NORTH-SOUTH DRAW

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1934, Page 3

NORTH-SOUTH DRAW

TRIAL MEN’S HOCKEY MATCH. HARD, EVEN PLAY AT HAWERA. A trial hockey game was played at Hawera yesterday between senior men’s teams selected from North and South Taranaki players, with the object of selecting a provincial representative team. The result was a draw, each side scoring one goal. As in most trial games, the standard of play was not of the best, being disjointed and patchy. There were some good individual displays. For North Tiplady was particularly good as inside-left; he had always to be watched and was unfortunate not to score. Jones, outside him, also did well, showing good pace and a dashing style. Longbottom was several times noticeably good on attack, being very quick on his feet. Page played a solid game, and deserved to be included once more in. the Taranaki half line. His stickwork and reliable sense of anticipation, backed by long experience, make him invaluable. Hale (Stratford) did well, and usually managed to beat his man. Watson played very well on the whole, but made mistakes on one or two occasions, particularly when he came too far away from the goal. Fleet, Howatson and Windle all did well, ana worked steadily in the southern forwards. Cruickshank was outstanding both on defence and attack, and practically ensured his place in the touring team. He was well supported by Simon. The full-backs, Ryan and Clarke, were reliable and made few mistakes, Ryan being specially sound. His clearing hits were clean and effective. On the day’s play Bennett probably gave the best display in goal, Miller, who replaced him at half-time, being rather shaky. The teams were:—

North: Watson; Parkinson, Thompson, Barker; Hale, Page, Clarke; Jones, Tiplady, Starling, Longbottom, Little. South: Miller, Bennett; Ryan, R. Clarke; Brough, Cruickshank, Simon; Percy, McGlashan, Fleet, Howatson, Purser, Windle. Mr. M. Priest and the Rev. J. A. Ryburn refereed. North showed a slight superiority at the start,-and kept play chiefly in the South half during the first 20 minutes. Later, however, South forward? improved and claimed .• their fair share •of the game. Persistence was rewarded when after one shot at goal had gone astray a long, corner was awarded. A scramble ensued on the edge of the circle and Howatson netted a shot like a rocket. South continued to press until Tiplady broke away from a penalty corner and returned play to half-way. Indecisive play between the twenty-fives followed, the game being rather scrappy. In the second spell Miller replaced Bennett in goal and Howatson, insideleft, retired in favour of Purser. The Southern forwards showed good combination on attack, but a steady defence kept them away. Tiplady showed up well in a forward rush down the line and twice came near to scoring. Jones and Tiplady returned play to the southern half after a quick passing rush by the forwards. North equalised • the score at last. A. series of rushes brought the forwards to the circle, and although the goalkeeper kicked -.lear once, the ball was quickly returned, and Starling pushed home a scoring shot from close in. South appeared dangerous in the circle several times before the end; the ball entered the net once, but the score was disallowed. North 1 South 1

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM PLAYERS FOR TOUR SELECTED. PROGRAMME OF FIVE MATCHES. The Taranaki men’s representative hockey team to embark on a tour oi five matches on September, 4 was chosen by ’the three selectors after yesterday’s matches at Hawera. Games will be .played against Feilding, Bush, Wairarapa, Wellington and Horo whenua. The players to go on tour are:— Goal: Bennett (Eltham).

Full-backs: A. Ryan (Alhambra), M. Thomson (Egmont), Morgan (Kaponga). Halves: L. P. Page (New. .Plymouth Wanderers, captain), N. Simon ,(Alhambra), Cruickshank (Hawera), V. Betts (Kaponga), F. Hale (Stratford).

Forwards: Jones (Eltham), G. Surgenor (Manaia), E. Fleet (Hawera), G. McGlashan (Hawera), R. Howartson (Alhambra), Windle (Egmont), S. Tiplady (New Plymouth Wanderers). Mr. E. Urry, Eltham, and Mr. J. Ebbett, Stratford, will travel with the team as manager and referee respectively. Several players originally chosen have had to decline through inability to travel. The' first match will be against Feilding at Feilding on September 5. The following Taranaki players have been nominated for the New Zealand hockey team to play Australia at Dunedin on September' 8: L. Page and R. Duncan (half-backs), S. Betts (forward).