HOCKEY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13484, 25 July 1907, Page 2

HOCKEY.

NELSON (Z)r. TARANAKI (2).

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The first inter-provincial hockey match between Nelson and Taranairi was played at. Bayly Park, Hawera, o;v Wednesday. The. result— 3 goals to 2 in Nelson's favour, was no less a surprise; to the Nelsooians than it was to the. wearers of. the amber and black, who wiere apparently over-confident cf yictbry. lie Mottee captained the vis;tors*_S Beil the home team. Cathro'3 position at left wing forward was filled by Dingle (Hawera). Briefly, the Taranaki men as, a team were below representative form, while the visitors, m £he werds of one of their team, "surprised themselves.'' Taranaki's. weakness rested chiefly with the forward? who, time, and again, had opportunities of scoring but failed. The Nelson vanguard, on the other hand, showed fair combination, and received the support of a sound back division, of whom £. Spear was the most prominent. Le Mottee -and' E. Spear were responsible for serviceable work, while of the foiv wards WaiistaH " (the ' junior of the team), Hurst andAnstice showed a good knowledge of ihe passing game. Mare% and Sargent were the" only Taranaki forwards' who ~ showed anything * approaching representative form, £nd in the. back division Anderson and Thompson (full backs) were the best. Within a feY ihinutes b'f the bully- >ff Taranaki took play to the Nelson. ciroie where the visitors conceded a cbrHer Perham sent across .to, Marett, who made no mistake with the shot. Shbrcly afterwards Pern^m had /fow>» unsuccessful snots in quick Buxjces^ion; both of which struck the outer side of 'tha post. The Nelson forwards then g» r > away together and from some ; short passing in the circle.r Waristall equal r ised the spore. It; was hot lqng before the performance was repeated, Waastall again, piloting the ball through. : Nelson wer^e. using their wingers to good. ', advantage, tjgpecia'lljr from the forward • throw-in, arid the .Taranaki bac&s had ' their work cut out' in keeping the score' do.wn; Oh two occasions at this period j of the game Crawford' (goalkeeper) had' three or fojU^J^taPj^&fflffttf 16 *°P °^ him. Anderson ami Thompson, how ! ever, slipped back an3 »e]j6jred the-sft^i- 1 a'tion. Taftmalft then Torcgd thd gsne. j A couple of likely scores were thrown away by;the^"forw^rcts 1 either over-run- 1 ning the ball or faulty shooting, and} half T time^ sounded .vitji'. the," visitors' a! goal to the good. -Resuming it was' soon apparent' that the visitors couldj more than hold their own. . Taranaki were conceded a "free" and a "cor-} ncr," which were , -Nelson r«-. turned io , the attack. . After*' several) unsuccessful attempts Staples placed' the third goal for the visitors. Tara-j naki . rajlie,d t Marett- - received ajid! scored hfe ,secqnq goal forl.the Whe-i isters. Tarknaki the' pressure, but the delay wa» fatal and "no side'' 1 sounded — ; „,,--,. Nelson- .7.^ . . :•.•.:-. ... ...*.<.*& goals. '< Taranaki '. 2 „ ~ ; Mr Pratt made an able £ind,a,n impartial referee.* '" ■ ■ - ' '