HOCKEY Australian Women Win Test 3-2

Grey River Argus, 6 September 1948, Page 3

HOCKEY Australian Women Win Test 3-2

P.A. DUNEDIN, September 5. By sizing up the position, and adopting appropriate tactics, the Australian women’s hockey team narrowly beat New Zealand by three goals to two, in the test match played »at Dunedin on Saturday, on a waterlogged ground. Under possibly the \yorst conditions which an international women’s hockey match has been played, both teams performed Remarkably well. Although the test Was disappointing it was the climax to a week of excellent hockey played on grounds that were rapidly hardening. More used to fast grounds, the visiting team played wonderfully under the impossible conditions, and was more dangerous in the circle than New Zealand. So far on their tour, the Australians have played eight matches (including the test) and have scored 62 goals, against six by Dominion players. The teams were:— Australia: Goal, J. Mclntosh; backs, O. Corrigan and D. Halliday; halves, J. Noble. J. * Wynne and D. Palmer; forwards, L. Johnson, M. Campbell (captain), M. Weaver. C. Ash, and J. Harrison. New Zealand: Goal, H. Black (Otago); backs, P. Gotty (Rangitikei) and D. White (Wellington): halves, N. Gourley (Otago), F. Batty (Auckland) and I. Sanders (Canterbury); forwards, B. Appleton (Can< terbury), M. M. Donaldson (Canterbury), D. O’Connor (Eastern Southland), D. Gray (Wellington, captain), V. Rollitt (Canterbury). Every endeavour was made by the hockey officials and volunteers in the morning to clear surface water off the ground at Logan Park, but when the teams took the field, pools of water were lying everywhere. In the first minutes of the game both teams were obviously bewildered. 'Showers of water often hid the ball, ' as the players hacked away with their sticks. Early in the game, however, tin. 1 Australians began to use the flick, or scoop pass, with a certain degree .of success. The visitors took the ball into the New Zealand half, but some great defensive play by the New Zealand left back, P. Gotty, and the goalkeeper, H. prevented a score. M. Campbell, the Australian inside left, missed a goal with a hard shot. Thfc New Zealand backs relieved pressure, and the forwards went deep into the Australian half in a fine combined move. A wild series of exchanges then took place m a miniature lake in the middle of the field. C. Ash, Australia’s inside right, made a good rund, and the centrehalf, J. Wynne, just missed a goal with a lightning shot from a corner. M. Donaldson cleared the ball for New Zealand. The New Zealand left wing, B. Appleton, showed excellent control of the ball when she dribbled along the sideline, the inside forwards just failing to score from a centring pass. M. Donaldson again made a great save for New Zealand, after the Australians had returned to the attack. Campbell and Ash, the two inside forwards, had the New Zealand defence worried with short passing, and the centre.half, Wynne, was covering up and joining her forwards in a fine exhibition of wet-weather hockey. When the Australian inside left weaved through the New Zealand backs, the New Zealand goalkeeper, H. Black, made a wonderful save, and stopped two further attempts at scoring by Australia. At this stage of the game, when Australia was attacking strongly, N. Gourley, the New Zealand left half, vigorously broke up the Australian attack and sent her forwards away. The New Zealand goalkeeper again earned the highest praise as she dealt with successive shots by Campbell. Wynne and L. Johnston, the Australian left wing showing admirable bail control under adverse conditions. PATCH OF WATER The ground was now a quagmire. Two New Zealand forwards, M. Donaldson and B. Appleton, carried play into the Australian half, only to strike a patch of water, where the Australian backs cleared after a wild scramble. When N. Gourley infringed in the circle, Australia pressed home an attack which was checked effectively by D. O’Connor, the centre forward, and the goalkeeper. Australia’s first goal cume /when Campbell flashed through the New Zealand defence and flicked the ball into the corner of the net, after about 35 minutes’ play. This player had given the spectators at Logan Park during the week a brilliant exhibition of forward play, stamping her as one of the finest women forwards to have 'played in New Zealand. In the test.' match on Saturday she led ..the Australian side by a great example of aggressive play under most trying conditions. Within a few minutes, L. Johnson flicked tile ball into the New Zealand net, to give her side a two-goal lead. At half time the score was Australia 2, New Zealand 0. New Zealand gave a much better account of itself in the second spell, when the forwards stormed the Australian goal, urged on by knots of wet. though enthusiastic spectators on the sideline. From a scramble in front of the Australian goal, D. O’Connor,. New Zealand centre forward, got the ball into the net. Australia 2, New Zealand 1. New Zealand continued to attack, but the Australian defence held. Tne New Zealand captain and inside right, D. Gray, was playing a fine type of game, and O’Connor was giving the Australian halves and backs a busy time Under such conditions it was difficult to single out players in either team, as credit was due to every player on the ground for a plucky display. After splashes and mud had been exchanged in mid-field, the Australian forwards swept into New Zealand territory, and the centre forward, M Weaver, beat the goalkeeper. Australia 3, New Zealand 1. FINE STICKWORK Even with the ground in such a shocking state, the Australians gave the onlookers more than a glimpse or their fine stickwork that, has been so devastating on dry surfaces. J. Wvnne is an admirable centie halt and her two sisters, M. Campbell and C. Ash, are a dangerous combination. Near the end of the game Australia continued with ten players after (J Corrigan, left back, was carried off the field. At this stage, New Zealand was attacking strongly, and was unlucky not to score on more than one occasion.. The last goal of the match eventually came when D. Gray, New Zealand inside right, scored with a high shot from the edg*of the circle. The final score was: Australia 3, New Zealand 2. The umpires were Miss K. M. Wilkie and Mr W. A. Scott.