HOCKEY.

Waipa Post, Volume VI, Issue 248, 19 September 1913, Page 3

HOCKEY.

tjJIvCjCKLAND v. WAIPA REPS

An interesting game of hockey was witnessed on Wednesday afternoon at Bocketl’s paddock, when the Auckland representa-

tives met a team from the Waipa Association. . The weather was

g'.'fine, and the ground in good h-' 1 order, while there was a good attendance of the public to watch the game. V. C> Kavanagh capCy tained the visitors, and W. Johns the Waipa team. From the bully-off. the visitors were conspicuous, and a tree hit gave them an advantage. A good '<• v rush by Waipa, -in wftieh L. yrv North..;was Ipromirjent,endetl in l-;' thfyt_iplaver"'-"finding' the. net, very fast at this stage, jfe>ahd the Auckland team, not be;'F'mg used to the ground, did not show to advantage. 'Waipa were fr more than holding their own, and were ..hitting and stopping in great style.;, C. Davis sent a pass to L. North,' and a good chance was missed by the latter failing to stop 'At'j . Preston, Whittaker J and King shifted play to Waipa’s v circle,'where a free hit was allowed.to Auckland, the ball niiss- ; ing by inches.. Good stopping by Doiigl as, F. North and Duncan ke’fft the visitors from being dan'gerous. The home forwards wereßustling ; their opponents, ;• and a%id excitement in the circle 'Davis found the net with a good shot— 2—o. The Auck lantl • J supporters, began to look glum,

Wand the players came in for a •%good deal of “ barrack ” from the -spectators. • The home team were having-all the best ot the game. Johns' giving “sticks” saw the Aucklanders attacking, . and Waipa were obliged to concede a corner. From a rally in the

circle, C. Sutherland cleared. L. North was. conspicuous, but offv. Side play nullified the effort, a >free hit being awarded. Parker stopped the rush, but Auckland came again and a tussle took place in the home circle. .Shep herd stopped the bull by kicking •it out. Smythe, who was handy,

’. shot, and the ball, rebounding off ' Douglas, went into the- net. —2 —l. A good rush from the bully-off was spoilt by off-side play by Prestos, and, the'whistle sounded • for half time., - The second half opened with

Waipa attacking, Johns and Gordon being prominent. Kavanagh and Whittaker removed the play,.- An infringement gave a.free hit to Auckland, and the

IJMorwafds charged. Douglas met- : the onslaught, and sent them back with a good hit..Auckland.again I attacked, but the.whistle sounded ■ for an infringement. It was noticeable that a change of play ■ was taking place in the-Auckland team,-their passing being of a high order. Waipa Were kept ' busy defending, and the backs had:an anxious time,,play being fj.very strenuous, Ashort. stoppage i was made owing to an Auckland > man receiving a knock. iOrfre-, suming a good rush in which Johns was the central figure, took place. He sent it out Lo L. North • on the left wing, and the latter 1 put in a good centre, from which K. Johnstone shota goal. —3—l. This rejverse.put the. visitors on their mettle, and the spectators ' wer® treated to some splendid Aplay on .the part of Auckland, *Kavana~gh,Rowe,L. G. Whittaker. Smythe, and Moginie'taking part, which eventually culminated in 1 Preston • beating- Waipa’s goalkeeper.—3—2. The , game was now in Auckland’s favour, who 0 were gradually getting the upper 5 hand. A rush to the circle and a score looked certain for Auckland:’ Off-side play, however, prevented ; a score. -Still keeping up the pressure, the forwards by splendid stick-work got to within —striking distance, and Smythe again found the net, making the scores even. Auckland continued to press, and narrowly . missed a : score, Shepherd stopping well. .A rally by Waipa, and Johnstone ‘‘and L/North both missed shots. I Gordon- shortly after;got a .clear ■'run but unfortunately kicked the ■ ball at a critical time. Time was ■ called shortly after, the game ■ ending 3 all. ■L The visitors did not show to ■ rdvantage during the opening ■ ;tages of the game, the local men ■•'laving decidedly the best of the ■Jt. The former, however, ini-. ■ the second half, and ■ -'-radually wore down their op- ■ ’onents. Kavanagh showed out M .imminently, while Rowe, PresBion, King, and Smythe were con- ■ spicuous. ■ The local team played splen- ■ didly, and are to becongratulated ■ on putting up such a fine display ■ against the Auckland representa- ■ tives-

“AT HOME.” ' - In tb®eyening the Te Awamutu Combined Plockey Clubs held their second grand-annual “At HomejV in the Town Hall, when (■iilHland touring team were t'.pPed. Mr,and Mrs L. H. •Sl'i Won, who are travelling with

HP team, were also present, visitors were present from surrounding The hall, been decorated for the presented a very Kay and attractive - appearance, fcunting being displayed, from She ceiling, while nikau palms [formed the chief decorations on the. walls. The stage had also jpeen nicely decorated, a large pikau wita spreading branches

iging placed in the front, of the (age, and hung with Chin'ese y tferns and festoons of flowers. |ie stage was divided .from the -e.

main hall with a nicely-con-structed. trellis-work decorated with flowers. The marquee, which had been erected adj >ining.the hall, was also tastelplly decorated. The supper roam, with the long tables, laden with all manner of good things, was the entire work of the ladies, and they deserve every credit for the way they assisted in tins most important part ot the evenings enjoyment. The floor had been well attended to and was in excellent order. The’.grand march presented a very gay and pleasing sight, the many (in 2 toilettes of the ladies being,shown to advantage with the ai.l ot the additional light provided. Fully seventy-five couples taking part. The music, supplied by a- local orchestra consisting of Mrs Black (piano), E. Moeller (violin)-and J. T. North (comet), .was all that could be desired.

During’an.interval in the programme an epparUinity was taken by the presidentof the Waipa Hockey Association (Mr S. A. Empson) to welcome the Auckland representatives. ■ He extended to then},'on"Teh ilf of the Waipa Hockey Association, a hearty welcome,and assured them that thejr visit would be the means of giving a frenh. stimulus to hockey in the Waipa district. It would also be the means ol getting the public interested in the game. ‘ He trusted' the team had enjoyed their visit, and the game they had given Waipa had been very enjoyable, ' and he hoped it would be the forerunner of many more.

The Empson Cup, which had been won by the • Rovers, -was presented to Mr ,W- v Douglas, captain of the winning team. Each member of the teanv received a gold medal, donated by Mr D. Norden. The following trophies . were also presented: Most improved forward in Te Awamutu club, L. Allright (hockev stick presented by Mr T. Spear).' Most improved back (hockey stick presented by Mr IT Spear), J. Duncan.

Most improved all-round player (medal presented by Mrs J. Le Sueur), C. Vile. Runner-up for the most improved back (medal presented by Mr Bartleet), F. North. '

The president said the thanks of the association were due to those who had so kindly donated trophies for competition. It was the means of helping to keep up interest in the sport..

In returning thanks on behalf of the Rovers Mi W. Douglas -referred .to the generosity of Mr in donating the cup for annual competition. W His club, although successful in winning, had played some close games. Mi* Douglas made reference to the rapid strides the .game was making, especially as this was their first year of forming an association.

Mr Johns .congratulated the winners of the cup,, who, he said, thoroughly deserved . their win. The game that had been played against Auckland that day had been a good one, and the local team had shown by its play that it was not to be despised. Still, under more favourable conditions, he considered the visitors would have won.

Mr V. E. Cavanagh, captain of the Auckland team, thanked the Waipa Association f.or the hospitality extended to the visitors, and assured his hearers that the trip had been a most enjoyable ope.' . * Mr PI. Richards said the game that day had been a good one, honours being even. His team was quite satisfied, and had been treated royally. Mr L. H. Norton, secretary of the Auckland Hockey Association, referred to. the happy relations which existed between the Auckland and .Waipa Hockey Associations, and said he would be only too glad to assist the latter body in any way possible. He extended .a hearty invitation to the local players to visit Auckland, and assured them of a good time. During the evening Mrs L. PI. Norton contributed the song “ Perfect Day,” which was nicely rendered, while Mr Richards was heard to advantage in “Ailsa Mine,” a song which suited his voice admirably. The M.’sC. for .the evening were Messrs L. North, J. Duncan, W. Douglas, W.. Johns and E. Parker.

Dancing was indulged in until the early hours, all those present expressing the opinion that the function was without doubt one of the most enjoyable yet. held in Te Awamutu.

The Auckland hockey representatives playe,d the second match of'the tour, against Cambridge yesterday, and after a swift and exciting game, the latter wer# defeated by 3 goals to l -