HOCKEY AND SHIELD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1187, 24 July 1911, Page 3

HOCKEY AND SHIELD.

ALMOST CAPTURED. HAWKE'S BAY A-FINE TEAM. In a struggle for the hockey shield, Wellington succeeded in defentiiij* Hawke's Bay at Day's Bay on Saturday. The visitors played what is probably the best game seen in this year's and last year's shield matches. Duriiiff the iir*t spell they completely outclassed the local representatives and succeeded in registering two goals. The second spell, however, saw the -Wellington wins.* receiving more of the ball. The forwards, too, showed a little combination, and f Hic team inanagpd lo secure three goals. The. ground was slippery, and the local team did not swiii to be able to keep their feet, though, on the other hand, it. did not affect the visitors. The system of having two referees proved a success. In the last spell particularly the game was, at times, very fast, and one referee would hardly have been able to keep up vatU tlie 'players. First Spell-Hawke's Bay Lead. Wellington got away from tho "bully," but fcfaloK overran the ball, and tho opposing backs found the line '" tneir own twenty-live. Tho visiting forwards then carried piny down Hie field, but Hickson stopped their progress, ami operation-, remained at half-way lor some time, where Hallctt (left wing) secured, and reached the Wellington circle, Campbell saving. Again Ilallett rushed into the striking area, but was penalised tor "sticks" wncn shooting. From the treehit Atkinson (right wing) carried play into Wellington territory, (ho ball eventually going behind. Tub local forwards then managed to move play to their opponents' circle, where Saiek passed 10 Loader, the latter player sending the. ball on to Murphy, who, however, failed to take advantage of the opportunity. Hawke's.Bay now found a weak spot in the local sitto, and worked to the twentyfive, Kibblewliito bringing off a timely "save" just when Hnllett was moving into the circle. At this stage the visitors held the advantage, and, time and again, Wellington were lucky in escaping possiblo scores against them, hventually. however, from a bunch in the circle, ilallett sent in a shot which beat Dwyer, and the visitors secured their lirst goal amidst applause. . Un r- f ting to work again Atkinson received tho ball from the "bully," and beat the opposing backs, but Dwyer rushed out from his goal and staved this onslaught off. Line-out play ensued, and the visitors again reached tho circle, Dwyer stopping a hot shot, but he failed to clear the ball out of the circle, and Shattky made no mistake in lindiug the net. 2-0. Hawke's Bay continued to have tho bast of the play for some time, but an opening at last occurred, and the lellow ; forwards carried play into tho circle, ' where a chance was missed through Loader over-running the ball. A minute later this player centred, but his forwards were- not in position, and thus another chance was missed. Wellington were then awarded a penalty-hit, but Loader failed to find the net. From a "corner" Hawke's Bay cleared, and play shifted to the local end, where Kibblewliito failed to stop, but Hickson, coming across, just managed to find tho line. Hallctt presently received a pass from Atkinson, his right wing, and beat the opposing backs, but nothing tangible resulted. Fraser also had a shot for the visitors, mt was penalised for "sticks, anil Salek removed play to half-way, where M'Goldrick pulled him up. A\ellmgton now got away, and a forward had a shot the ball'going behind. Once again Hallett went down the line, and. sent a on" pass across to Atkinson, who, however, spoilt his chance by being offside. Hard hitting by the Wellington backs saw their forwards in the circle, but the defence was too solid, and llawke s Bay cleared, Hallett carrying the ball over the line at. half-way. Tho spell ended in favour of Ilawke's Bay by 2 goals to nil. Wellington Draws Level. On resuming Wellington showed more dash than previously, and were soon awarded 'a corner-hit. From this, however, Hawke's Bay secured, and play was ini'Hed back to the other end. The Wellington backs cleared,'and Loader received the ball:. With a gooileffort he beat the opposition, ami sent the ball into the goal-mouth, where Tomoana, in taking his time" in clearing, was beaten by (... Strack, who scored the lirst goal for the local side. 2—l. , Both teams buckled to again, and once more Loader receiving passed in-field, but the effort was intercepted, nml the visiting forwards reached Wellington s twenty-Bve. The advantage of havina two feferees was now seen, the bal travelling from end to end of the field in one quick rattle after another. Once more tho local left-wing sent the ball into the circle, but his forwards failed to do the finishing touch. Wellington, however, continued to press, and were present! t awarded a corner-hit, from which C. Strack banged .in the. "equaliser." "Do or Die." And now. of course, it was "do or die" for both side;. Hallett soon broke away, but Kibblewliito secured,' and the local forwards in turn attacked, II Goldrick clearing when things looked dangerous in'doed. Campbell took cbnrge in the Hawke's Bay twenty-five, and sent the ball on to Loader in the circle. And Loader proved himself just the man for, seizing tho situation by tho forelock, he sent in a shot that beat Tomoana, and put Wellington in the lead by 3 goals to .2. That settled it. The visiting forwards now lost a lot of their dash, am seemed to be tiring, though they still maintained a solid defence. Atkinson eventually found an opening, and broke through 'the local backs, 'Hicksnn bringing relief by hitting behind. The same player stopped another rush just afterwards-, and sent the ball out to Loader, who. in centring, hit tho ball ncross behind his forwards. Again Wellington attacked, and Loader sent the ball into the goal, but through olf-sido : play it was disallowed. Hawke's Bay in turn attacked, and Wellington had some anxious moments in clearing. Tho visitors were still in tho Wellington twenty-five when the whistle blew for time. Messrs. .Gendall and Carver were the referees. . Smoke Concert. The Hawke's Bay representatives were unofficially entertained by a number of ■senior players at a smoke concert in the Hotel Windsor on Saturday evening, Mr. M. Luckie presided. Tho following toasts- were honoured:— "The King," "Our Visitors," proposed by the chairman, and responded to by Messrs. M'Goldrick and. 'Hallett; "The Wellington Hockey Association," proposed by Mr. MacDougall. and Tesponded to "by Mr. W. J. Organ. Me>sr-. Hunter, Nobie. Shuley.■ Tomoana, and others contributed musical items, and Messrs. Oram and Christie recitations. OTHER CITY HOCKEY. JUNIOR MATCHES. United proved too strong for T.M.C.A., who were defeated by 7 goals to nil. Wellington succeeded in defeating Victoria College A after a close game by 1 goal to nil. _~.„, Third-Class. St. Mark's (3) drew with Hutt Val*Greg'»'s (3) defeated Victoria College (1). Government Life Insurance (7) beat Ladies' Matches, Victoria College succeeded in defeating Ramblers by i goals, lo nil. Hr»omoa were defeated by Pctone after a close game by 1 goal to nil. In the ladies' junior grado Celtic (1) drew with Girls' CoUogo (1).