LADIES AT HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1226, 7 September 1911, Page 6

LADIES AT HOCKEY.

i —• — ■ s A HOLIDAY CROWD. \ THE COMBAT OF BULLER AND 1 NELSON. D S i RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Taranaki 3 Canterbury A ... 2 r Manawatu B 2 Marlborough 1 1 Auckland 1 Wellington A .... 0 Buller 3 Nelson 2 ' Wairarapa 4 Wellington B. ... 0 , Manawatu A 2 Southland 0 Wanganui • 4 West Coast 1 ) Beautiful sunshine, rich with tho pro- " mise of spring, gave a pretty setting to the doings at Day's Bay yesterday, whero 200 hockey girls were engaged. Tho day and tho play drew a good half-holiday crowd across the water, and in somo of the encounters "The Valkyries," as a correspondent has termed them, gave patrons somo "stick work" that was worth watching. Four of tho matches wero important, but that which drew the largest speqtai torate round it was the Buller v. Nelson battle. On tho previous day (after their | defeat of x~nd) Buller were confident ' of winning. Honours were easy in the first spell, but the second spell had not , long progressed when Buller scored and led. Then' Nelson came at them. Thev swept over the Buller forwards, but when they came to tho circle they were usually steadied. Stretching right across the goal wero always four or fivo Amazons, sterneyed and resolute, waiting' and ready to stop that elusive littlo white sphere, no matter with what force it was sent in. But so completely were they hemmed in, that it seemed that a score was imminent at any time, and that made tho match tho spectacle which it proved to bo. But "dogged did it," and, when time was called, a chorus of cheers from the Reds announced their victory. That old vendetta between Auckland and Wellington was followed up another step yesterday, when tho Queen City girls gave the local team a "father of a beating." Tho score is not a fair indication of the merits of the respective teams, for Auckland were in every way the superior combination. HOW THE TEAMS' STAND. _ -d fin ' in'ifi Team. « j , . > t; c H-2 >> s ■ -u •: a a.S - jj 5 >? 8 2"S '3 -=•" ft F* w Hawke's Bay ... 3 3 0 0 10 4 G Southland i 3 1.0 J5 4 li Wanganui i 3 1 0 12 3 fi Manawatu A". 4 2 0 2 5 2 G Buller 3 2 0 1 12 7 5 Nelson 12 11 8 5 5 Canterbury A.... 4 2 2 0 10 5 4 Taranaki 3 2 1 0 8 8 4 Wellington A.'... 3 111 3 2 3 Wairarapa 4 12 1 8 7 3 Marlborough .... 3 12 0 G 3 2 Wellington B ... 4 1 3 0 2 19 2 Auckland /. 3 12 0 4 S 2 Manawatu B 3 1 2 0 2 11 2 Canterbury 8... 3 0 2 1 3 8 1 West Coast 4 0 3 1 3 7 1 SECTION A, Taranaki, 3; Canterbury, 2. Immediately after the "bully-off" Canterbury assumed the aggressive, and, for the greater part of the first spell, kept Taranaki piimed down. Their team as a whole showed more combination than their opponents, especially in attack, but the Taranaki backs played a rare defensive game- Miss Pearco was the first to score for Canterbury. Then Miss M'Ewan equalised for Taranaki, and, shortly after, Miss Winks shot another goal, and thus gave Taranaki a lead on the first spell of- two goals to one. In tie second spell Taranaki livened up, and play became fast and open. Tho Taranaki forwards dribbled the ball down to their opponents' circle, and tho Canterbury goalkeeper, in an endeavour to save, rushed out but missed. From this to the end very even play followed, tho southerners making repeated attempts to pierce their opponents' defence, but could not do so till right on the call of timo when a Red and Black forward got clear away and had a shot at goal. The Taranaki goalkeeper "saved," but, before she could clcar, her return was smothered, and Canterbury scored their second goal. Miss Young obtained a goal for Taranaki in tho second half, and Miss.Pearco did tho samo for Canterbury. Manawatu B, 2; Marlborough, 1. "Scrappy play marked this game. Marlborough wero the first to notch a goal. From a throw-in their left wing, Miss Jenkins, mado her way 'down the line, beat all the opposing backs, and. found the net. In the second half Marlborough did most of tlo attacking, but on the only occasion on which Manawatu'reached their opponents' circle they were lucky enough to score. Tie game thus closed, leaving Manawatu in the ascendency by two goals to one Misses N. and L. Bradley shot goals for the victors, and Miss Jenkins scored for the losers. Mr. Bennett controlled the game. SECTION B. Buller, 3; Nelson,' 2. Many eyes were fixed on this event, which was fought out on No. 2 .ground, It was tho vigour of the stick work, rather than its science which drew the gaze of tho onlookers. From the "bully-off" it • was evident that the game would bo hard, and that neither side would give or taka quarter. The first spell was fast and even, but by its general tenor, one could sco that Nelson had a better knowledge of the finer points. Whenever. Buller attacked their efforts took the form of an overwhelming forward rush, and hard hitting, but, on the other hand, Nelson's attack was generally tho outcome of somo fairly good passing up tho field. The ball would be sent upheld to tho waiting forwards, ' and Buller's goal would be their immediate objective. So throughout the first spell tho fortunes of the game wero constantly changed. At tho conclusion each side had put on two goals. Shortly after play resumed Buller swept into their opponents' circle, and Miss Greenland sent the ball through. ; This gave Buller a lead, and then tho Nelsonians apparently thought, it hish time to follow suit. Up the, field they camo, the ball travelling from one player to another by thoso clean diagonal posses i so dear to tho heart of "coaches." Then they began to pepper 'Buller's goal, and, as often as they weie beaten back, they returned again, seemingly more determined than ever. It now looked as if. Nelson : would win, for, except for a few spasmodic rushes down the field. Buller were kept inside their own twenty-five. Nelson were cheered.on by the spectators, , but their opponents' backs were saving magnificently. Try as they would—and they, tried often—they could find no loophole in the defence, though, several times, the ball just missed by inches. Once, too, it went over the middle of the goal. So things went on until time . was called, leaving Buller victorious by 1 three goals to two, -but Nelson wero tho . better combination. Misses A. Halo, i Greenland, and Vitaglich shot goals for i Buller, whilo Misses Corrick and Emms ' scored for - Nelson. Mr. Shcpard controlled tho game. Auckland; 1; Wellington A,.0. 1 Eyes were on this match, too. For the ! first twenty minutes the locals wero tie attaclcors, and on many an occasion, seri- i ously tested the strength of tho Auck- | land defence. Then they seemed to tire, and, thereafter, there was only ono team in it, and that team was Auckland. The J ■northern forwards threw away several chances of scoring by bad circle work, for J on about four occasions the ball passed just outside the uprights. When half-time came no score had been put on. ' Hopes that Wellington would do better in tho second spell were current, but ' it was not to be. They were practically defending throughout, and were extremely lucky in not having more goals scored against them. On one occasion they ) kindled hope by breaking away—a local < girl outpaced her opponents and had only j tho goal-keeper to opposo her. She shot c and missed. Auckland were in every way s tho superior eleven, and deserved their win. Miss Ivcnny obtained the goal which gavo Auckland the victory. Mr. Cusack ' had charge. J SECTION C. Wairarapa, 4; Wellington B, 0. ' Poor Wellington B! Once more they c. suffered decisive defeat,, this time at the 'j hands of Wairarapa B. The affray was j

fairly fast, but Wairarapa played with more combination, and their forwards easily outplayed and outpaced Wellington. Wairarapa led by threo goals in the first spoil. In tho second half tliev wero generally the attackers, but only managed to find the not once. Misses Orr (2), Hairkc, and Neilson scored for tho winners. .Mr. Bay was referee. Manawatu A, 2; Southland, 0. To the surprise of nearly everyone, Manawatu A defeated Southland by 2 2 g°als to nil'. No one expected that 1 Southland would have a "walk over," J. but it was generally conceded that they would win, especially when their previous « performances were considered. But they D lost, and to a team whose credentials for D 'he honour of fighting the final aro not 1 ilf ,50 satis fa e tory as theirs. After the 'bully-off," Southland iust missed a couplo of splendid opportunities. Very even piny followed for a while—indeed, right through the game, even to the most ' critical 'observer, there was no apparent ) difference between the rivals. Each had : their defence sorely tested at times, but, . on .two occasions, Southland was found E wanting. Manawatu's first goal was ob- . tained by Miss Kerslake after some hot ; work in front of the southerners' goal. Tho second spell was practically a repetition of the first, but slightly in favour ! _ of Southland. They had several oppor- , tunities to score, but, whenever a goal L (teemed likely, they unfortunately blun- . dered. Had Southland's backs support- . Ed their forwards more, and played up J closer, tho result might have been very . different. Manawatu's second goal was [ a splendid effort. Tho ball came out to . Miss Cramp, tho left-wing. She dribbled L down tho line, beat one or two opponents, . and shot what might be termed a "spectacular ' goal. Mr. Floyd had charge of , tho game. | Wanganui, 4; West Coast, 1. Dull.is the only word for this contest. . the "all-over-the-field" order, neither side showing a speck of combination. For a time it was evenly contested, but then West Coast went to the wall. For Wanganui Misses G. Jones, Peritt (2), and Sutherland shot goals, while Miss Lindsay obtained a goal for West Coast. . Mr. H. D. Mills (Christcliurch) was in charge of the game. "LOST I DEALS."' (To tho Editor.) Sir,—Kindly aJlow me space to make a few. remarks on "Lost Ideals's" letter which appeared in your issue of even date. "Lost Ideals" strikes me as being a most peculiar person, but he calls himself a man—well, he may be of tho trousered variety of the human race, but lie is certainly no gentleman. We have in our town now about 300 visitors of the fair sex, and surely he might have studied tho ladies' feelings when writing the above-mentioned letter. Apropos his description of the "Hockey Girl" as he saw her on Saturday he reallv is too funny. I, too, was at Day's Bay to witness the opening of tho tournament, and I saw the girls at play. He says that they were untidy, etc.. etc. Really!!-' Could "Lost Ideals" find a body of girls more neatly dressed and generally more spruce than the "Hockey Girls" at present in Wellington? I hardly think so. Most of the uniforms showed very good taste, and made far more for neatness and freedom of movement than that garment of female adornment mentioned in a contemporary journal:— 'Alf an inch, 'Alf an inch, 'Alf an inch onward, .'Ampered-by 'obbles, 'Opped tho four 'undrcd. There certainly are more "refined" forms of exercise for ''ladies" than hockey, e.g., croquet, ping-pong, and walking, but "Lost Ideals" ought to know that tho "girl" who does not caro for sunshinn and fresh air is the one whose "exorcise" consists chiefly of drinking tea, talking scandal, discussing dross, and tho like. Ho is most unfair to tho la'dies in his wild "harean-scarem" assertion that they would consider it "infra dig" to use a scrubbing brush with as much energy, as they uso a hockey stick. It is readily seen that "Lost Ideals" knows very lilflo about scrubbing brushes, and, incidentally, of'tho qualities of our visitors. For ins information, I might stato that I know his assertion is contrary to fact, in so far as tho majority of tho ladies aro concerned. At this stage I might venture to assure him that "girls with delicate constitutions" do not as a rule qualify for places in representative hookey teams. It really appears to mo that 'my friend" is' under the impression that our visitors do nothing other than play hockey all tho year round—on the contrary, very few of them devote more than a half 'day a week to playing tho game. Fellow-bachelors, take my advice, and uso your common sense. . Don't bo led astray by ''Lost Ideals's" mirth-provok-ing conclusions. I heartily agree with his last paragraph, and venture to assert that the "Hookey Girl" is a domesticated girl as well as a sport. Anyway, the ladies are on holiday, and intend to havo a good time while here, so "Lost Ideals's" unjust criticisms will not spoil the pleasure of their visit. As for himself he had better always remain a bachelor rather than try to find his ideal among the afternoon tea-girls.—l am ' €t °'' I?AIRPLAY. September 4, (To tho Editor.) Sir,—Your correspondent, "Lost Ideals," has evidently lost himself in hying to be-little-the lady hockey players at present in Wellington, and shows an ignorance of the matter, which he tries t.o discuss, qui to in keeping with the silly expressions in his letter. To quote one paragraph of his letter: "It is from these girls that we seek our wives, and if their accomplishments are confined to tho wielding of a hookey stick it is indeed a poor lookout for us men in more ways than one." Let me tell him to give Day's Bay and tho "Hookey Girls" a wide berth, and seek his wife from among those girls who stay at homo drinking tea and talking scandal, and the "grave datiger" which ho seems to fear will bo avoided, and ho may get a wife who will not object to being sat upon. I hope you will give this letter equal publicity to "Lost Ideals's".—l am, etc., C. M'KENZIE. ' Wellington, September i, 1911.