TARANAKI HOCKEY

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1930, Page 13

TARANAKI HOCKEY

OTAKEHO WINS CHAMPIONSHIP KAPQNLA BEATEN BY TWO GOALS For the second year in succession Otakeho is the holder of the Catran Cup and Association Shield, and trophies associated, with the hockey cham pionship of Taranaki. With an. unbeaten record in the Southern Division, Otakeho met Kaponga, which had taken first place in the Northern Division, in the final at Hawera yesterday, winning by two goals to nil. The match was exciting, fortunes fluctuating rapidly, but the standard was not particularly high. Botn elevens were inclined, to hit aimlessly when clearing, and in fact nearly always hit too hard. Another fault was bunching, often two or three players going for the ball, and getting out of position. The stick-work, condition and speed of both teams were the bright points of the game. Otakeho fully deserved its win,.showing more enterprise and combination on attack. Gray’s second goal, from a corner, Was the best bit of play in the match. Otakeho was the first away to force a long corner, but was unable to score from this, the Kaponga forwards going to the other end of the field. Two Otakeho attacks broke down, one through Gray missing the ball and the other through offside, Kaponga’s. goal was endangered by a stirring raid, P. Bennie saving well. Otakeho maintained the pressure until a free hit gave the defence, relief, W. Bennie making a run down the line before being halted by Pitcher. The game, .became more even, playing swinging from one end of the field to the other with rapidity. Matters looked serious for Otakeho when S. Belts passed to W. Bennie, who centred, the whole forward line charging down on the goalkeeper, but the ball wont 'behind. Kaponga was displaying nice stick-work and made a strong combined movement, S. Betts getting offside when in a good position. Otakeho suddenly rallied and went right downfield for Surgeuor to find the net from outside the circle. S. Betts broke through the Otakeho backs, but Edwards came right out of goal to clear. Attrill made a bad miss, nearly letting Kaponga in. Otakeho moved downfield, but two successive penalty hits saw Kaponga in the danger zone again. Myhill made a nice shot at goal, Edwards throwing behind. Edwards cleared from the penalty bully. Otakeho had scarcely reached its opponents’ territory when VV. Bennie broke away to essay an oblique shot, which just failed, half time coming with the scoring still unopened. There was some hot work in 01akeho's goal-mouth on resumption, and it seemed that Kaponga must score, a freehit for obstruction relieving the pressure. Otakeho took play to the other end of the livid, Tiit could not hold the

opposition, which was playing in winning vein. The next attack was held up by offside, Otakeho again making a sortie. . Play hovered on Kaponga’s side of half-way. Kaponga conceded two penalty corners. The advantage had swung back to Otakeho again, the southerners giving Kaponga some heavy defensive work to do. Kaponga was able to keep its opponents out for a while, but as the culmination of the efforts Gray broke through to goal for the southern division winners. The Kaponga players were bunching too much, and this considerably assisted Otakeho, which forced a short corner, from which Gray sent the ball like a shot out of a gun into the net, to clinch the issue, full-time sounding with the score unchanged : . Otakeho • • ‘2 Kaponga 0 Rev. J. A. Ry burn and Mr. C. J. McFadyen refereed. After the match Mr. McFadyen presented the cup and shield to the winning team and the Winter Cup to the ruuucr-up.