NORTH TARANAKI HOCKEY

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1934, Page 9

NORTH TARANAKI HOCKEY

GAMES AT NEW PLYMOUTH URENUI AND WANDERERS WIN. IMPROVEMENT IN TERRITORIALS. Keen interest always attaches to hockey matches between the two New Plymouth club teams, Wanderers and Rivals, and Saturday’s match, played at Sanders Park, was no exception.- Though defeated by six goals to three Ri”als made,a good showing, particularly in the first half; at half-time the scores were 3-all. Wanderers’ supremacy was shown only in the latter end of the second spell. The game was fast and keenly contested, but although both teams showed good passing movements on occasions and the defence was good, the standard of hockey seen was not particularly good. The second game, Territorials v. Urenui, was for the most part interesting and showed improved form on the part of the army team. Although defeated, Territorials really made a good showing, and came very near to scoring again near the end. Urenui deserved its win. Wanderers forwards were over the back line in the first rush, but Rivals as quickly returned play to half-way, Clements and Alsop leading a dribbling rush. Gibbius attempted a shot at goal and 'missed by inches. Gibbins and J. Innes broke hrougL again, but L. Innes cleared. From half-way Ewart ran through the Rivals defence by dever stick work and scored a solo goal The Ewart-Tiplady combination was proving difficult to stop, short. passing between them winning a lot of ground. Play ranged all over the field ithout any particular advantage to either team. The game'was fast and the .passing was at most times good. Rivals had several promising movements checked in or near the circle for “sticks.” Tiplady, Ewart and Haymer raced vp the middle of the .field, but a Wanderers forward off-side spoiled the rush. A mom -t later Tiplady returned and his scoring shot, sent in after he had run right up to the goalkeeper, was almost impossible to stop. A. Innes centred to Tiplady 19 ■ yards from the circle but T. Ward came, back, to clear with a sweeping one-hand stroke. Rivals scored its first goal as a result of good work on the left wing b Cooper, who goaled to make the score I—l. Shortly afterwards Alsop dribbled up from the twenty-five, eluding several defenders and sent a short shot to the upper corner of the net. It was a “heady” goaL Tiplady took the ball from half-way in

a solo _-un and beat Hislop to secure a splendid scoring opportunity, but the ball went wide. Rivals had its opponent penned in the twentj-five for about five minutes, the one team unable to penetrate and the other unable to break away. Ninkie did good work in goal. • Wanderers was awarded a penalty bully when Purcell saved a score vith his hand, but Ewart was unable to score and Pur- /. cell cleared to the side-line. A long ner was ordered, and Page shct an unstoppable goal from the edge of the circle. Competition was keen. R. Gibbins made a solo run from the twenty-five and beat Ninkie, in the goal, from close up. Ninkie saved an almost sure score at the last moment by kicking clear.

.Early in the second half Murtagh, (Jibbing and Cooper were prominent in a well-combined forward movement which was checked by L. Innes only a few yards from the line. The full-back followed with a strong hit, putting Wanderers on the attack. Groombridge fought his way down the line and centred hard to Ewart, who took the pass cleanly and scored ■with a perfect shot. A. Innes came up shortly afterwards but was obstructed in the goal mouth. Wanderers failed to take advantage of the penalty bully awarded. Wanderers returned again and again, A. Innes, Grpombridge and Ewart trying in vain to score. Tiplady centred to Groombridge in front of thj goal, R. Ward and Hislop combining to clear. Murtagh broke away suddenly and raced * up the line unopposed until Sole cleared from the edge of the circle. A. Innes ’ led a Wanderers; attack with a brilliant dash down the line at top speed and himself completed the move by scoring. Rivals retaliated with a brisk rush to the opposing twenty-five, and Alsop sent in a hard shot to the goal. Ninkie kicked clear. The game was fast and spirited rather than scientific. Groombridge scored Wanderers’ sixth goal following a forward rush just before the call of time. The teams were:— Wanderers: R. Ninkie; M. Sole, L. Innes; N. Lightfoot, L. Page; A. Innes, S. Tiplady, P. Ewart, W. Groombridge, R. Haymer. Rivals: W. Purcell; R. Ward, Hislop; P. McLean, J. Innes, T. Ward; Murtagh, Cooper, Gibbins, Clement, Alsop. Messrs. Foster and Collings were referees. URENUI AND TERRITORIALS. Territorials forwards were in the opposing circle within the first two minutes, but the ball missed the goal by a good margin. , After a momentary reverse Treeby and Richards* led the way back to the visitors’ half, but Blackburn secured possession and returned play to the home twenty-five. The Territorial forwards then rallied and swept down the field in a passing rush that Urenui defenders were powerless to check. R. Booth scored. Play ranged between the twenty-fives until Blackburn shot away again and centred in a handy position for Pepperill to score and equalise. Sheard and Blackbum attempted to repeat the move but found the defence sound. Goodin was showing improved form as goalkeeper. The game became somewhat scrambling, but marked by steady hitting by both sets of full-backs. After half-time Urenui spent about 10 minutes hammering at the army defence, but the attacks were indecisive and without sting. A hard hit by Armstrong enabled Territorials to escape temporarily, and soon afterwards the forwards took play to the Urenui circle. They were repulsed, and Westwood and Goodin were called oh to defend. Blackbum came away on the wing, but his centring shot was intercepted by E. Booth, who cleared strongly to the twenty-five. From a bully on the twenty-five line W. Sheard dribbled through and scored, putting Urenui in the lead. Newtcn sent in a hard and accurate shot, but Goodin deflected the ball over the line. E.‘ Booth hit up strongly, and the forwards carried play to the circle, where Treeby scored. With the scor ; equal the struggle livened and Urenui maintained a steady series of attacks, culminating in a score by Sheard. The game finished with Territorials fighting strongly to equalise. *• The teams were- — Urenui: I. Sheard; D. McKenzie, T. Godderidge; W. Rattenbury, R. Allen, J. Huffam; H. Newton, W. Huff am, W. Sheard, L. Blackbum, A. Pepperill. Territorials: Goodin; E. Booth, Holmes; Williams, Treeby, Westwood; Armstrong, R. Smith, R Booth, Collett, S. Richards. Messrs. Johnson and Collings umpired.