LADIES AT HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1227, 8 September 1911, Page 6

LADIES AT HOCKEY.

THE FIFTH DAY. VICE-REGAL PARTY PRESENT. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Hawko's Bay 2 Marlborough 1 Taranaki 1 Manawatu B 0 Auckland 4 Canterbury B .... 1 Wellington A .... 1 Bullcr 0 Wairarapa 2 West Coast 0 Wanganui 2 Southland 1 Manawatu A .... 8 Wellington B ... 0 His Excellency tho Governor, Lord Islington, Lady Islington, and suito were present at tho ladies' hockey tournament yesterday. The vice-regal party were met on arrival by Dr. Arnold Izard (president of tho Wellington Ladies' Hockey Association). Archdeacon Redwood was also among the visitors who went over to Day's Bay. . The semi-final of tho tournament was to have been played to-day, but it appears that a somowhat unpleasant difference of opinion has arisen. In Section B, the three leading teams (Wellington A, Duller, and Nelson) are on level terms, while in Section C Manawatu A and Wanganui tie for first place. To-day the winning team in Section B was to have mot tho winner of Section C to decide who ' should play : Hawke's Bay (winners of Section A) for final honours to-morrow. That, howevor, is impossible, for there are five teams on equal terms. To meet the difficulty a meeting of tho Executive Committee was held last evening, and they decided that tho only way to solve the difficulty was to draw up a. new set of fixtures. The drawing resulted as follows:—Section A,. Manawatu A v. Nelson; Section B, Hawke's Bay v. Buller; Section C, Wanganui v. Wellington. It was the executive's intention to have played these matches in tho morning, and that tho winners of-' Sections A and B should decide tho semi-final in the afternoon, the winner of Section C having a bye. When, however, this proposal was placed before the managers of the teams concerned, at a meeting held in Armit's Rooms last evening, they all firmly refused to allow their teams to play two matches in the- samo day. After some discussion they finally agreed to tho following programme:— . .For To-day. Nelson r. Wellington A. on No. 1 ground, at 3 p.m.; Manawatu A v. Wanganui, on No. 1 ground, at 2 p.m. Buller, a bye. On Saturday. Winner of the Wellington A v. Nelson match plavs Buller. Winner of the Wanganui v. Manawatu A match plays Hawke's Bay. Tho final is to be decided on Monday. Whether tho Executive Committee will accept this proposal after their original scheme being rejected is an open question, aiid will not bo decided until they meet to-day. If these proposals are rejected Hawke's Bav, Manawatu, and a couple of the other teams will withdraw from the tournament.

SECTION A. ' Hawke's Bay, 2; Marlborough, 1. The clement of surpriso marched behind this game.' Contrary to gcileral expectations, it-turned out to bo a remarkably oven and fast set-to. Hawke's Bay began well, for play had only progressed a few minutes when they took tho ball to the Marlborough circle, and Miss Pitt, left wing, goa!«d in fine style. This reverse roused Marlborough, who now began to attack strongly,, but whatever chance they had of scoring was effectually blotted out by bad circlo work. Tho plot, however, developed as tho play went on. After some time Hawke's Bay appeared to be going to pieces, for that sjnendid combination which at tho'beginning of the tournament made them Hi* most respected eleven in the competition ceased to be in evidence. On the other hand, tho Marlborough girls appeared to excel their reputed form, and, for-a hme.-many thought that last year's champions would suffer defeat. To further increase this impression Marlborough scored shortly after the second spell had begun. That really turned the tables. It woke Hawke's Bay from their lethargy and, by their subsequent play, they showed that they still knew how to play hockey as only Hawke's Bay can. Up the field they camo with a rush, and some exciting play surged into the Marlborough circle. They had several good chances of scoring, but their shots went wide. In the concluding stages of the game, however, they got the winning goal home. It came from a corner throw-in, one of the forwards, Miss Smith, securing tho ball, and successfully shooting. Mr. Kean controlled the game. Taranaki, 1; Manawatu B, 0. "Won by a hair's breadth" is the whole story of this encounter, Taranaki just succeeding and no more. That was the best point about it, for-the play itself was slow and uninteresting. Both teams seemed very tired, especially in tho second spell, but the final decision was for Taranaki. Miss A. ■ Young put on tho only goal. Mr. Ma.nning was referee.

SECTION B. Auckland, i; Canterbury B, 1. Even. play marked the opening of this match, but, as it progressed, tho northerners gradually asserted their superiority and, thereafter, Canterbury had little chance. Miss Bennett drew "first blood" for Auckland, by taking the ball down tho field, beating three of tho opposing backs, and goaling. Auckland's next scoro .was obtained as the result of magnificent combined play between Misses Cooke and Kenny, tho latter finding the wet. Canterbury then attacked for a w.hile, but ultimately went to pieces, and Miss Kenny (Auckland) dribbled tho ball from half-way and again scored. Canterbury's reply was a rather half-hearted attack, but luck attended it, and Miss Rhodes shot a goal. That, however, was tlreir first, and last success, for Auckland wero soon at them again, and Miss Wylio eventually got in a successful shot.

Wellington A, 1; Buller, 0. "Hotly contested" is the most suitable term which one could use to describe this game, for Buller certainly gavo a brighter and cleaner exposition of hockey than they did on the previous day against Nelson- In the first spell tho teams wero evenly matched—indeed, right till time was called, it was a case of "Greek meetin" Greek." The Westport team had a slight advantago in the first spell, as their attack was more fiery, tho shooting especially being accurate and deadly, but tho homo defence offered splendid resistance, effecting at times almost brilliant "saves." In tho second spell play was clean and fast, the ball travelling up and down tho field in great style. Wellington made determined attempts to score, and such was the vigour of the attack and the sureness of the defence 1 that even disinterested spectators "could scarce forbear to cheer." The attack was repulsed, but tho Black and Gold ladies rallied, and again attempted to send the ball to the net, and this time they were successful, Miss M'Donald having the honour of shooting the only goal of a hard-fought game. Play for a time- became ominously quiet, and gavo some of the onlookers the impression that Buller wero but waiting their opportunity to launch an attack. When, as tho wise ones predicted, it did come, it camo. sudden and fiery, but Wellington effected a rather lucky "save." After this final effort both sides seemed a lit Ho tired, ami thence to the conclusion, tho play was of a give and tako order.

SECTION C. Wanganui, 2; Southland, 1. This match, which was played on No. 3 ground, was very evenly contested, and resulted in a win for Wanganui by 2 goals to 1. There was not much to pick and chooso betwecu the teams, though Southland played with more combination in attack. Wanganui did most of the attacking in the first half, 'and Southland in the second. Tho northerners led by one goal to nil in the first spell, their goal-getter being Miss Jones. Southland lost several chances of scoring by weak circle work, but their opponents were just as unlucky. Miss M. Moss scored for Southland, and Miss Perritt also scored for Wanganui. Mr. M'Kenzic was referee. Manawatu A, 8; Wellington 0. A score of !i goals to nil at once disposes of the idea of a splendid exhibition of hockey. From the very commencement of matters Manawatu made it evident

that tho game was to be theirs—and theirs it was. Constantly hovering in Wellington's circle, the winners',, vanguard took turn about at shooting, and of the essays eight found tho net. Mr. Shepard was the referee. Wairarapa, 2; West Coast, 0. This was a very uninteresting affair. Wairarapa had tho best of tho game throughout, and showed to moro advantage than tho West Coasters. Misses Neilson and Orr shot goals for Wairarapa. HOW THE TEAMS STAND. Team. % a . > ™ -3 2si E? 3 -S 5.5...5-? 2.2 Hawke's Bay... 4 4 0 0 12 5 8 Wangamii 3 -1 1 0 11 4 8 ManawatuA... 5 3 0 2 13 2 8 Southland 5 3 2 0 15 (i 6 Tnr.inaki 4 3 10 9 8 0 Bnller '.. 4 2 1 1 12 8 5 AVcllimjtonA ... 4 2 114 2 5 Wairarapa .... 5 2 2 1 10 7 5 Nelson 4 2 118 5 5 Canterbury A.. 4 2 2 0 10 5 4 Auckland .4220804 Marlborough... 4 1 3 0 7 5 2 Wellington si... 5 1 4 0 2 27 2 Manawatu 8... 4 1 3 0 2 12 2 Canterbury 8... 4 0 3 13 9 1 West Coast ... 5 0 4 1 3 9 1