HOCKEY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4858, 27 July 1925, Page 2

HOCKEY.

PAEROA DEFEATS NGATEA. Further progress w'as made by the Paeroa ladies’ hockey team when it defeated the Ngatea team at Paeroa on Saturday afternoon by. one goal: to nil. Considering that it w.as only the local team’s second match since its formation a little over two months ago, and the fact that the Ngatea ciub was in existence at the beginning of last season, and therefore is more experienced, makes the win all the more creditable. By permission' of the P.aeroa Rugby Union the game was played on the No. 2 ground at the Racecourse, and it attracted an interested number of (spectators. The teams were as follow’s :— Paeroa.—Misses P. Treanbr, L. McKee, F. Leach, M. Gleeson, V. Shand (captain), N. Fitch, B. Bunting, AL Tierney, L. Payne, A. Morland, and C. Swann. Ngatea.—Mesdames N. Burke and P. Bertelson, Misses M. Courtenay, Martha Courtenay, D. Wade, L. Birkenhead, M. Quintal,. G. Quintal, M. Miller, M. Crookes-, and J. Hayward .captain). Paeroa won the toss and elected to defend the southern goal. From ,the bully-off Paeroa went on the attack and quickly transferred play to the other end of ,the field, where a loose forward rush was temporarily checked by Ngatea hitting out to the line. From the roll-in Miss Bunting centred hard, and Miss Payne carried on, a breach by a local player bringing relief. The hit was returned by Miss Fitch to . Miss Swann, who cleared well to centre. Misses Payne and Shand essayed a dribbling rush and carried into the circle, where the latter shot a good goal from a difficult angle. Up-and-down play ensued untill half-time. ■ .

The defence of the visitors, especially in the back division, was very sound, and few mistakes were made. The local team spoiled a number of chances of taking the ball into the circle by undue crowding. During the sece-nd half the visitors attacked frequently and had hard luck in not registering a score. The play of the Misses Quintal was very sure, but unfortunately quite -often their efforts were nullified on account of not being supported. This fault was. also very noticeable in the Paeroa team. There is little doubt that the visitors had the better of the second half, but the game ended without any further score being registered.

- Of the visiting team the Misses Quintal, Crooks, and Wade were perhaps the pick. ' For Paeroa Miss Shand was a tower of strength to her side, and she played with skill and judgment throughout. Miss Payne made the most of her opportunities. As goalie Miss Treanor was very safe, and cleared well. Misses Bunting, Leach, Swann, and Morland played with plenty of dasli, but their hitting powers want to be considerably increased.

The visitors were entertained to tea by the local club at the Criterion Hotel after the match, followed by an impromptu dance irt the Criterion ball-room, which wap generously placed at the disposal of the teams by the proprietor, Mr H. C. Bowden. A gramophone loaned by Mr I. Peek supplied the music, and an enjoyable couple of hours were spent prior to a visit to the pictures. The hospitality of Mr Bowden to both teams was much appreciated by the players.