HOCKEY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7077, 6 July 1949, Page 7

HOCKEY

REPRESENTATIVE GAMES

WAIPA SUCCESSFUL

Although the men’s game suffered in comparison with their Auckland encounter, Saturday’s match produced occasional patches of good hockey in spite of the appalling conditions.

The ground was very heavy and with the driving rain became very slippery as the game progressed. Play for the first ten minutes was confined mostly to mid-field with both teams finding it difficult to settle down. Wai pa w T ere first to score when after a good down the line, D. Armstrong centred hard for N. Spiers to collect and beat Henderson and score.

Play became very keen, as V. Sheppard who was playing a sound game at centre-half served his forwards well and R. Spiers and K. Morriss had uneasy moments as the Rodney forwards attacked strongly. Waipa again took charge when K. Adams sent B. Verner away on another thrust into Rodney’s territory, but the defence of K. Hooper and K. Wyatt was very solid. Waipa continued to press and A. Henderson was responsible for a clever save when Irwin slammed one at goal. Irwin soon made amends when he nudged a lucky one past Henderson to put Waipa two upAt this stage, the Rodney forwards rallied as both Bell and Robinson took play into the Waipa twenty-five and they were soon rewarded when Davies found the net with a good shot. Half-time sounded with the Score at 2—l.

On resuming, Rodney continued to attack, gaining ground with hard and well-directed passes which seemed to be the best policy as by this time the state of the ground made short passes and the flick shot almost impossible. On reaching the circle, Rodney’s chance to even the score came when K. Morriss fumbled a shot enabling Cruickshank to charge in and find the net.

At this stage, it seemed as if the Rodney team would come out on top, but Waipa fought back, with strong rushes down the centre. Outstanding at this stage in the Rodney backs was the defence of K. Hooper, whose positional play and well-directed clearances repeatedly repelled the Red vanguard. However the Waipa forwards were not to be denied and R. Pellow secured the winning goal a few minutes before the finish of the game when he accepted a pass in the circle and pushed the ball into the net. Messrs L. Spiers and T. Finch umpired.

Ladies’ Game

From the outset Rodney forwards attacked strongly but were driven back by solid hitting by Waipa backs and for the greater part of the first spell the local team had the better of the play. Good stopping and clearing by the Rodney goalkeeper, kept the home team out stopping solid shots from practically the whole forward line. .

However the Rodney line swung into action and J. Fraser scored from a concerted movement. * Waipa were soon back again and would not be denied, B. Reid equalising. Play continued at a fast pace until half-time, when the score was 1-all.

In the second spell Waipa continued to press hard and a nice goal was netted by D- Leslie. Rodney showed more to advantage for a time and after some twenty minutes play, J. Fraser scored after a great solo run. Play went up and down the field at a fast rate and from one Waipa attack J. Ward made a nice opening for D. Leslie to score the home team’s third goal. The game ended without further score and Waipa had defeated Rodney for the first time since the Ashton Cup series was inaugurated in 1939.