TARANAKI’S GOOD WIN

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 4

TARANAKI’S GOOD WIN

WELLINGTON BEATEN AT HOCKEY. MORE FINISH SHOWN IN CIRCLE. Fielding a forward line that allowed more finish in the circle, a Taranaki senior representative hockey eleven defeated the Wellington representativs at Karori Park on Saturday by 3 goals to 2. Conditions underfoot were the best of the season, the ground playing true and fast. The game was open and lively, and hockey of a very fair standard was witnessed. Neither team was the strongest its district could produce. Only two of Wellington's eleven, Perrin and Williams, were in the team which defeated the Australians, the rest being promising players to whom the senior selectors were giving a chance in a representative fixture. Taranaki likewise did not send its strongest combination, its most brilliant forward, S. Betts, being a member Of the all-New Zealand Test team which defeated Australia at Dunedin by 5 goals to 3, Betts nettng three for New Zealand. Other prominent Taranaki representatives were unable to make the trip. Betts’ brother was one of the best forwards at Karori on the day. The teams were:— Taranaki: Bennett, Clarke, Ryan, Cruickshank, Duncan, Barker, Windle, Thompson, V. Betts, Pascoe, Tiplady. Wellington: Davis, Perrin, Fergusson, Newcombe, Chambers, Stewart, Williams, T. Fergusson, Struthers, Watchman, Martin. In the first half play favoured Wellington on the whole, the visitors not settling down quickly. Too hard hitting spoiled many attacking movements, the forwards on both sides losing control on account of the ' fast state of the turf. Wellington was first to open scores when Watchman goaled with a characteristic shot. Taranaki’s vanguard found a stumbling block in the veteran full-back Perrin, whose form was as sound as ever it was. T. Fergusson added Wellington’s second and last goal before Taranaki properly got going. Shortly before half-time Pascoe, Taranaki’s cen-tre-forward, registered cleanly for the visitors. At half-time the score was unchanged at 2-1 to Wellington. The earlier stages Of the second spell were Taranaki’s territorially. Pascoe, centre-forward, was unlucky with an acute angle shot which just missed the goal. Betts, inside-left, also missed by a shave. Persistent attacking by Taranaki’s vanguard was rewarded when, in a thrust from the centre section, PascOe equalised scores. A breakaway by Wellington featuring Martin, left wing, and Watchman, saw the latter shoot at Bennett from close range, but the goalie saved well. Taranaki were away again when Duncan, centre-half, sent the ball to Thompson, inside right, who centred for Bet.ts to goal neatly from a followin. The umpires were Messrs. N. 0. Ebbett (Taranaki) and R. P. Staples (Wellington).