Horowhenua Beaten In Cup Hockey

Chronicle (Levin), 13 September 1948, Page 4

Horowhenua Beaten In Cup Hockey

Les M.

Murphy)

(Special. — From

WELLINGTON, Sept. 12. Although beaten by Wellington on Saturday at Newtown Park in the annual challenge for the Parata Cup, the Horowhenua representative women's hockey team gave a surprisingly good account of itself, particularly so in the second spell when the team settled down to good hockey and gave the strong Wellington combination a busy time. This was Horowhenua's first challenge for the cup since prior to the wai\ and for a first year team their performance was remarkably good in the circumstances. Although Wellington 'won by eight goals to one, the score by no means gave a true indication of the respective merits of the teams on the day. The match was productive of good hockey on both sides, particularly so with Wellington, who had ■ been practising together for some time. Horowhenua took a long time to settle down and, while summing up" the home team's real strength, goals were being registered against them in the first spell. However a team talk athalf time produced a new and vigorous combination after resumption, and with an ounce of luck Misses B. Hakaraia and M. Bevan and Mrs. E. Seal might easily have reduced Wellington's lead considerably had the goal shooting been more accurate. , ;.By, their fine effort in the second fial'f PioVowhenua showed that they should be a force to contend with next year when the players are more accustomed to team work and combination. In the first spell, before Horowhenua could settle down, Wellington set to with a determination. They soon rattled on the goals and were seven up before Horowhenua recovered and checked the rot that had set in. The visitors' goalkeeper, Miss T. Ropata, brought off some magnificent saves and with the co-operation of Misses P. Roe, S. Te Hiwi (backs) and H. Jenkinson and N. Tyree (halves) she gave a most promising . display when Wellington bombarded the goal. The spell ended Wellington 7, Horowhenua 0. The last half saw a more vigorous Horowhenua team giving a bright display of hockey. Playing Wellington at their own game, the visitors showed to good advantage and after many unsuccessful assaults on the Wellington goal, Miss B. Hakaraia opened Horowhenua's account with a stinging shot that resounded all over the park. play was evenly distrjbuted. , The Wellington . defence was sound, Misses Hakaraia and ~M. Bevan finding Mrs. Utika solid in defence. Generally the play was well distributed in-the spell and it was hOt until thb concluding ten" minutes of the match that Wellington reasserted itself and held the territorial advantage to the close. Horowhenua players to show to good advantage were Misses T. Ropata- (goal), who gave a fine performance, P. Roe and S. Te Hiwi (backs), who had their work cut out holding a strong attack force, N. Tyree ahd H. Jenkinson, both of whom distributed the ball well to their forwards, and- B. Hakaraia, M. Bevan and Mrs. E. Seal (forwards), who were always on the alert for scoring opportunities. Unfortunately they did not cooperate with each other when such was necessary to beat a strong defence.