HOCKEY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue XI, 10 September 1904, Page 21

HOCKEY.

AUCKLAND. TE HUIA V. KOTIRO. An interesting friendly match was played on Saturday between Te Hula and Kotiro on the latter’s ground, the result being a win for Te Huia by one goal to nil. The game was very even, and often some swift play was witnessed. During the first spell neither side scored, but towards the end of the second spell a very clear goal was shot from just within the striking circle, for which Miss W. Smith was responsible. For Te Huia the Missefi Whitaker, Smith, Gannon, and I. Ussher played well, and for Kotiro Misses Garland, Cook, and Andrews. Mr 11. Gresham had charge* of the whistle, and gave satisfaction. THAMES CHAMPIONSHIP. THAMES. Saturday. The final round of the hockey championship w r as begun to-day. and as Thames and Haurakl had both of mem strong teams in the field, a flue exhibition was given. The play was very even, and ended in a draw, two goals each. PAEROA V. WAI HOU. I 1 ! PAEROA. Saturday. Paeroa and Waihou ladles’ hockey teams met at Waihou this afternoon, the visitors winning rather easily by five goals to nil. Miss L. Hllcock scored three goals and Miss Daisy Kenny two for Paeroa. The trip was an enjoyable one, the hospitality of the Waihou team being much appreciated. GISBORNE V. AUCKLAND!! Gisborne, September 2. The Gisborne representative 'hockey team is to play Auckland on September 10. at Remliera. The following players have been selected to represent Poverty Bay:— Goal, J. Doyle; backs, Garrett and Sargteson; half-backs, Evans, Sharp and Wilson; foi wards, Johnston, Roderick, Sheriff, Martin, and Bright. Emergencies: Forwards, Somervell and Harding; backs. McClure and Lewis. Mr Cyril Sharp (centre half) *h»s been elected captain. , ] W E L LIN G T O N C O M P E TITIO N S. WELLINGTON, Monday. •The final for the senior men’s championship was fought: out between United and Wellington clubs on Saturday. The coveted honour was practically already In the possession of United Club, whoso position was only likely to be affected by n beating. Ab tt happened the game was drawn, Welling-

ton putting up a brave fight against their hardy opponents. The scores made were two goals each. Allen and Bridge were the scorers for Wellington, and Elliott drove both goals for United. Vivians affected a surprise by defeating Victoria College by four goals to three. Dawson scored three of the winners’ goals and Carraed the fourth; while King got. two goals for his side, and G. Prouse the third. Waiwetu beat Y.M.C.A. decisively by 7 goals to nothing, the hits being scored by Pringle (2). Sliun (2). Judd, Kllminster, and Clere. In the junior match, Y.M.C.A. beat Wuiwetu by three goals (scored by Hill) to two. The Thorndon and Victorian College B team match was won by Thorndon by five goals to nil. the scores being obtained by Foote (3), and England (2). Karori are runners up to United for the senior championship. Wellington. Victoria College, Vivian, and Y.M.C.A. following tn that order.

GIRLS’ < ” IAMPIONSIIIP TOURNAMENT AT WELLINGTON. A FEW NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The girls’ championship hockey tournament at Wellington has had several sensational elements, and began with a most exciting afternoon at Day’s Bay. although t’»o reports of the proceedings, were greatly exaggerated. Before the tournament actually began trouble was caused by the bullying tactics of the Men’s Hockey Association, who. on account of their private feud with the Ferry Company, cancelled their permission to the girls to play on the day and hour fixed for the opening. Into the question of the feud, which also involves the ownership of the grounds, it is unnecessary to enter, as the matter will he thrashed out in the Law Courts. It is a significant fact that the opening round of a girls’ tourney should be considered such a powerful attraction that it would spoil the attendance at a men’s representative match. North Island v. South. Armed with this excuse, the strongest threats, including the terror of the law. were used to prevent the girls playing, but the latter, fortified with the Ferry Company’s permission and acting on sound mascuMne advice, decided on doing so. To prevent this the Hockey Association altered all their arrangements and announced matches at Day’s Bay on the grounds previously granted to the girls, bringing great pressure to

bear on their players, many of whom refused to oltey. though the rest, more or loss reluctantly. carried out their orders. The first girls’ match. Blenhtdin v. I‘etone. was successfully got off, but the steamer bringing the men players arrived at the conclusion of the match, mid the men rushing on. seised the grounds. Determined not to have a public dispute, the girls, having ascertained all the grounds were taken, retired to the oi>en space in front of the pavilion. u here the Wellington teams began a Possible v. Probable match, and the visiting girls indulged in team practice. The difficulty was .solved by Mr F. Plraui, who three times interfered with the men’s game on No. 2 ground by throwing away the ball, and in the excitement which followed the crowd of men looking on—who had been expressing strong disapproval of the players — invndpd the ground, and it was found impossible to continue the game. A messenger was sent to inform Hie girls that the men had abandoned the ground, and after a few minutes’ delay the Aoraugl v. Nelson teams began their luatcli. So far the threats have not been fulfilled, though there as: rumours that legal proceedings will be taken against the girls directly the tournament is over. A curious feature of the play has been the number of drawn games, and the fr.tllity of playing extra spells has been demonstrated each time. It is suggested that the next tournament be run on different. lines. The following notes will be of interest: — First Round: Petone v. Blenheim. This game resulted in a draw, neither side scoring. and (hough an extra spell was played neither side registered a goal. The game was somewhat monotonous, each side attacking vigorously hi turn, only to he thwarted by the opposing backs. The Blenheim team showed the best combination, but their attack Invariably failed on reaching their opponents’ circle. Petone showed fine individual play. Misses Simpson. Ryan, Brian, and Keil being prominent. Next day the match was re-played, and Blenheim gained a decisive victory of four goals to nil. Aorangi (Wellington) v. Nelson. Tn this match the Aorangis got away with the game and kept the lead all through. In spite of the- plnrky attacks by Nelson, who played a hard up-hill game throughout. Nelson were weakened by the absence of their captain, whn was unable tn get away at the last moment. Miss FMd (Nelson) played a fine game on the whig; Mfsa Reeves did well In goal: and Misses Ledger. Manoy. and Redgrave also did good work. The Aorangis were excellent, strong de-

fence enabling the forwards tv attack vig•rcusij and tsuccvfebiuiiy. Minn Heed uC centre-half was a tower uf strength; ami Eider, Watson, and Heatn utst&ugniMieil tLtiiiselwb frequently among me Mor wards. Hutt v. llawera.—These teams also played a drawn game, the score being one nil. Again the extra spell had no result, ai.d the match was re-plujVd next day, when a very bard game ended in Hutt scoring one goal to nil. I’luy was very even throughout, the llawera forwards—notably Missus beard and Caplen—showing great speed and dash, and their backs Hit hard ami well. The Hutt defence was impregnable, and their forwards good. Miss Matthews scored for the Hutt. • 'raven (Palmerston North) v. Victoria Co.lege <W ellington). - Little interest was taken beforehand in this match, as It was expected the champion Cravens would have a walk over. Victoria College are a new team, this being ihtir first year, and they bad only played in junior matches. It was confidently predicted that the ('raven goal store would run into double figures, but they only managed to knock up 4 to their opponents nil. There was frantic excitement when if was seen what a splendid stand the College was making. Their defence was goon, and seveial times they fiercely attacked Craven goal. The latter’s superior knowledge of the game, and their fine combination gradually told, and in sp’te of the College s gallant struggles, the game went against them. SECOND HOUND. Crave n v. Aorangi.—A large crowd assembled, expecting a line game of hockey, and they were well rewarded. Excitement ran high as the game progressed, and theie was a great scene when the match ended with the defeat of the hitherto Invincible Craven by two goals to one. Both teams had undergone changes since they met in the hist tournament. The Aorangis had lost their captain, but were reinforced by two invaluable players, Misses Graham ami Elder, ami the Craven team was not so strong as foimerly. From the whistle the Aorangis started oil with a dash. Their girls were smarter bn the bail, and their passing and tackling was very line. They persistently smothered the Craven players, who. nonplussed by this unaccustomed proceeding, lost their nerve somewhat. and did not play with their usual accuracy and precision. Aorangi scored first, hut immediately after Miss Dalrymple headed a splendid rush of Cravens, and scored a goal from a corner hit. The Aorangis scored again in the second spell, and though the Cravens frequently attacked, they did not succeed in getting a goal. A feature of the second spell was the line hitting of Miss Johnson (Craven full back), who repeatedly cfeirred goal with a-strong lofting shot that nearly reached her opponents’ circle. The • ’raven forwards waited up the field for the ball, and in a twinkling the attack was against the Aoiangl goal, but no score resulted. Miss Watson played a splendid game for the Aorangis, being particularly smart in getting away with the hall when her side was for< iii down. The Aorangi s full backs were absolutely safe; Miss Seed was exceptionally good at centre half. Miss Dalrymple played a grand game for Craven, and Misses Fitzherbert, Snow’. Johnson and Bagnall were conspicuous for good play. Two Aorangi wing foiwards. Misses Heath mid Elder, showed excellent speed and dash. SEMI-FINALS. Aorangi v. Blenheim.- Though somewhat stale after their great game the day before, the Aorangi scored a decisive victory against BiCiihciiu, ami entered the finals for the championship*. Kiwi v. Hutt.—A drawn game (score, one all) was the result of this match. An extra spell was play.xl with no effect, and a furthi r spell of ten minutes also failed to decide the game. KIWI WINS THE FINAL. WELLINGTON, Monday. Wet weather notwithstanding, the final was played at Day’s Bay this afternoon, the contestants being the Aorangi and Kiwi Clubs, captained by Miss M. Seed and Miss Edwin respectively. There was a goodly muator of votaries of the game, and the progress of the rival teams was followed with interest. In the end Kiwi won by three goals to one. THE CLOSE <>F THE TOURNAMENT. WELLINGTON, Monde v. It was anything but ideal hockey weather on Saturday afternoon, for a boisterous nor’-wester which blow square across the hockey grounds. Bay’s Bay, was equally <lls< .unfitlug to players and spectators. Despltr the threatening weather, there must have been upwards of a thousand spectators scattered round the ground to see the annual tournament match between teams selected from the visiting ami local lady hockeyists. Whether it was on account of the high wind or that the girls were feeling the strain of the last week’s hockey programme, the game was not nearly so Interesting as some of the inter-club matches last week. Though Wellington Won by Iwo goals to one. the result would be no guide in pronliesylng if the winners hail teams to meet again to-morrow. At. half time then* was no score, but in the succeeding spell Miss Buckley and Miss Watson scored for Wellington, while Mias E. Baird (llawera) notched a goal for the Visitors.