LADIES' HOCKEY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 212, 2 May 1932, Page 7

LADIES' HOCKEY

season commenced .i ; , t j FIRST MATCHES WON BY SHAMROCK, ARAWA AND MOUREA PROMISING FORM SHOWN Despite the unpromising weather which prevailed during Saturday morning, the conditions cleared sufSciently in the afternoon to allow the 1932 ladies' hockey ' season to be commenced at the Government Grounds. The rain having had little effect on the condition of the playing fields, the matches, which were. played in bright sunshine, werA thoroughly enjoyable to players and spectators alike. AlthoUgh very- little outstanding play was disclosed, the games gCnerally gave promise of some good performances being- seen when the teams • settle down to team play. Results At a Glance Mourea 1, Mamaku 0. Shamrocks 2, Taniwha 0. Arawa 5, Whippets 0. Mourea Start Well The opening match, between Mourea and Mamaku, commenced with , some fast play. Both teaihs in turn made determined attaclcs into their 1 opponent's territory, the fullbacks on both sides playing saf ely in averting the danger which threatened their goals. The newly-formed Mourea team were showing the better combination and employing the .short passing game in their forward line, were having slightly the better of the game. ; A fine forward movement, which swept down toward the Mamaku goal resulted in R. Ipu scoring a good goal and putting Mourea in the lead. Up and down play followed until halftime, with Mamaku making strenuous efforts to even the account. • Play in the second spell slackened considerably, resulting in play of 1 a more scrappy nature throughout the spell. Mourea were now definitely having the advantage in play, but lack of finish when near the goalmouth robbed the side of further scores. The Mamaku backs, J. King and M. Lipsey, were defending well and on many occasions saved their side, and broke up dangerous attacks, mostly instituted by R. Ipu, who had played a fine game throughout. Attacks by the Mamaku forward line, which, at times, produced good openings, also petered out at the critical moment, and the game ended in favour of the Mourea team by the only goal of the match. Whippets Well Beaten Whippets, with a team composed mostly of new players, could not withstand the attacks of the mbre seasoned Arawa side, and ended the game with a deficit of five goals to nil. In the early stages, Whippets were successful in holding their opponents and the forwards, led by M. Black, worried the Arawa backs, who, however, proved fully capable of stopping the attack, and with hard hitting, transf erring play into Whippet , territory. . » •• «• "• «? •• Arawa gradually gained the aseendehcy and were not lo'ng in opening their account with a fine forward movement. » •

The Whippet halves being at times badly out. of position Arawa made frequent breaks into the opposing twenty-five, but L. Morton was generally saf e at fullbaek and repeatedly cleared the Whippet goal. - • A further score came to Arawa shortly afterwards, W. Hall nettihg from a melee which ensued on the Whippet goal-line. Arawa came back to- the attack, but could not increase the total, half-time being called with Arawa having a two-goal advantage. The play of the town team was even more disjointed after the resumption, bunching among the forwards losing them chances, and allowing Arawa to malce many advances and score another goal. The pace was now telling on Whippets, and. Arawa did much as they pleased, P. Ehau adding two more goals to her si'de's total. * - ' •. To.wards -time •■many,.. more likely; advances were made- hy Arawa, but the Whippet goalkeeper having retired, difiiculty was experienced by the forwards in keeping on side, and the chances were lost. No further ad- J dition to'the score . resulted and the; game ended with the score, Arawa 5 goals, Whippets nil.

Shamrock's Fine Game A fine game was witnessed between Taniwha, last season's winners of the Wairau-a-Rangi Cup, and the recently re-formed Shamrock Club team, who gained the decision by a two-goal to nil margin. • The game was at times speetacular,. sonie stirring' tustles being witnessed between the Taniwha inside forwards, with T. Wharekura, always prominent, and the Shamrock backs. The Taniwha backs were inclined to slacken up frequently and also to bunch. This 'resulted in a fine combined effort by the Shamrock forwards breaking into the Taniwha circle, the movement being crowiied by a fine shot by Mattie Mitehell, which gave the goalkeeper no chance. Fast play ensued for the rest of the spell, but no further score had re- , sulted when half-time Was cqlled. The second spell saw Taniwha making strenuous endeavours to even the score, and play was very fast, ground being gained and lost by each team with great rapidity., The excellent defence of E. Mitchell, T. Mitchell and J. Chaytor, however, kept the Taniwha forwards at b.ay, and. eventually resulted in a movement which gave Shamrocks their second score, H. Mitchell f ollowing up fast to find the net with a good shot. ■

: - Play of an up and down nature followed, M. Morrison, fullbaek for Taniwha, being called upon to .stem further attacks by the Shamrock forwards led by M. Mitchell. 1 Shamrocks had displayed the • better -conihination, and fully deser.ved ■ the advantage of two goals to hil, whieh they held when the final whistle was blown.