for Otorohanga were Misses J. Lithgow (4), N. Symes and O. Hall, and for Te Awamutu Boys, M. Irwin (2). Pirongia’s inside forwards, Misses D. Beet, .P. Sifleet and H. Bartram had a day out against Otorohanga B, whom they defeated to the tune of 11 goals to nil. Without being extended the PJrongia forwards at times played quite attractive hockey, but most of the goals came from individual efforts. P. Sifleet collected six goals, D. Beet four and the odd one was left for H. Bartram.

In the men’s games Te Awamutu A opened their score against Te Rahu with two goals within two minutes of the opening of the game. Te Rahu did not make a stand until a third goal had been added and just before half time the Te Rahu forwards pressed hard and H. Snell drove in an excellent shot which just beat Battson in goal. In the second half Te Awamutu had little difficulty in adding three more goals. The Te Awamutu full backs were often beaten by the ball on the bumpy field, but Battson, in goal, was particularly safe and made some excellent clearing kicks. The Te Rahu forwards were never fast enough in their following-in to bustle him. The Te Awamutu scorers were E. Spiers 2, Gibson 2. Hawley and Penny, and for Te Rahu H. Snell 1. The experience of Paterangi was far too formidable a proposition for Otorohanga B, who played short of a full team. The game ended seven nil, the scorers for Paterangi being L. Karl 4, P. Brennan, J. Shaw and R. Spiers. Playing at ’Otorohanga, Te Awamutu B were outclassed by the local team by four goals to one.

Experience again told its tale in the meeting of Paterangi and Hairini, and the former team had no difficulty in running out the winners by a margin of three goals. The scorers for Paterangi were R. Spiers K. Macky and P. Chaney, and for Hairini D. Verity.