INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1929, Page 4

INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY

AUSTRALIAN TOUR OPENS WAIRARAPA DEFEATED 7 TO 3. EVEX CONTEST DEGENERATES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Carterton, Last Night. The opening match of the Australian representative hockey team’s tour was played at the Carterton showground this afternoon. Australia beat Wairarapa by seven goals to three. The weather was good and the attendance poor. In the first spell Wairarapa- had the better of the game, the slow, sticky ground hampering the Australians, but in the second half the visitors gave a much improved display, having evidently got the pace of the ground. Australia won the toss and after a minute’s play rushed the ball to the Wairarapa circle, where 11. Connie shot a good goal.

Wairarapa, playing with better combination, kept the ball in Australian territory. The visitors made isolated rushes, during one of which Nettleton scored from a scramble in the goal mouth. The Wairarapa backs were too iilow in getting back to defend.

Wairarapa kept up the attack"'Wd n good centre by Whitburn to Riggs resulted in Brooks registering the first goal for Wairarapa.

Australian forward rushes carried the ball to the Wairarapa circle and Ryan saved a hot shot. C. Bannin took the ball from half-way and centred hard. After several passes Goodin obtained possession and shot a splendid goal to make the score two-all.

Wairarapa continued to press and alter give-and-take play Goodin sent in a beautiful point stroke winch the Australian goalie stopped in good style. Whitburn was playing a splendid game and put his side on the attack reneatedly. The spell ended with the scores two-all.

Very shortly after the beginning or the second spell Fitzpatrick scored for Australia. Wairarapa seemed to be taken unawares after a penalty had been given against them. A dangerous Australian move was well stopped by Foste-r. A sharp run down the field was made by S. Smith, ’who centred high into the circle. The. Australian goalie was peppered with three shots which he kept out, but Wairarapa was not to be denied and ■Goodin found the net. The score was three-all. The Australians now took charge oi the game and had Wairarapa continuously in trouble. The slow return ol Wairarapa’s backs left the way open for Fitzpatrick to score. Australia continued the attack ana Wanless shot a good goal. A further rush by the visitors gave H. Connie an opportunity, making Australia’s score six to Wairarapa’s, three. Play was now very much in favour of Australia and from a scramble Nettleton scored the final goal. The game ended shortly afterwards with the igeorc: Australia 7 Wairarapa • • 3 A feature of the game was the good stick work by the Australian forwards. 'W. Nettleton, 11. Connie and L. Fitzpatrick were’ the outstanding players for the visitors, while for Wairarapa Whitburn, C. and W. Bannin, Goodin, Riggs and Smith did excellent woik.