THE SINGLE CUP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 21 August 1939, Page 10

THE SINGLE CUP

SIX GOALS TO SPARE WIN FOR POVERTY BAY WAIROA’S EARLY HUSTLE Poverty Bay . 7 goals Wairoa 1 Wairoa put on a hustle in the first spell of the men’s representative hockey game for the Single Cup against Poverty Bay in Gisborne on Saturday, and reached the interval only one goal down, but the final score was 7 goals to 1 against them. The Poverty Bay team did not perform as well as expected, and in view of the coining New Zealand Shield challenge match their exhibition was disappointing. Few of the team came up to expectations in the first half, although the forwards p-howec! a flash of brilliance in the second. In the first spoil Poverty Bay's performance was anything but good. The forwards’ circle work was poor, the halves were weak, and the full-backs speculated badly. The forwards improved greatly after the interval. Consistent Wings Tire two wings, Richardson and Harrison, were the most consistent in the line, the latter doing the greater part of the work in the first spell, while Richardson outshone the others in the second. Of the three inside forwards, Wheatley was definitely the best, showing the most initiative. Watchman and Slade were both off' colour. None of the halves came up to thenusual club standard, although they settled down towards the close of the same. Thomson, at centre, did not display his usual confidence and his customary sound stickwork suffered. Halbert did the greatest amount of work, but speculated too freely and often poorly. Nicol showed good judgment in feeding his forwards, but was too often out of position. Lynsky was the better of the two full-backs, but he, like his partner, Corbett, frequently failed to connect with his speculations. Corbett was tiie worse offender in this respect. Coker saved well in goal, although occasionally he seemed uncertain how to act. Wairoa Players Wairoa had a strong team for a sub-association, and while the home side was not doing its best was really dangerous, testing the Poverty Bay goalkeeper on several occasions. The strength of the forwards was on the left flank, Edwards proving a fast centre-forward who was dangerous in the circle. Hook, inside left, and Ropiha, left wing, also did well. Gemmell was the best of the halves, getting through a lot of sound work, while Duley -bore the brunt of the full-back play. Although Foley had seven goals scored against him, he saved numerous shots. Close First Half Poverty Bay crowded round the visitors’ goal from the outset, but the circle work was poor, many chances being lost, while Fahey saved the shots that came his way. After a brief Wairoa attack, in which Edwards had a shot which Coker deflected, Richardson went down the home right wing, sending in a centre from which Wheatley scored. Soon afterwards Harrison went down the left wing and from a penalty corner Slade scored.

Both Poverty Bay full-backs speculated badly when the visitors attacked-, and Coker saved twice with his boot. Ropiha, Hook and Edward; rushed the ball down the left flank drawing Coker from his goal anc allowing Deacon to put the ball Into an empty net. making the scores: Poverty Bay 2, Wairoa 1. Wairoa continued on the attack until halftime, at which stage the score was unaltered.

After the interval Poverty Bay showed more initiative, and Watchman rushed the ball into the circle. Although he lost touch, Slade returned to the centre, the ball going out to Richardson, -who shot into the top corner of the goal with a hot shot The home forwards again bustled the visitors’ defence, and Watchman hit the crossbar, later putting the ball just over the goal line for his team’s fourth score. They came again, Richardson sending in a long centre for Slade to score from a sharp angle. The sixth goal was scored by Slade, who got the bail from a free hit. Wheatley put in the seventh, the ball bouncing from the goalie’s foot from a long angle shotThe umpires were Mr. Mclntosh. Wairoa, and Mr. J. Oxbrow.