HOCKEY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17936, 2 August 1920, Page 2

HOCKEY.

ft j MANAWATU v. WANGANUI. A DRAWN GAME. What was undoubtedly the game of the season took place at Cook s Garden-, on Saturday before a fair attendance, wJien Manawatu tried conclusions witn tne local reps. Wanganui made the pace hot througlitout tne first spell, and incidentally, gave a classical and almost faultless exposition of the game. lhe> knocked Uie ball about in seemingly reckless fashion, but that there was method in the recklessness was manifested by results. The Manawatu backs wore weak, continual failure to retrieve fast balls giving the local vanguard opportunities by which they were not slow co prolit. • Half time saw Wanganui in the ascendancy by 3 goals to nil. However, the pace told its owl tale, the locals visibly tiring throughout tne second spell. At this stage the Manawatu backs got into their stride, and sound defence and hard slogging gave the visiting forwards a chance of asserting themselves, and three goals came in tne last 15 minutes of of play. Tucker notching the equalising goal right on the call of time. - . , , . The teams took the held as follows: MANAWATU (Black and Yellow): Uiddell, Fitt, Tucker, Crump, Anderson; Bason, L.e Compte, Cliffe; Perrin Hansen; Cbusins. WANGANUI (Scarlet and White); Jones, Simmonds, Breed, Blundell. Hawkins; Connell, Fraser, Mclntyre; Bradley, Martis; Howatson. Referees: Messrs Kernohan and Fisner. THE' PLAY. Wanganui carried play into the visitors’ territory from the opening bully, and Blundell had a shot, the Manawatu custodian diverting the bajl with a good effort. The blacks transferred play to the other end of the Held but the local backs soon initiated another oitensive. Cousins again effected a splendid save. A moment later saw Breed shoot wide, brom tne resultant 25 bully Simmonds secured and opened the score with a splendid shot. —Wanganui 1; Manawatu 0. Bradley pulled up a Manawatu rush and sent the home forwards away merrily. Jones centred and Breed beat the goal keeper in the scramble, and scored. —Wanganui 2; Manawatu 0. Attacking again, Blundell shut wide, and the visitors set out for the home goai. A breach relieved and the free hit enabled (he locals to again besiege the Manawatu , goal. Blundell caught Cousins napping, : a lightning shot finding the net.—Wanganui 3; Manawatu 0. Fluctuating play followed till half time. SECOND SPELL. The Manawatu backs showed a big improvement in this spell, and by sound defence and steady feeding gave thenfront line long looked for opportunities. Wanganui carried play to the visitors .25 and Simmonds missed with the shot. Bason relieved the pressure and Anderson made a promising effort down the side line, but the local backs were equal to the occasion. From a splendid series of cross-field exchanges Breed shot at goal—a miss. Ferrin set the visitors going and Anderson found the side-line instead of the net with an erratic shot. A casualty to Crump necessitated a brief interval. On resuming the blacks came away with a rush and Liddell retrieved Anderson’s centring shot and scored.— Wanganui 3; Manawatu 1 The locals carried play to the visitors territory without result and Manawatu again pressed. From a corner hit Fitt beat I Howatson with a hard one.—Wanganui 3; Manawatu 2. With a few minutes to go the visitors made strenuous efforts to score. From a corner hit Tucker ton ml the net with a stinger. Time was called immediately after with the scores: Wanganui 3 Manawatu 3 ? NOTES ON THE GAME. Wanganui were much the superior team, and Manawatu were exceedingly lucky in getting a draw. Over-confid-ence on the part of the locals in the second spell contributed to this result in no small measure. Consistent combination and tricky stickwork enabled the local reps, to repeatedly out-manoeuvre the opposition- Of a top-notch forward line Jones and Simmonds were most prominent, while Mclntyre was the star of a sterling half line. Bradley and Martis were very safe in the backs. Liddell and Fitt were the pick of the Manawatu forwards, while Le Compte and Perrin were the mainstay of the back division. In the Junior competition at Cook’s Gardens on Saturday Phoenix defeated Hinemoa by 3 goals to nil. Messrs Brown and Sinclair were referees.