LADIES’ HOCKEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12754, 25 September 1919, Page 2

LADIES’ HOCKEY.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. THIRD DAY’S PLAY, The New Zealand ladies' hockey championship tournament -was advanced another stage yesterday. The games were played under ideal weather conditions. An easterly breeze was blowing with just enough sharpness in it to add zest to the play. The bulk of the spectators divided their attention between the Canterbury A v. Wellington and Wanganui v. Manawatu games, both of which proved very interesting. The local A team secured another popular win. Following are details of the play:— MANAWATU (I) v. WANGANUI (0). Although tho Manawata-Wanganui gam© a.ttracted less attention than the one in which a homo team was engaged, yet it proved a most interesting and skilful one. Manawatu had a very able left wing in Miss Keisol, who lime after time secured tho ball, and, by clever stick play and energy, bustled thxougn all opposition and carried the ball U P the field. Indeed, the Manawatu forwards as a whole put up a very good! per-* focrmance, keeping their places well, while Wanganui bunched too much. Miss Reynolds kept up her good work in tho Wanganu goal, ana Miss Hall, as centre half, and Mias D. t ® ir dt a forward, did excellent service for vianganni. Up and down play was followed assault by Jtt&uawatiL, who m&do bovo* ral unsuccessful shots at goal. Eventually Miss p .Perrett cleared well. Hater Miss iverscl (Mann.watul secured tho ball and rushed up tho side of the field well, hut overran at the crucial moment. Manawatu then suffered a reverse, and Miss D. Perrett had a shot at their goaf, which went wide. Miss Barnes followed with another unsuccessful attempt. A wide shot at goal by Miss D. Pexrett was followed by a more accurate shot by Miss Fletcher, which was stopped by *“ ls t a Hancock. Not to be 1 *3.0 Iked, Miss F letcher made another attempt, which resulted m a sky shot. At half-time neither team xi*Ul scored, upon resumption, ilanawatu set up a strong attack by the agency of a long drive, but failed to score. Plav at both rads of the field was followed by o. woll-sns-temed attack by Wanganui. Manawatu broke away from a lively scramble and rushed the W anganui • goal, but were repulsed. Manawatu again cleared their opponents out of their half, and one of thenforwards aimed a good shot at tho Wanganui goal, which, however, Mias Reynolds fended well Miss Kernel gave some pleasing exhibitions in fufther Manawatu attacks, and Miss Hall, the Wanganui centre-half, proved indefatigable in defensive work. At last her side forged ahead, and Miss Hancock stopped in rmd-arr a shot at her goal. Miss Kernel obtained possession, and. running swiftly up the field, passed across to Miss Spenalcy on the other wing, bho in turn centred to Miss Fletcher (Manawatu), who made a good spare amid much enthusiasm. Wanganui livened a - tie f l P t }f e 9 ual isc. and Miss D. 'f 6toppcd Rio-hall in Iront of the Manawatu goal and shot. Tho ball was returned, and Manawatu’s turn came. Miss Reynolds made a good revo. and Wanganui were soc-.i back again, with th« result that Miss D. Perrett had soother good lar to the left. Manawatu again turned the hibles, iffld a good contro by Miss Keasel nearly resulted in a score. A strong attack ■ nS T? n *’ u Vcll iod b Y Miss Hall, resulted m their being m the Manawatu circle when iho game ended.

Manawaiu Wanganui 0 ReferMr W. Duffield/ NELSON (2) v. AUCKLAND (0) The Nelson and Auckland cams waa ■i’ y al^ rnatc and defence on both sides. Miss Stevens cleared well an assault on her coal, but nothin? daunted j np a strou " passing rush, which gelded them a score from the stick of Miss 7 i, , Nelson continued to harass the Auckland backs. Misses Clearv and M’Farlano did good defensive work, and half-time was called with the nlay in midfield. Upon resumption Nelson again took the initiative, and kept Auckland on the defensive for a considerable period. Miss Barker proved formidable on the Nelson left wing, and carried the ball well into the Auckland homo quarters. Miss Walters then obtained possession. and with a strong slog sent the ball . i tiie • Auckland forwards. Auckland obtained a corner against Nelson, but Nelson cleared and threw their opponents back Play was carried into the Auckland circle, and Miss Boyce scored Nelson’s second goal! Despite strenuous efforts. Auckland were nnablo to beat down the Nelson defence. At the call of time play was in the Auckland quarters, and the score— Nelson 2, Auckland 0. Referee, Mr H. Throp. CANTERBURY A (71 v. WELLINGTON (2). Canterbury nttaoked, ’ and a hot shot bv Miss Barr was well saved by the visitors’ goalkeeper. Miss Skinner. Fast up and down play followed, and a Canterbury rush enabled Miss M. P:arco to open the scoring. Miss Pearce again took possession and raced up the lino forcing the goalkeeper to concede a comer, from which she scored her second goal. Wellington attacked and Canterbury conceded a comer. Misses Pulton and Ritchie took the ball back to the visitors’ goal, and Miss Pearce netted her third goal. Miss Lang, the Wellington leftwing, brought the ball down the line.'with a fine run. and centred, but Miss A. Cross sent it back, and the Wellington goalkeeper made three good saves in quick succession. Wellington came back with a good passing rash, and Miss Wilkins netted their first goal. Canterbury attacked, but another good Wellington rush enabled Miss Wilkins to score again. Two fast Canterbury m&es were stopped by ■ Miss Ayling and Miss Skinner, and balf-tipfe saw the visitors attacking in the horde team’s circle. On resuming Wellington attacked, but Miss Pearce hit hard, and following up took play lnt-6 the visitors’ quarter. Fiord a mis up under the goalposts Miss Pearce poked the ball into the net Very speedy up and dhwn play followed, and from a corner Miss Pcaroo again found the net. Wellington attacked, and the Canterbury goalkeeper. Miss Dobbyn, made a good save. Miss A. Cross and Miss Pearce took the ball to the visitors’ lino. Wellington came back, and Canterbury conceded a corner. A Canterbury rush saw Miss Barr with only the goalkeeper to pass. She took the ball right UP to the goal and “ scooped ” it up into the

.air, but Miss Skinner stopped tho ball -with her hand. Canterbury pressed, and a shot bv Miss Ritchie hit the bar. Miss Pearce followed up and scored. A srood Red pass-in-rush resulted in Miss Barr finding the net". Miss Ay ling again stopped a Canterbury Tush, and Wellington attacked. At this juncture Miss Yorston received a hit on the right cheek, jnst under the eye and had to retire. Tho game ended with Canterburyon the offensive, and tho scores: Canterbury 7. Wellington 2. Mr W. Hall was referee.

NOTES ON THE PLAY. The ladies' annual hockey tournament completed its third round of matches yesterday under ideal weather conditions, and with a fair crowd of spectators. WANGANUI v. MANAWATU. Both Wanganui and Manawatn had been beaten by Canterbury A, and the match between the two North Island teams was expected to bo close and exciting. This prophecy turned out correct, as the game was a hard fought one from sta.rt to finish, and the scoro of one to nil is a fair indication of the_ strength of the teams. It was a game in which a little bit of luck counted either way, and the resu.t was in doubt until the whistle blew. With both teams exerting themselves to their fullest extent, it is difficult to single out any individual player. Both goalkeepers, Mrs Reynolds for Wanganui, and Miss Hancock for Manawatu, were at their best, and, although severely taxed, filled their positions remarkably well an<i saved hot shots from all quarters. In the Wanganui backs, Miss Hall, at centre-half, played a sterling game, nd her intercepting and feeding of the front lino brought forth rounds of applause from the spectators. Misses Barrett and Fletcher wore the best of the Wanganui forward line, the former being particularly clever. Her best play is in the open, and some of her runs down the field, in which she tricked all opposition, were very good, and she was unfortunate in not scoring . Miss Fletcher, on the right wing, put in some good work in the circle, and gave the Manawatn goalkeeper a hot time. In the Manawatn front rank Miss Kersel’s play was outstanding for her clever stick work, and time after time she broke away, and, although she did not score, Manawatu’s solitary goal v was the outcome of a brilliant run on her part. Miss Fletcher, at inside left, and Miss Spenslcy, inside right, were also very good on the attack, and Manawatu’g win was largely due to the good combination of these three forwards. CANTERBURY A v. WELLINGTON. The, Canterbury A v. Wellington match attracted most attention and there were numerous supporters for ’ both sides. The earlier stages of the game were fairly even, but the Canterbury girls made the pace a cracker towards the end of the second spell, Miss Pearce putting in some very clever work. The Canterbury team played a much harder game than their opponents and kept closer on the ball. The Canterbury team, without exception, played excellent hockey throughout the game. Miss Pearce has quite recovered from her accident, and is a tower of strength in the forward lino, as ■apart from her own individual cleverness, she imbues the whole team with a spirit of dash and go. It is impossible to select another player in the front line for special comment, as they played brilliantly, one and all, and if they only keep up to the standard <jf yesterday’s attack tie team that 'beats them will have to bo a very good one. Miss Irvine is undoubtedly the best in the half line. Misses Leslie and G. Cross play very well, land it is only her paoo and staying power that enables her to stand above the rest of the line. If there is a weak spot in the Canterbury team, it is in the back line, but, nevertheless. Misses Cawley and Cross play very fair, and Miss Dobbyn in goal is very safe. The pick of the Wellington team is Miss Ayling, at right three-quarter, and she was easily the best back in the game, as she had the strongest front line in the - tournament against her, and was kept hard at it all the lime, .bnt she acquitted herself very well and saved the situation for Wellington time and again. The Wellington goalkeeper. Miss Skinner, deserves great praise for* her clover defensive work. The nnmber of shots levelled at her would take the heart out of many an old and seasoned representative player, but she stood up to the game with remarkable fortitude, and made some exceptionally good saves. Wellington’s weakness lay in the half lino, which was not fast enough for the speedy Canterbury forwards. Misses Wilkins and Lang, on tho right, and left wing, were tho pick of tho visitors attack. Their work was very fast and clover and tried the Canterbury defence to its utmost. NELSON v. AUCKLAND. The match between Nelson and Auckland was the least interesting of the three games, and there was very little good hockey shown by either team. The Auckland front line possess little combination and adopt a “ go-as-yon-ploase ” style, although tho centre forward put in a lot of clever, useful play, and was easily the best in the lino. The centre-half. Miss Morris- Clark, evidently thinks more of criticising the referee than playing her game, and some of her criticisms were quite uncalled for and altogether ridiculous. The two Auckland backs were very fair, and Miss Cleary, on tho left, put up a strong defence and checked the Nelson attack on numerous occasions. The Nelson forwards played a better game than their opponents, and kept their places hotter. The two wings are speedy and centre well when near the circle, but the whole team lacks the necessary dash to make a really- good game.