THE HOCKEY FIELD

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2254, 14 September 1914, Page 9

THE HOCKEY FIELD

PATRIOTIC BENEFIT MATCH NORTH V. SOUTH ISLAND The old-time annual hockey fixture, North Island versus South Island, was revived .at the Basin Reserve on Saturday afternoon. It is now some years since the inter-island fixture has been played, and the'advent'of'its revival attracted an attendance of between two and three thousand people to the Basin on Saturday. The proceeds of the match wore donated to the Patriotic Fund. The game, which was a remarkably even one, resulted in a victory for the southern eleven by 4 goals to 3. Though the play was most interesting, and brimful of incident, it was not- exactly a good exposition of the game, and degenerated at. times into very scrappy play. The teams were as follow:— South Island.—Goal, Luxton (Canterbury); backs. G. Martin (Canterbury) and P. Bradley (Nelson); halves, W. Duffield (Canterbury)/ R. Snell (Canterbury), and' G. Anderson (South Canterbury),; forwards, W. Patrick (Canterbury), A. Stratton (Nelson), A. Throp (Canterbury), E. Ryeburn (Otago), S. Holland (Canterbury). North'lsland.—Goal, Dwyer (Wellington); backs, Speight and Baker (Auckland); halves, Connell (Wanganui), M'Gregor (Wellington), • and Hanley (Wanganui); forwards, Atkinson (Hawke's Bay), Mahoney (Auckland), G. Strack, L. Boyd, and T.' Loader (Wellington). Progress of the Game. South Island were early to' the fore, and some pretty stick work sale the ball at the north end 01, the field. There was a semi-successful attempt at a like manoeuvre by the northern men, which only led, however, to a very simple essay which culminated in an excellent goal from Ryoburn's stick for the southerners. South, 1; North, nil. The South Islanders were very soon at it again, and three or four deadly shots were rained on tlie goal, a particularly warm ono from Patrick putting South Island 2in the lead. Sharp skirmishing xip and down the field ensued, and 'at length a swift movement towards the southern citadel saw Loader score with a beautiful shot. South, 2; North, 1. At this the Northerners' liopes were buoyed up wonderfully, "and there was some interesting work put in near the circle. Some-,' how or other the game subsequently degenerated into a very scrappy affair, relieved 'at length by a bright bit of play, the Southerners making a fast dash down the riglit wing. Patrick skied the ball right from the wing to the circle, Throp trapped it'nicely with his stick, and sent m a hot one that gave Dwyer no chance. South, 3: North, 1. ' In the second spell, the Southerners, as it{ the opening of the game, commenced strongly, but the Northerners were equally determined. Then followed an exciting ten minutes of play. The.first evidence of the northern -men's alertness was'when G. Strack sccured and made , a wonderful dash down the fieldi scoring magnificently. South, 3; North, 2; >-More exciting play followed, the Northern team attacking determinedly. The . Southern rearguard had a strenuous time. Then Boyd scored another great goal after a desperate piece of work. The scores were now even— three all. Tho play wheh followed was bright, fine 1 individual efforts predominating/- The South Island men then'put a decided turn to the game by again scoring. Throp netted . characteristically—4 to 3. The Northerners attacked persistently after this, yet by no means had things all their own way. There was a roar from the crowd when about three minutes, from the call of time Strack netted the ball. It was a false alarm, however, as the goal was an off-side score. And so the match ended. Messrs, J. C. Cusack and Hatch wero the referees./ , The representatives from both Islands ■were, entertained at a smoke concert at Godber's Rooms, Courtenay Placo, onSaturday evening. Mr. M. F. Luckie presided. The evening passed most pleasantly • in' card-playing, toast-mak-ing, and musical items. Messrs. Maxwell, Speight, Williams, Pullyn, Baker, M'Gregor, Malioney, and Beimett contributed to the musical programme. A Curtain-Ralscr. As a curtain-raiser to the above, the schoolboy representatives from Wellington and Wairarapa played an interesting game, the latter team winning by 3 goals to nil. The visitors gave evidence of a better knowledge of • the game than their opponents, and though the Wellington youngsters fought pluckily they were outclassed. Shortly after tho game opened Gravestock and Brazendalo scored for Wairarapa. It was not until the second spoil that another goal was. scored. Phillpots was responsible for this. The game ended: Wairarapa, 3; Wellington, nil. 'Mr. G. Keall was referee. ENCLISH LADIES' TEAM BEATEN. MATCH AT CANTERBURY. (By Telegraph—Prc3B Association.) Christchurch, September 1-2. At ladies' hockey, Canterbury (3) beat England (2). Tlie local team had the better of the play, but just won on the call of timo .with a goal scored from a scramble in the circle. England had the misfortune to lose their captain, Miss Gaslwll, who received a cable messago of her father's death in England. Miss Eames, who received an injury in Timarii, was also an absentee. These deficiencies meant a decided weakening of tho visitors' team, which failed to work in the customary clover combination..