Memorable Hockey Clashes At Otaki

Chronicle (Levin), 12 July 1949, Page 2

Memorable Hockey Clashes At Otaki

The efforts of the Horo whenua J Hockey Association to provide j matches of especial interest and of. .j great value to the many young players the district possesses were amply repaid when Hawke's Bay sent two teams to meet Horovrhenua representatives on the Otaki

Domain on Saturday. The attendance exceeded the most sanguine expectations, and two fast and keenly convested games were seen. The Horowhenua association, with Mrs. M. Seal as secretary doing the lion's share, royally entertained the visitors, who were loud in their praise of the hospitality extended to them. Wi'th the Horowhenua ladies winning their game and the Hawke's Bay men emerging victors, honours were even, and the wish was expressed that return matches cou d be arranged. The visitors were the guests of the Horowhenua association at a I dance at' Te Horo on Saturday I night and a large crowd attended ^ to fittingly conclude the .day's activities. A feature of this event - was the savoury supper arranged * by the local lady players and mem- | Ders. During the evening several j items were contribUted by local and l visiting artists, and a happy time S was spent with Mr. Vic Cottle as j M.C. j Encouraged by their success it is the aim of the Horowhenua ladies j to be represemed at the week's hockey tournament at Masterton at the end of August, and the pos- | sibilities of this trip are to be in- j vestigated. =

The Ladies' Game. ; In spite of a week's rain, the field was in surprisingly good order, and this game sfcarted at a fast clip. With the visitors on the attack from the opening bully, Horowhenua's goalie, B. Hakaraia, stopped" 'cwo nice shots at goal. Soon after Horowhenua launched a vigorous attack and F. McKenzie found the net with a shot which the Bay goalie had no chance of stopping. The visitors retaliated and a strong attack was scopped by T. Rikihana. Not to be denied they came again, and after their first shot at goal was stopped a fast follow in saw L. Green. even the score. Horowhenua, showed out again in many fast fushes Which culminated in R. Hakaraia finding the net to again put the home side in the lead. Determined play by Horowhenua.stalled' .f.urther attempts and Horowhenua were soon attacking again for Mrs. B. Henderson to net the third goal. Immediate y after the Bay goalie saved another hard shot by conceding a corner, and half time sounded. Horowhenua launched the first attack on resuming, but the Bay - were out to make up the leeway and ; B. Hakaraia made some fine saves. The visitors kept up the attack and ' their next shot . at goal hit the j posts. B. Hakaraia saved again. j Some. nice combined play followed, the ball traveliing from wing to centre and back to wing. From the next attack the Horowhenua goalie, although making a desperate save, infringed, and a penalty goal was awarded the visitors, making the

score 3 — 2 in the home side's favour. Excitement was intense at this stage and determined attacks by both teams were saved time and aga.in by the1 sterling efforts of the goalies. The game ended with no further score. • The Men's Clash. This tussle was faster and keener than the earlier game, with some excellent combination shown by both sides. The defence proved very sound, however, and many brilliant movements reached the full-backs and got no further. The first spell ended with neither side able to open the scoring. On resuming each side took turns at attacking, but the defence remained sound, with Cottle keeping the Bay out with good clearing hits. The Bay were not to be denied and soon after Nichol shot a high one which gave Cottle no chance. Horowhenua were not deterred by the reverse and attacked again and again, but the Bay fu'l-back, Hill, gave a poUshed display and they could not pass him. Soon after a nice team movement by the Bay saw Cassin secure their second goal. Horowhenua came again, but a feature of the1 game was the clearing hits of Hill and from one. of these the Bay forwards moved in for C. Williams to score again. The game ended 3—0 in the visitors' favour. Although defeated the home side suffered little iri comparison with the more experienced combined display given by the visitors, and with a goalie less polished than Hill a closer result would have been seen.