HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1229, 11 September 1911, Page 2

HOCKEY.

WELLINGTON DEFEATS OTAGO. PINAL SIIIELD MATCII. Wellington wore successful in defending the thirteenth challenge for the Hockey Shield nt Day's Bay on Saturday. A largo number of spectators watched the same, which was played early, so that the Havrlco's Bay-JLmawatu A semi-final fixturo in the Ladies' Tournanient could have the use of No. 1 ground. The visitors all through showed far belter form and combination than the local representative?, who did not show their true form until the second half, and then only Hashes. This was probably accounted for through Campbell, Loader, and Salek suffering from injuries in previous games. Otago lost tho toss, anil defended tho south goal facing the sun. I'Yoin' the bully-off Otago rushed play to Wellington's twenty-five, Parton Securing and sending the ball over, the line at half-way. Otago forwards worked into the local half, and line-out play ensued, from which Wellington moved play to the visitors' goal, Clot/, saving by kicking out to the line. Play remained in the Otago half for some time, but the local forwards failed to do tho right, thing, tho ball going' wide of the goal. Prom a frcehit to Wellington, Otago shifted play to half-way, but tho local forwards returned, the ball going behind. Fitt put in a, gdod run to the local' end, and Otago were awarded n penalty-hit, but a behind rf>sultul. Loader was next conspicuous by taking the ball to the Otago end, but hit over the line. Otago broke away from their own circle and attacked, Fitt scut, in a shot: that missed. The local side were on the defence for some time, tho passing of the visiting forwards keeping the . backs busy, eventually. Thompson scut the ball on to G. Strack, who iii turn passed to Davies, whose shot missed. Jloxham and Smart, Otago full-backs, were at this stage hitting hard and cleanly, and timo f after time intercepted the local rushes. Tho visitors reached tho Wellington circle, and after .11 hot tussle Calder hit over tho posts. G. Davies was penalised for giving sticks, and Otago resumed the attack, Dickson and Jl'Lldowney doing some fine defensive work. Campbell secured the- ball in field, and sent it on to Loader, who sent in a hard shot that found the net, bilt was ruled oll'-side. Otago worked back, Parton eventually securing and passed to G. Strack, who carried the ball into in* circle, Gotz once again saving well. Otago were put on the defence for somo time, but Wellington failed to score, and the visitors found an opening, and plav returned to the local end, but nothing resulted, and the spell ended with Wellington in Otago's twenty-five, and no score. Tho start of the second spell saw Otago making tho game fast and open, and Wellington for the first fifteen minutes were on the defence. Otago worked play to the Wellington circle, where a tusslo ensued, Footo scoring tho first goal for tho vis.yors. The local forwards took n turn, but (he defence of tho Otago backs could not bo penetrated, and from Wellington's twenty-live the ball was carried into tho circle, and Calder successlully found the net. 2-0. Wellington' once again tried to invade the visitors half, but wore turned back, and play remained in field for a while. A hard hit by Dickson gave Wellington . a chance, G. Davies securing and passing to G. Strack in the circle, and the latter player scored. 2—l. Otago rushed play down tha field, but a free-hit brought relief to the local side and the ball Toadied the circle, where G. Strack passed to Davies, who equalised tho score. 2-2. The, local forwards were now playing with better combination and with more .dash, and Otago were defending for some time. Campbell sent the ball on to G. Davies, who passed to G. Strack, this player centring to Loader,'who scored the winning goaf within ten minutes of time. 3—2. Wellington continued to attack, but no further score resulted, and Otago had worked play into tho local half when time was called, and tho shield still remains in Wellington. • Messrs. Falconer and Gendall refereed, AUCKLAND V. THAMES, H3y Telegraph.—Press. Association.) Auckland, September 9. In the liockev representative match, Auckland beat Thames .by G goals to ml.

LADIES' HOCKEY.

THE SEMI-FINALS. NELSON AND HAWKE'S BAY TO PLAY OFF. Hawke's Bay '•• 1 Manawatu A ... 0 Nelson ' 5 Bullcr 1 The semi-final of the ladies' hockey tournameiit was played at Day's Bay on Saturday, with the result that Hawke's Bay and 'Nelson, will meet to-day, and fight out the final. The attendance was estimated to be between two and three thousand, and more than two-thirds of this number witnessed tin* Hawke's Bay-Mana-watu A ■couteat. From the commencement it was evident that Manawatu would prove themselves worthy cf their opponents' steel, and this expectation was fully realised. The little sphere travelled up_ and down the field, and the fortunes of the game changed with an almost bewildering rapidity. It was, with the. possible exception of the Canterbury A v. Hawke's Bay encounter, on the previous Saturday, one of the best games of the touniitme'nt. Hawke's Bay were hard put to win . and only bad luck prevented Manawatu from not scoring especially in tho concluding stages of the game. Nelson had their revenge on Bullcr by defeating them by five goals to one. This game was fairly even at- tho start, but the Nelson girls playing a more scientific game, outplayed their bigger opponents in all departments. Half-way through tho second spell Buller were playing a hopeless game. They had not even lime to attack. Nelson saw to that, and kept them busily employed in an endeavour to avert an absolute rout. To-day's game—Nelson v. Hawke's Bayshould bo a great attraction. Both teams are very evenlj .matched, as regards size and weight, and' they both play good hockey.

HAWKE'S BAY, 1; MANAWATU A, 0. After tho initial "bully" it was apparent lu all that this game was going to bo fast and full of excitement. Both teams played splendid hockev, and for tho first quarter of an hour Manawatu had a slight advantage. Then Hawke's Bay began to make things warm for their opponents. The forwards took the ball up the field in linn style, ■ and, in order to relievo the pressure, Jlanawatu were compelled to concede a corner. From the subsequent hit in play became fast and furious, tho Hawke's Hay forwards sending in many a hot shot, but the defenco .was good—that of (lie two fullbacks almost perfect. Then Manawatu turned the tables and came down tho field to the Hawke's Bay goal in a determined manner. A score almost seemed certain, but the. forwards lost the ball, and a "corner" resulted. It was now apparent that Hawke's Bay were not going to Win very easily, in, fact many of their "barrackers" began to take a rather gloomy view of things, but no matter how strenuous the attack, their backs proved themselves very trustworthy. Some of their "saves" were really brilliant, "anil roused the enthusiasm of the spectators. As time went on, however, the Hawke's Bav team seemed to be gradually wearing down their opponents, and at the sanw time improving the standard of their own play. Their forwards became more confident, and combined well, with the result that Manawatu were called on to defend more than at first. After about half-an-hour had elapsed, Hawke's Bay registered their first score. The ball came up (he line, and was centred by Miss Smith. It was (lien passed on to Miss Crowley, whs shot a beautiful goal. Tlay alternated for a while, each side having turns at attacking and defending, but just before (he whistle sounded for half-time Manawatu had a good chance to score, but (ho dofence was sound. . . , . ~ The second spell was even brighter th.v, the first, and the pace never slackened. At the outset Hawke's Bay pressed hard and had ill-luck in not scoring. The:i Manawatu, urged on by their sunporten, raised the siege, and thrust Hawke's Binback on their own goal. After a few exciting minutes the Hawke's Hay forwards hv a combined effort took the ball up (o about halfway, whore play hovered for,

some time. Hawkc's Bay were showing to more advantage, but both (cams were giving a good exposition of hockey. Their stick work was good and clean, and the passing excellent. The. backs on both sides we're very reliable, and could be trusted to do the right thing. For another twenty minutes very even play followed, though tho Greens made repeated attempts to break through the Hawkc's Day defence. On one occasion a score seemed imminent, but the opposing goalkeeper effected a beautiful "save." About three minutes before time was called Manawatu made no fewer than three determined attempts to win or at least draw level, but the attack w.-n invariably repulsed. When timo was called Hawkc's ]lay were Ihe victors by olio goal to nil. It was a splendid match to watch, and the losers deserve credit for the way they contested the game. Mr. W. J. Geudall controlled the, game.

NELSON, 5; BULLER, 1. A strong sun was a disadvantage to the members of the Buller team in their match against Nelson on Saturday, but the conditions were worse when Nelson came lo face King Sol, for ho was lower in the heavens and the reflection from the water was very glaring. From the outset the West Coasters attacked very strong, and a score looked imminent. Although there was not much vigour behind the Nelson defence, nevertheless it was of sufficient strength to keep the Buller team at bay. Soon after this •Nelson appeared to wake up, and took ,a hand at attacking. For fully five minutes they gave the Reds nil they wanted, ami play was of a very fast nature. The pressure was relieved,' however, through a Nelson back giving "sticks." Nelson had a capital chance to score at this time, and would have done so if tho Buller backs had not sat down in front of the goal, their skirts thus preventing tho ball from landing in tho net. Half-time wf.s drawing near, and Nelson were still attacking! but tho defence, cf tho Buller backs was sound. A bcdittiful passing rush by the latter's forwards transferred phy to their opponents' territory, and it was quickly taken to the opposite cud, where Nelson scored a splendid goal, Hiss H. Emms being responsible for it. The second spell had not been going very long whe,n it became evident that Nelson's science would tell in tho end. From a penalty hit Hiss Carfick increased Nelson's score to two goals. Within a few minutes Miss Emms again scored for her side, and Miss ■ Simpson repeated the performance, making tho total Nelson, 4 goals, Buller 1. About five minutes before tho close, Buller wero awarded a penalty, and the lady taking the hit made no mistake.' Just on c;ill of timo Nelson again scored, Miss Ingram notching the fifth and last goal of tho match.