Rangitikei Hockey Team Has Done Well So Far At Dominion Tourney

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 September 1949, Page 3

Rangitikei Hockey Team Has Done Well So Far At Dominion Tourney

To draw with the powerful Canterbury eleven in the women’s representative hockey match at the New Zealand tournament at Masterton on Wednesday, was indeed a meritorious achievement for Rangitikei. Canterbury, the present strong-hold of hockey, won the New Zealand tournament last season at Dunedin and were runners-up in 1947, 1946 and 1945. Rangitikei’s successes this year

are worth examining. Up to and including the Canterbury game Rangitikei have played six games, winning live and drawing one. Altogether the team has scored 33 goals while only one has been registered against it and that was by Taranaki at Marton on July 30. Surely a testimony to both the defensive and attacking qualities of the Rangitikei team. It therefore came as a shock yesterday when it was learnt that Rangitikei could only draw with Wairarapa 3-all, a team which the previous day was beaten by Waikato. Rangitikei were thus eliminated. From reports brought back by local enthusiasts who saw the scoreless Canterbury game on Wednesday, Rangitikei were a trifle unlucky to lose. For 85 per cent, of the game they held a territorial advantage, but tn rough over-keenness in the circle the players just failed to finish off their moves. However, the defensive tactics of the Canterbury team were good. Rangitikei made the pace from the opening bully and it was a fast and exciting game throughout. Rangitikei were on the defensive soon after the start of the second spell but in the final 10 minutes of play they made a supreme effort to clincn victory but just could not add that.extra polish to bring reward. Every member of the Rangitikei team played right up to her iorm.

Playing against Waikato in its opening match of the tournament Rangitikei took a little time to settle down but later played confidently for the remainder of the match to win by live goals to nil. The outstanding Rangitikei player was the fullback, M. Te Wano. In the first half J. Judd scored a good goal and in the second sh e netted three more while jean Paterson also netted. M. Teague and the Paterson sisters played well. A high standard of hockey was seen when Rangitikei comfortably beat Otago by 4-0, although the victory was not e as ily achieved. The Otago girls played good hockey but lacked the finish apparent in the Rangitikei team.

J. Judd netted one goal in the first spell and added another in the second, together witli goals by L. and J. Paterson. M. Te Wano, at right fullback, again played a fine game, saving the team on many occasions, with strong hitting and steady placement. The forwards were consistent and at times excellent. The B team has also had a successful innings and had suffered only one defeat at the end of the third match and that was against CanterburyMalvern who are freely tipped as winners of the minor tournament. It was unfortunate tht Rangitikei should have met Canterbury-Malvern in its first game as there were signs tat the Rangnikei team was suffering from stage fright and Canterbury-Malvern ran up seven goals in the first spell. However, the Rangitikei players overcame their nervousness in the second half and shot three goals, whereas the opposition failed to register another goal. Had Rangitikei been able to play this team later in the tournament a different result might easily have been recorded.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS APPOINTED FOR KINDERGARTEN. At a meeting of the Marton Free Kindergarten Association recently, the following executive officers were elected: Patron, Mr. T. E. Barton; president, Mrs. W. F. Bagot; vicepresidents, Mrs F. J. Christensen, Dr. M. L. Benson; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. J. Thompson; social committee Mesdames R. Eskrick, T. Rutherford, R. A. Poppelwell, C. Decke and Mr. V. Frost. The social committee is to promote entertainments for the purpose of raising funds for the acquisition of a suitable school building or site for the erection of a school. The gat e takings at the football match between the Marton Sash and Door team and the Post Office amounted to £l3 and the proceeds ol a card evening £6. PERSONAL, Mr. Dudley Simpson, of Pahiatua, has taken up duty on the Marton staff of the Union Bank of Australia, succeeding Mr. N. J. Clarke, who has been transferred to the Te Kutti branch.