REP. HOCKEY

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3305, 4 June 1931, Page 5

REP. HOCKEY

WAIPA DEFEAT RODNEY. IN ANNUAL INTER-UNION MATCH. The Waipa and Rodney hockey representative teams met at Albert Park on Wednesday afternoon in their annual fixture for the Rodney-Waipa Shield, before a fair attendance of spectators. The weather was fine though dull, and the ground in good order. The play was fast throughout, but not particularly scientific; it was played in the friendliest spirit, and there were no regrettable features.

The teams were: Rodney (all white): E. Wyatt, C. Carran, A. Langridge, R. Smith, R. Heywood, Rogers, L. Smith, S. Jamieson, Shepherd, S. Hood and J. Wyatt. Waipa (red and white): G. Jack, L. Finch, V. Dunstall, O. Finch, O. Civil, G. Wood, B. Spiers, G. Moore and G. Finch. Mr C. A. Finch was referee.

As soon as the game started Waipa launched an attack that looked promising until G. Finch gave sticks; soon Civil centred and Moore promptly goaled—one minute after the start. Next T. Finch sent the leather up the line to the corner, but Moore hit too hard in centring and the ball went right across the goal mouth. Rodney next developed a hot attack, but L. Spiers cleared with a solid shot right to half-way. Rodney were still on the aggressive, but hitting too hard spoiled their opportunity to score. Next the Waipa forward line swept upfield, but Wood transgressed, and Rodney got relief. Then G. Finch centred with a high toss, and B. Spiers flicked it into the net, making Waipa two goals to nil. Rodney again attacked, and Heywood was doing got work, but again L. Spiers relieved with a full toss. Dunstall hit too hard and spoiled a chance for Waipa, an his fault was repeated almost immediately by T. Finch. Then Waipa forwards attacked, and some hot work near Rodney’s goal resulted, but offside play gave Rodney relief, and Heywood se nt the leather well down field. Rodney made ground steadily, and then developed an assault on Waipa’s citadel that called for all the defensive energies of Jack and L. Spiers. Civil broke the attack by taking the ball up the line to beyond half way. L. Spiers hit hard up the centre of the field, to Moore, who transferred smartly to Wood, and the latter goaled, but the score was disallowed. Rodney raced the ball straight back, and play soon centred in midfield, with each side trying hard for advantage. Wyatt was next prominent in a solo effort up. the side line, leaving G. Finch badly, but the ball went out at the corner. The pace was still fast, and another solo, effort culminated in Shepherd scoring with a low shot that beat Waipa’s goalie. From the bully off Waipa rushed play to Rodney’s circle and B. Spiers registered a neat goal, making Waipa 3—l. After half-time the pace slackened somewhat and the game was chiefly confined to neutral ground. Rodney flashed through with a solid forward rush, but over eagerness spoiled it. The ball was soon in motion again, and the Waipa forwards, profiting by : centred shot from T. Finch, took the ball into the circle and Moore goaled. Waipa 4—l. Hot play in Civil’s corner ended in two corners being conceded, but in neither case could Rodney profit. Then L. Smith dashed up the line and centred, but T. Finch cleared, and L. Spiers hit hard to the boundary. Waipa took a turn at attacking, but the pace was not so fast, and most of the play was in midfield, with occasional sallies to the goal mouths. Jack had to kick hard to stop a shot by Shepherd, and L. Spiers cleared with a solid hit to half way. Again Waipa attacked, but an infringement nullified it. In one melee the ball spun out from the Waipa centre forwards to Civil, who promptly shot it into the goal. Waipa s—l. Rodney forwards were bunching too much at this stage, but they soon recovered, and in one attack a goal looked certain but Wyatt mis-hit, and the ball rolled just outside the goal. Keeping up the attack the Rodney front line were again into Waipa’s circle, and a good rally resulted in Wyatt dribbling the ball into the net at the corner. Rodney 2, Waipa 5. Play was kept in midfield for a couple of minutes, and then Waipa developed a hot attack but Rodney’s goalie beat it off. The rest of the game was fairly even, and when the final whistle sounded the scores were: Waipa 5, Rodney 2. Of the Waipa players in the front line, where all played well, Civil was probably the most effective, Moore was clever, but he infringed several times. T. Finch was right up to his best in the half line, and Dunstall failed to impress as much as he has done in club play. L. Spiers did well right through, his hard hitting making the forwards travel fast. He was equally adept at stopping rushes. Jack, the goalie, did practically everything expected of him. Rodney’s best back was undoubtedly Heywood, who got through a lot of work very creditably. Langridge and Garran also did very well. Of the forwards J. Wyatt and Shepherd were the most effective. R. -Smith right halfback, had a very busy time, but he came through with flying colours.

The respective captains were: Waipa, G. Jack; Rodney, R. Smith. In the evening the teams dined together at the Commercial Hotel, where a number of congratulatory speeches were made, and cheers exchanged, while both elevens united to pay tribute to the feferee. All agreed that the contest that afternoon was a delightful one, and the hope was expressed that the shield contests would continue each year. Waipa is to visit Rodney next year, and the Rodeny players promise a much keener contest on that occasion.