HOCKEY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19034, 11 June 1924, Page 6

HOCKEY

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Wanganui was represented by two teams at the Feilding tourney on June 3, one from Tiki Ladies 1 Club and the other from Phoenix. Although unsuccessful in reaching the finals, both teams played very well indeed, the goals scored against each team being no indication of the play. The ground was very wet and slippery, and unless a team was used to such conditions they had no chance to keep their feet. More often than not a player was on the ground. Tiki ladies were represented by Misses Kiff, Sampson (capt.), Wakeling (forwards); Karton and Hawkins (halves), Hartwell and Price (backs). Phoenix by Mosen, Simmonds, Mailman (forwards), Bennetts (half), and Packer (full-back). The first ladies’ game was St. John’s v. Tiki, the former winning by three goals to nil. Tiki ladies, not having had a practice together for several weeks on account of the rough weather locally, were rather at a loss to understand each other’s play, but they shaped better in their second test against High School Old Girls A. This game was another loss to Tiki, the backs being unable to keep their feet and generally were passed by being down when action was most needed.

The third game was very even indeed, and excitement ran high, the local girls getting their mud legs. Play was up and down field throughout the whole game. Both teams seemed to be evenly matched. Miss Wakeling, on the right wing, broke away on several occasions, and with the support of Miss Sampson as centre and Miss Kiff as left wing, made things look dangerous fbr High School. Misses Price and Hartwell were called on to save on several occasion, clearing in fine style and opening up the game for their forwards, and play being again carried to High School territory, half time saving a pressing forward rush. Misses Karten and Hawkins played fine as halves, and should be hard to beat when the local games commence. Play was carried, on resuming, to High School 25 by a smart run up the line by Miss Wakeling, and a beautiful centre was caught by Miss Sampson, who was just able to beat the defending backs and notch the one and only goal. Time called, Tiki ladies had won their last match by the narrowest of margins, I—o,1 —0, thus putting High School out of the running. Phoenix met Lower Hutt B. in the first round, and after a very good game considering they had had no practice together, were defeated by two goals. The second game against last year’s holders of the Buckland Cup, Eltham A., proved better, Phoenix getting more combination into their work, but they were again defeated. In the third game against Ruahine a very even game was played throughout, neither side scoring until practically on time, when each team notched one goal. Although defeated, both Wanganui teams made a name for themselves by the sporting manner in which they played. They hope to be well in the hunt next year.