HOCKEY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 August 1910, Page 2

HOCKEY.

OTAKI (V,) v. LEV IX (1)

This match was played on the Levin Reserve yesterday and resulted in a. heavy defeat for the home team by <> goals to 1. Levin were without the seivice of Saxon and Ditchings, and took on Victor as o.ne substitute. They played with ten men all through. Shortly ifter the .second half h;id begun, Giles got a rather bad hit from Whiteihouse, and had to retire with apparently some teeth loosened and ■Mit lips. In the first half the visitors had practically all the play, and showed in every department superior form. The Levin men seemed demoralised, their hitting being particularly weak as compared with 1 die red and whites, who put in .some, ponderous strokes, while their forwards seldom made an error when they got into Whitehouse's domain. In the second half, Levin had slightly more of the plav, but their organisation worked badly, and a number of good chanees to score were bungled. A'ineent and Easther pub in a lot of hard work, and the goal secured by tlio former was the result of a. vigorous blow, the Ijjill .having previously beon dribbled down the field by Gardener. Horo was one of the conspicuous lights in the home team. After a little niidfield play Otaki broke awav_ willi a dash and. completely taking tlio home team by uirpri.se. l'and scowl ,t fine goaj. A few minuets later, from another attack Rand potted No. 2. Things wore thus looking very dark for the blacks, but. .Johnson succeeded, in getting the leather away to the visitors 2't a, smart bit of work--

and froin a pa;<s Gardener put. in a nice run, Speyers eventually returning the circle. Smith sent, hack, and in the niidfield play, uhieih ensued. Iloro, who invariably shows a lot ol neat tricky form, e.arried the oval to Jones' end, and then some fine combination between Hands, I'oxburgh and Giles changed the venue. The home backs were sadly pressed, a>nd Wilgon made a somewhat. poor return. A minute later Rands broko through and again drew blood. From tlio bull.} the home team made another effort to gain a point, but their forwards were easily held in check, a.nd although Vincent stopped one ngl_y rush, the ball came merrily away and once again Otaki scored. Play remained for some time in the homo territory .and the. home custodian was called upon to save. s\ hot shot. _ Then Stuekey and Henderson illitiat(•■(! a run, and Henderson made a fine centre, which Horo received and placed nicely forward, hut the ball went outside. Afto.r )) series of hits between the backs Otaki swooped down and added their lifth goal. After this I leywood and Noble were called upon to defend, and Kasfher put in a smart, slvot, which Horo almost converted into a goal The advantage was shortlived, as the Otaki defence was nnvulnerable, and soon AVilsou had to negotiate a couple of difficult hits, and Smith had to .act in a similar capacity. Not to be denied. Otaki kept un the pressure, and later their efforts were rewarded with a sixth point. At halftime tlicy were leading by 0 goals to nil.

Tin mediately o nthe restart Ivisther was seen to advantage with a tricky run upfield, but (.lie resulting pass was abortive. Then tho visitors dashed down, and, "Whitehou.se made a had hit, hut immediately -afterwards recovered his reputation and in the next couple of minutes phiv being in Lis quarter, lie put in some big hits, which infused fresh interest into the game. From time to time Otaki had a lot to say in tihe argument, but Levin kept them most of the time in their half-wav. Time after time tho blacks hfid really hard lines in not scoring, hut •Tones proved a tower of strength in goal, and the backs were prompt and decisive with their hits. On one occasion Victor got into close proximity to tho Otaki goal, and missed scoring by an ace. After Levin end had been attacked. Gardener made an individual run—one of the finest, performances of the, match — but the ball eventually went outside. Subsequently a. free kick fell to Levin and Vincent, receiving this sirnplv banged the ball into the net. There was no more scoring. Mr Smart refereed. Taken altogether tho matrih could not be classified as a classy one bv any means._ Otaki showed much better combination, and when their goal was attacked thoir hacks never minced matters.

MANAKAT7 (2) v. lUHUI (1). This match "was played at Manakiiu yesterday. and resulted in (ho defwi'f of Ra.lini—the first defeat this club has sustained this season; The match was a very fast and exciting one, and some first-cl>a.sfl play was Siown by both sides. FFILDING HIGH SCHOOL OLD GII'LS v. LEVIN LADIES. Tho above match was played at Feildiug yesterday, and resulted in a win i'or" the home team by 1 goal to nil. The game was even throughout with the exception of tho first five minutes, when I'oil ding scored their goal. Tho ground was very slippery, although the day was beautifully line, and it took tho Levin girls a few ininntes to get liscd to it. .Miss A. Lower especially bad hard luck, as shu slipped and fell in the act of shooting a goal. Tho Feildiug forwards woro very l ast, but Levin girls proved more than fast, but our girls proved moro than a match i'or them several times. The wings, .Misses A. Lower and AY. Whitehouse, played an exceptionally good game. .and had the centres been in their places they should have, scored. .Miss V. Irwin shot the goal for Feildiug. After tho match tlie. visiting girls were entertained at tea at Whitheiid'fc tea -rooms.