MEN'S A GRADE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19997, 24 July 1939, Page 10

MEN'S A GRADE

CALEDONIAN OUTPLAYED Y.M.C.A. RIGHT ON FORM Y.M.C.A 4 goals Caledonian .. 2 Y.M.C.A. definitely outplayed Caledonian in the main hockey attraction in Gisborne on Saturday, particularly in the first half, which finished fourone in their .favour, the final score being four-two. The Y.M.C.A. team was superior in. all departments. The Y.M.C.A. forwards gave one of their best displays and worked very well together. Paki Jones was on the top of his form, and he has seldom given a better performance of circle work. Swan also gave one of his best exhibitions, being in the inside-lefi position. Keith Harrison was responsible for a bright display, being very dangerous in breakaways. In the halves, Nicol returned to form, and on the day was the best of a sound trio. The two full-backs, Scholium

nd Lynsky, played their usual steady game.

Few of the Caledonian players were in form during the first half, and although they recovered somewhat in the second spell the improvement was due mainly to the backs. Some of the best forward work was done by J. Crothers, while McLean made good runs down the left wing, although he was given little opportunity to put the ball across to the other forwards. The halves were distinctly off form, and while Douglas did good work at times his efforts were not sustained. Corbett and Hills worked hard, but the failure of the halves left them too much to do. Quick Scoring. Open play, with neither side gaining much advantage, prevailed for the first quarter of an hour. The first really dangerous movement came when | K. Harrison took the ball into the I Caledonian circle for Jones to put in a hot shot, which Livingstone, with a good effort, stopped on his stick. The ball did not leave the circle, and Jones hit it in a few seconds later. I Jones scored the second goal with ja hot shot when he accepted a good 'centre from Richardson. Not long afterwards, Thomson sent K. Harrison away, and he broke through from the 25 to put a long shot past the Caledonian goalkeeper, putting his team three no. Richardson retired shortly afterwards with an injury to his head, after mnk’ng a brilliant run from circle to c ; rclc. The fourth goal came when Bruce

Harrison broke through down tin left wing to hit the ball back-hand into the net from a difficult angle. Just before half-time Caledonian decreased the lead when the forwards rushed the Y.M.C.A. goal. J. Harrison took a shot, and J Crotners caught the rebound ofi Coker to put Die ball into the net. Caledonian battled hard during the second . spell, and with about U nui.es to go Dakin gave Slade the ..ail in a handy position, Slade making no mistake with the shot. There was no further score, and the game ended with Y.M.C.A. winners by 4 goals lo 2. WAITUHI’S HECTIC FINISH FORESTERS JUST GET HOME foresters A 3 goals Waituhi 2 A fast game between Foresters A and Waituhi resulted in a win for the . .... u> uiree goals to two.. Waitlihi making a big bid in a hectic finish. iir.ii. two minutes Foresters suffered the loss of C. Dixon, ex-Wel-lington representative, who. was

his nrsi appearance in Gisborne. He retired with a broken •collarbone, and was replaced by Huston, who was on the reserve list for the day. Waituhi took the early initiative, and du i ior two smart saves by Taylor, m goal, would have scored. Foresters, however, got in the lead early when Wheatley broke through from halfway, while Watchman broke away from a 25 bully soon afterwards to secure the second goal. Waituhi reduced the tead just before the interval, when Kingi put across a good centre to Halbert, who put a high shot into the net.

i.he second half had gone some distance before there was any change in me score. Watchman missed two good chances, hitting the post on one occasion after drawing tne goalie, and putting another over the top of an empty goal from point-blank range.. Hi scored a good one from a penalty coiner towards the close of the spell, however.

With live minutes to go, Tupara came up from the Waituhi backs m an attempt to pull the game out ol the tire ,and K. Pere secured on the circle edge, a bouncing ball beating die goalkeeper into the corner of the net. Waituhi strived hard to equalise, and in the closing minutes the cores ers’ goal was in danger several times, but the game came to a hectic finish without further score. i Ik- f oresters' forwards gave a good exhibition, Wheatley and Watchman being at their best and working very well together. Graham appeared in the halves, and he showed his versatility by playing a sound game. Huston and Stacey gave their usual sound performance at full-back, while Taylor saved well in goal. The Waituhi forwards put up a better exhibition than for some time, showing a good understanding of each other's play. Kingi again went well on the right wing, while Halbert was the best of tile inner forwards. The halves Were a little raw. except for Smiler, who played well, but Waititi’s, by their display at full-back made up for any weakness in the other department. Ria kept his goal well.

SENIOR B GRADE

Y.M.C.A. RACK TO FORM Y.M.C.A 1 goal Wesleyan ... 1 After a period of indifferent displays, Y.M.C.A. returned to form m i their game against Wesleyan on Saturday, and a good match resulted in a draw, one-all. During the first half there was no score, although Y.M.C.A. had slightly the better of the play. Niven scored for Y.M.C.A. early in the second spell, Stokes evening up for Wesleyan towards the close. Wesleyan had the better of the game in the second spell. Wesleyan’s defence was a feature ol the game, and R. Clark saved well in goal, and H. Clark was a valuable full-back. Hanlon worked hard in the halves, although his clearing hits were not always well placed. In the forwards, Parkin and Stokes gave the best performances. The Y.M.C.A. forwards gave a good exhibition, W. Hayes and Niven doing the most work, while the half line was strong, Ferguson and Krebs working very well. Race made a good full-back.

HIGH SCHOOL’S WIN

High School A 4 goals 11.5.0.8. . . 1 High School A defeated their old boys by four goals to one The old boys scored first, but by good team work the present scholars had a lead of 2 —l at half-time, scoring two further goals before the close of. the game. . Much interest was taken in the game, in view of the decision to send the school team to Wanganui for the secondary schools tournament.

SCHOOL B IMPROVES

Muriwai . ... 8 goals High School 15 2 A young High School R team showed improved form against the B grade leaders, Muriwai, who won by eight goals to two. In view of the big scores Muriwai have put up in some of the games this season, the result was gratifying to the boys, whose two goals resulted, from good combined efforts.