VICTORY FOR CENTRAL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1935, Page 8

VICTORY FOR CENTRAL

GEORGE AND DOUGHTY CUP MATCH NORTH LOSES AFTER EXTRA TIME Two extra 10-minute spells were required to decide the George and Doughty Cup inter-divisional hockey match between North and Central Taranaki at Stratford on Saturday. Central, holder of the cup, won by four goals to two, scoring in each of the extra spells. The game was played under exceptionally bad conditions, with the ground almost under water in places and a cold rain falling steadily. North was unlucky to lose, as it played a better game all the way; but for an unfortunate incident in the second spell when a certain score was lost the score would have been 3—2 at the call of time. A definite decision was necessary, so when the score was only 2-all at the finish extra spells had to be played. The North backs were superior. Watson played a very sound game, clearing strongly and well every time, and as a goalkeeper he was ahead of Sheard, who showed too great a tendency to run out. Purcell was the outstanding fullback on the field, and on the day’s play was better than the representative man, Morgan. The halves also made a very sound combination, all three playing splendidly, while Hale outshone Page at centre. In the forwards lay the weakness. There was not enough combination and a sad lack of ability to exploit opportunities. A tendenty to starve the right wing gave away many chances. Murtagh, Alsop and Woods were a hardworking inside trio. Innes did not seem up to his usual form and did not make the most of his few opportunities. Clements failed lamentably. It was his untimely intervention that caused Alsop to lose what looked like North’s winning goal.

The Central forwards were the team’s strength. The whole five played as a unit, except for occasional slips, and had Purcell and Booth on their toes all the time. With the exception of some hard work by Evans the halves did not show up much, though they were no slackers, and behind them Morgan and Jury were not impressive. Morgan cleared well on a number of occasions and hit very strongly, but he slipped badly every now and again. The teams were:—

Central: Sheard; Jury, Morgan; Evans, Page, V. Betts; Huffam, S. Betts, Pascoe, Irwin, Jones. North: Zatson; Purcell, E. Booth; Allen, Hale, R. Booth; Clements, Woods, Alsop, Murtagh, A. Innes. Central attacked early but two successive penalties for offside in the circle checked the forward: and returned play to North’s half. A fast nm by Jones followed by a good centre had North in trouble, but Purcell cleared to the wing. North attacked, and a good forward rush gave Alsop a chance close up to the goal. The goalkeeper slipped in the mud and the ball shot in unopposed. Inside a minute Central had equalised. Irwin sent the ball out to Jones, and the winger took it at top speed and raced in to score. Clever combination among Pascoe, Irwin and Jones put Central in a scoring position, but Watson cleared over the back line. Innes raced up the line alone after a hard hit, but Sheard just beat him to it and cleared to the line. North forwards came up again in a bunch, drew the goalkeeper out and a cross-pass to Woods gave him an open goal. He scored without difficulty. From a penalty corner Betts made a good attempt to score, but Watson saved. North took the lead in the Second half, and a series of forward rushes had Morgan and Jury working hard. Two Central forward rushes gave Irwin the ball in

the circle, but he missed the net narrowly each time. North retaliated and Woods saved only to be recalled for offside play. S. Betts came up fast a minute later to shoot an inch outside the post. Pretty passing between Alsop and Woods brought North down at great speed and a well-judged pass to Clements appeared to give him a great chance, but Jury rushed in to intercept and clear.'' Central broke away after a prolonged battle in the circle, and the forwards came up in a line across the field. Huffam. capped a really good move with a hard scoring shot from the edge of the circle. Central raced away at the opening of the third spell, and Irwin ran up only to shoot across the goal mouth. A second

shot went the same way a moment, A later, and a third followed. From a penalty comer took the ball cleanly and sent in a hard shot over the goalkeeper’s head. Purcell leaped.for it and actually caught it, ■ but it was ... inside the goal. North attacked furiously, but after a solid struggle in the circle had to retreat. North opened the fourth spell strongly and again had hard Tuck in failing to penetrate a desperate defence in the goal mouth. Central retaliated, and a. fourth goal came easily. Watson fumbled in the mud to save a hard shot to the goal, and, Pascoe, racing up, caught him out of position. ■- ■ . Messrs. H. C. Johnson and J. Collings umpired. ’