HOCKEY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 210, 5 September 1934, Page 4

HOCKEY

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On Saturday a very wet morning made prospects for hockey in the afternoon inobt unpromising, and it was not till noun that any improvement was noticeable. By’ 12.30 p.iu. t there was a much blighter outlook, and the afternoon turned out quite fine. The grounds at Gonville Park were somewhat heavy after the rain and slowed play down to a certain extent. Only one ladies’ match was played on Saturday afternoon, that being be tween the 1 akehas and the Maoris, and this resulted in a draw. The Wanderers (Feilding), club champions of the Feilding association, visited Wanganui on Saturday and met Old Boys, the local club champions. The visitors suffered defeat by 5 goals to 3. The teams were evenly matched until half-way through the second half, when Old Boys forced the pace. The Feilding team was unfortunate in that they had to replace two of their players with emergencies, otherwise the result may have been different. Congratulations, Old Boys! The junior representatives suffered a fairly severe defeat in their contest with the Taranaki juniors for the Winter Shield. The game was played on the Hawera Domain under good weather conditions and on a perfect ground- The ground was fast and this -somewhat nonplussed the Wanganui boys at first. Within the first five minutes they bad two goals scored against them. This served to tighten up the defence, but by half-time two mbre goals were registered against them and the scores then read 4-nil in favour of Taranaki. Some readjustments were made in the Wanganui team in the second half, but this had very little effect on the splendid combination of the Taranaki forwards, who were ably backed by a strong line of half-backs. The work of the forwards in the circle was pretty to watch. They employed the push stroke to advantage and most of their goals were secured from fast following inO'Briep, the Wanganui goalie, had a very strenuous time and was frequently applauded for splendid save?. Uoombe and Bromley also played well. The Wanganui forwards broke away several times but were penalised for offside. They, however, penetrated the Taranaki defence twice, goals corning from tne sticks of i?mith and Morris. For the forwards Sheahan and Morris played well. The game ended; Taranaki 10, Wanganui 2. The Taranaki association entertained the visitors at a dinner after the match, when the shield was formally handed over. • » » * The junior competition is very strong in Taranaki, they having fourteen teams to draw upon, whereas Wanganui has only four. The Wellington juniors are visiting Wanganui next Saturday and will meet a much strengthened Wanganui team, which will be published in Thursday’s papers and any player who is selected and is unable to play should notify one of the selectors—Messrs- R. Spurdie, Tarr, S. Hughes or Condie—at once. Billets are required for the visitors, who will arrive about noon and will be returning to Wellington probably before lunch on Sunday. Anyone who can assist in this way should communicate with Mr. Condie (’phone 239(5), as early as possibleThe senior representatives have been selected to play Feilding next Saturday. They are a very strong combination and should g*ve a very good ac count of themselves. Auckland had no difficulty in staving off the challenge by Manawatu for the New Zealand -Challenge Shield, the game ending seven goals to nil. It came as a surprise when Australia defeated Canterbury by two goals to one. Canterbury have always been very hard to beat on their own ground and it speaks well for the calibre of the visiting team. It will not be surprising if the visitors emerge victorious in the Test match next Saturday. Quite a number of local enthusiasts are making a trip to Palmerston North next Wednesday to see the AustraliaManawatu match. No doubt the Aussies will prove to be too good for the home team, but a very scientific game should result and should well repay those who make the journey. The season will probably close on ♦Saturday, September 15, with a big sports day. included in which will probably be the match between the “ Old Timers” and “Players,” both men and ladies. Particulars of this will appear later if the necessary arrangements can be made. A winding-up dance will, it is understood, take place at an early date, when ■ the various trophies will be presented : by the patron. The Wellington Technical Club has done exceptionally well this season in winning the Wellington club championship anj at least three grade championships. On the result of last Saturday afternoon’s match against Karori in the junior grade depended whether Technical win all the competitions for which teams’ were entered. Last season the Karori Club established a record with the same feat, and it was thought that some considerable time would elapse before such a performance was equalled. That prediction was upset, as the draw with Karori was sufficient to give the Technical junior team the championship. Mr E. Cousins, present president, founded the Technical Club in 1928, and much of the credit for the successes achieved must go to him. In the first year there was one intermediate team, and the number was increased to two when Mr A. Kirk, the present coach, took over the teams in 1929. Since then the club has been well represented in the intermediate grade. This season’s senior B eleven played together as an intermediate A team in 1930. They won the third-grade championship in 1932 and last vear were runners-up to Karori in the junior’competition. Only three changes have taken place in the personnel since 1930. It is intended to enter this team in the senior A grade next year, and if the entry is accepted the club will have teams in all grades. The present junior eleven is the original old boys’ teams entered in 1930 and now completing its first season in the grade. The third-grade team competed as intermediates in 1932 and won the fourth-grade championship last year.