WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 28 August 1939, Page 10

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

TOURNEY AT BLENHEIM SURPRISE RESULTS AUCKLAND DEFEATED (Por Press Association.) BLENHEIM, this day. The Dominion women’s hockey tournament opened on Saturday afternoon with an entry of 12 teams, two of which are local. The standard cf play throughout the afternoon promises keen competition before the section winners meet in the final for the championship next Saturday.

The smaller entry this year necessitates only two sections, and play will be confined to the afternoons, with probably no play at all on Friday.

The weather was fine for the opening matches, but following overflight rain the grounds were heavy and slippery:

The highlight of the afternoon was the great battle for supremacy between Eastern Southland, 'who are defending the K Cup, and Wellington. The northerners ■were obviously out to haul down the champions’ colours, and the game provided ample thrills before Eastern clinched matters with a threenil 'win. Draw With Canterbury

Something of a surprise was occasioned when Marlborough A drew oneall with Canterbury, who have retained the Holden Cup as the third-placed team for the past three years. It was anticipated that Canterbury would be even more prominent this year. As a result of the win, Marlborough’s stocks have risen.

Another feature was Ashburton’s defeat of Auckland, four-nil. Ash'burton displayed similar form to that which made them the section winners and runners-up to Eastern last year in Gisborne. In the early stages it appeared as if Auckland might win, but once Ashburton settled down to combined play there was only one team in it. Provided they retain their form, "Ashburton appear likely to be again, one of Eastern’s hardest rivals. Results:— Section A Feilding 5, Poverty Bay 1. Ashburton 4, Auckland 1. Marlborough A 1, Canterbury 1. Section It Wairarapa 6. Marlborough B 1. Wanganui 2, 'Southland 1. Eastern 3, Wellington 0.