HOCKEY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10360, 2 September 1922, Page 3

HOCKEY.

SOUTH CANTERBURY v. OTAGO

The above match was played on the Geraldine oval on Thursday before a large attendance of the public, and under ideal conditions, the ••veather being line and cool and the ground in excellent order. In the match • the previous week at Dunedin, the southern players had administered a heavy defeat to the South Canterbury men on a vet and muddy ground, and the public was anxious to see how their men would shape under the altered conditions which prevailed on Thursday. The players themselves were confident that they could hold their own, and the event proved that their belief was well founded, for they more than beld their own, and had a good deal i he better of the game on the whole, more so indeed than the score of 4 to 3 in their favour indicates. At 3 p.m. the South Canterbury i eps. filed on to the oval, followed immediately by the visiting team. The local men wore green and black jerseys and Otago blue. Otago defended the west goal, but as there was no sun, choice of ends was of no advantage to either side. The teams were as follows: — Otago (Blue) —Paterson, Ireland and Gillespie; Sew Hoy, Flett and Davidson; Phillips and Bridgman; Hinton, Johnston and McLeod. South Canterbury (Green and Black) —Turner; Rawstorn and Rennett; Davis, Berry and Maitland; Somerville and Edwards; Mcßae, Mason and Voss. Referees: Messrs Bennington and Feely. ' , THE PLAY. - South Canterbury gained the bully off, and immediately* attacked, Som-* erville and Edwards making a dang- , erou's rush down the line, the former sending a fine pass into the circle, but an infringement nullified the effort. Two further rushes to the Southerners' quarters proved abortive, and then Otago took a hand and Hinton had a shot at goal, which

Turner diverted, a corner hit result-1 'irig. South Canterbury again attacked, but the defence proved stubborn and although the circle was reached on more than one occasion the net • was not found. . A long shot by Rennett brought the Blues swarming to the Greens' end, but good play by Maitlarid saved, and Voss came away with a good dribble, and passing to Mason, the latter all but - scored, the ball hitting the net from the side. South Canterbury was not to be denied, however, for a minute after Voss put the ball in and drew first blood. "[-' South Canterbury ... 1 ; v " Otago ... 0 This reverse put the visitors on : their metal; and a furious attack 'was made on the Greens' citadel. Johnson sent in a fast one past Turner, but the score did not count owing to a prior infringement. Play moved quickly up and down the field, first one side and then the . other looking .dangerous, but the defence always beat the attack, and half time came with no alteration to the score. _ ..The second spll opened like the first, for the Greens quickly got moving and made a determined rush ,to the Blues' circle. The effort wasi short lived, for with bewildering swiftness the ball was returned to the Greens' end,' where Bridgman caught the usually alert Turner in two minds, and scored tjie easiest of goals, making the scores equal. South Canterbury . . 1 Otago • . . ' . . 1 Inspired by their success, the Blues attacked strongly, and a fur- .. ther score seemed imminent, but a r'esuting corner gained nothing, and from a free hit Edwards put in a hot shot and netted a second goal ■tor his side. , I South Canterbury 2 i Otago .. . . 1 This was followed by some fast up and down the ground play, the game which had been fast throughout . seeming to gain in pace. The home .forwards had the best of the exchanges, however, and on at least two occasions were unlucky in not scoring, after having pierced the de- . fence. Otago was next to score, however, through ■ Hinton's effort. This player took the ball right down field, and passed at the psychological moment to his captain, Bridgman again beat Turner this time with a hot shot, equalising the scores. South Canterbury . . 2 Otago . . . . 2 Elated by their success, the Blues ~ renewed the attack with vigour, and had the Greens defending. Turner was called upon more than once to <:ave, but in the end the visitors won through, Bridgman scoring his third goal from a ball which Turner had only partly stopped. Otago . . .. 3 South Canterbury . . 2 There iras now but ten minutes to go and Otago was in the lead. South Canterbury gamely responded, and 'Voss had a couple of shots from the circle, but both went wide of the net. The Greens continued to press and their efforts at last met with reward, for Mason from the side of the circle was given a chance, and be safely piloted the 1 ball between the uprights. Otago . . . . 3 South Canterbury . . 3 With the scores equal and only a few remaining minutes to go, each side strove vigorously to put on the winning goal, and some of the finest play of the day was crowded into these exciting moments. First one side and then the other seemed to gain the ascendancy, only for the plav to be transformed with lightning speed to the centre, or the other end. Players and onlookers were keyed up to concert pitch, and every movement was watched with anxious eves ."Blues. Oh Blues" shouted the partisans of the Otago players, but the local supporters grimly watched the swiftly moving game. The Greens were attacking strongly, and a moment later Otago had been awarded a penalty corner, and it bad all happened in the brief space of *wo minutes. When the Greens cleared and raced up the ground local enthusiasts breathed again and when Voss from a long pass from Mason, spun the ball through in c the net the pent-up feelings of the crowd burst through, and they cheered themselves hoarse. South Canterbury . . * Otago • ■ • • ;' . The closing two minutes of pia> were crowded with interesting situations as each team went at it witL grim determination, ( Otago to draw (he game, South Canterbury to hole their hard-won advantage. Otagc were twice awarded penalty corners but the defence held good, and wher tlv final vim-tie went play was ii: ncutnil lerritory. Tin- game wa; There's nothing to cqiiiil "NAZOI/ "NAZOL" is not ;i niixlurt- or drug l>ut. a selenitic specific which uevui tails.

one to be long remembered, and was a revelation to many of the onlookers of how interesting the game can be when played by such clever exponents of hockey. Messrs Bennington and Feely controlled the play with satisfaction to both sides.