THURSDAY HOCKEY

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1935, Page 9

THURSDAY HOCKEY

COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. GAMES IN CENTRAL TARANAKI. (By “Centre.”) . Great interest was centred in the playing of three hockey semi-finals in the central division last week. The first game between Stratford Old Girls A, winner 'of the central division, , and Manaia, winner of the. southern division, was played at Hawera and resulted in a rather easy victory for Manaia. Stratford on the form it lias shown in club games this season was expected to make a better game of it, but it seemed to have struck a bad patch and at no part of this match showed anything like the play it is capable of: Manaia on the other hand has been improving with every match and last week was by far the fitter team. This club has a very fast forward line, and at least two of its goals were the result of fast following up by the forwards. Another good exhibition of women’s hockey was between New Plymouth, winner of the northern division, and Kohuratahi, winner of the eastern division. This game did not produce such brilliant hockey; both teams relying too much upon individual play; nevertheless play was very even and it was only because l?ew Plymouth had the greater knowledge of the finer points of the game that it gained the day. On both sides several players stood out particularly well, but the credit of the game must go to the brilliant display of goalkeeping by H. Lewis, Kohuratahi. She gave a great exhibition and saved her side time after time. The men’s semi-final between Kaponga, winner of the Central division, and Wanderers (New Plymouth), winner of the norther division, was a great exhibition. Both teams made the pace very fast throughout, but in spite of the hard fight it made Wanderers could not penetrate the solid defence of the Kaponga backs. The two teams played games of a different style. Wanderers showed up well in individual play, but lacked combination, with the result that many promising movements broke down through lack of support. Kaponga on the other hand is noted for its great positional and combination game and at no time were any of its players caught out of position. Among so many good players the work of Waiface, goal-keeper for Wanderers, deserves special mention. This player saved his side time after time, and although on two occasions he was injured in stopp’ig hot shots he was on the job to the call of time.