LADIES’ HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 21092, 26 May 1930, Page 3

LADIES’ HOCKEY

UNION AND COLLEGIATE DRAW. , A DETERMINED TUSSLE. The grounds at Queen's Park were somewhat on the soft side on Saturday, but this notwithstanding, the match between Collegiate and Union provided an exciting tussle marked especially in the second spell, by sheer determination on both sides. The contesting teams were running level at the top of the ladder and, as a result, in Saturday’s game, players were working on all cylinders in an endeavour to give their respective club victory. Collegiate were, unfortunately, without the services of P. Guest and M. Latta and, consequently, the aid of two young school players in M. Troon and D. Gray had to be recruited. These both gave a good account of themselves while J. Winslow, “borrowed’’ during her visit to this city, was a tower of strength in the reshuffle. Both teams were individually good, but, collectively, the combination was not up to the usual standard though, in this direction, it must be remembered that the state of the ground was a largely contributing factor. Union, in the second spell, threw off the nervous tension under which they seemed to have been labouring in the first spell when the very name “Collegiate’’ seemed to have been demoralizing them, and settled down to solid work. Then, the yellow forward line, combined much better and were always dangerous. The issue was in doubt right up to the final whistle, both sides striving for victory and the second spell provided a sparkling exhibition of exciting hockey which was somewhat absent earlier in the game. The teams were as follows: Collegiate: F. Baird, M. Dawson, I. Burrell; N. Thomas, C. Porter, I. Myers; M. Troon, J. Winslow, L. Baird, E. Winslow, D. Gray. Union: D. Hawke; E. Hope, C. Sparks; E. Insall, M. Woods, J. Ronald; A. Conley, D. Cleine, M. Clark, D. Insall, E. Woodhead. The Collegiate forward line swarmed into Union’s territory right from the commencement, D. Gray, on the right wing, centring smartly to L. Baird who passed to J. Winslow. The visitor bustled through to the circle but her hot shot went astray. C. Sparks and E. Hope were putting in good work in the face of continual pressure by Collegiate but were unable to get the ball cleanly away for any great distance. L. Baird flashed into the fray to centre to J. Winslow whose shot notched the first score for Collegiate. Union, headed by D. Cleine and M. Clark, launched a strong counter-attack but I. Myers sent the ball back again. C. Porter came up fast to cut right past the defending halves to score with a good shot. Collegiate 1, v. Union 0. Several scrambles continued to take place, the defence work of Union being somewhat weak at this juncture, the Collegiate forwards bustling through again and again. C. Sparks saved at a critical moment, and a second later, D. Hawke left her post to march right out to the edge of the circle where she gave relief momentarily. M. Troon centred well to L. Baird but the Collegiate flyer met her match in J. Ronald who cleared strongly. The Union players seemed to be demoralized and were slow at tackling, apparently being content to allow all the play to come from their opponents. After a period of ragged play, in which the greens seemed to have all the advantage, A. Conley, with a nice burst of speed, dashed along the left wing and, reaching the circle, shot from a difficult angle. Her fine effort was just spoilt by the ball going wide. Union were now warming up to their task better, and, fed in good style by M. Woods and E. Insall, D. Insall and M. Clark were soon away again in a promising rush which took the ball to C. Sparks, who, however, gave no quarter. J. Ronald then showed up in a good bit of work in top gear and she gave A. Conley an opportunity on the wing again. The winger sent to D. Insall, but N. Thomas, who was playing a brilliant game for Collegiate, proved the stumbling block. Much of the work was falling upon this player, who missed the help of P. Guest, but all that came her way was resolutely encountered and effectively dealt with. Her full-backs were also very reliable and repeatedly turned defence into attack. Both teams were keeping their ends up at this stage but, ultimately, C. Porter raced away to evade the opposing halves. M. Woods came to the rescue and returned play, but shortly afterwards, N. Thomas, in a splendid solo effort, passed the defences to score with a good shot. Collegiate 2, v. Union'o.

Collegiate continued to keep up the pressure and bustled through again and again but the defence work of Union had improved and they were standing up well to their opponents. A. Conley was making her presence felt on the wing and dashed away but L. Baird saved the situation. J. Winslow was in good form and always dangerous. Receiving from M. Troon, she let L. Baird away, D. Hawke rushing out to kick clear. J. Winslow, however, brought the play back again, her shot hitting the post. It rebounded but the same player was handy to score. Collegiate 3, v. Union 0. The play, whenever it went to the wing, invariably kept to the left, and, consequently, E. Wcodhead, on the right Union wing, was getting little work to do. D. Gray brought the ball down into union’s territory and a penalty corner was given. M. Woods sent the invaders back again but I. Myers and N. Thomas gave no quarter and sent E. Winslow and L. Baird away towards the goal mouth again. M. Woods, who was very sound, sent to J. Ronald, who let A. Conley away. The last-named player passed to D. Insall who, combining well with M. Clark and D. Cleine, embarked upon a dangerous-looking attack. A. Conley followed up fast to lend a hand while E. Woodhead bustled in from the right wing to have a hot shot which just missed. Half-time sounded soon afterwards with the score 4—o in favour of Collegiate. The Second Spell.

After orange time, the Union forward line, reinforced by M. Wood’s presence, attacked strongly but M. Dawson and I. Barrel put in some sound saving work. Following a good clearing shot by J. Ronald, A. Conley flew away and, with clever stick work, took the ball to the circle but just missed with her shot. Union kept up the pressure, but N. Thomas, I. Myers and C. Porter took “some” passing. A. Conley, combining well with D. Cleine, dashed away again to centre well to M. Clark whose shot just missed. Union were now exerting all their energies and the combination of the forwards was good to look upon. The left-winger, A. Conley, was working life a tiger and repeatedly gained ground by fast following up. She engineered a good rush in which M. Clark and D. Cleine joined her, and, evading the halves, she successfully passed the full-backs to score a good goal. Collegiate 4, v. Union 1. Union were again on the attack almost immediately, after the bully, E." Insall sending A. Conley down the wing and she bustled into the circle to score Union’s second goal. Collegiate 4 v. Union 2. Collegiate seemed to tire somewhat, and let Union through again. D. Insall hit smartly to M. Woods, who, after gaining ground, sent to E. Woodhead. The right wing, beating D. Gray, centred well across to A. Conley, who had come in as the play neared the circle, but the last named player's shot just missed. E. Winslow gave relief by letting L. Baird away but J. Ronald, who had been putting in yeoman work, sent her forwards into Collegiate’s dknger zone. N. Thomas was saving again and again and was at the top of her form, while she was well supported by I. Myers. D. Cleine shone up soon afterwards and the Union forward line assailed the goal-mouth but, ultimately, C. Porter and N. Thomas launched a determined counter-attack which looked extremely dangerous until J. Winslow gave “sticks” and relief came at a critical moment. C. Sparks let A. Conley away and the brilliant winger took no half-measures in eluding the defence to score. Collegiate 4, Union 3. " ' The pace was now very strenuous and Union made desperate efforts to equalize. There was no second-gear work on either side. J. Ronald held up a hot rush by L.

Baird and J. Winslow to send to A. Conley. The winger dashed away again in a brilliant solo effort, ultimately centring where, Som a melee in the Collegiate goal mouth, . Clark equalized. Collegiate 4, v. Union 4. The game ended immediately afterwards. Messrs H. S. Cordery and S. Heaton controlled the game. MEN’S GAMES COLLEGIATE A DOWNS SCHOOL A. CENTRAL AND CIVIL SERVICE VICTORIOUS. Central, Civil Service and Collegiate A all emerged victorious against their opponents on Saturday and some interesting hockey was witnessed. .Collegiate A Successful. The match between Collegiate A and High School A had been eagerly anticipated and a sternly-contested tussle saw Collegiate emerge victorious by two goals to one. School, owing to the holidays,' were without the services of several of their usual stalwarts, particularly Anderson and Mehaffey, and Morgan had to act as sole full-back, the team comprising but ten players. The game was fast and exciting throughout though School were rather disappointing in that they lost several likely chances. V. Poole, Collegiate’s goalie, was again in fine form, and but for his splendid exhibition, it is safe to say School would have been the winners. However, the Collegiate men strove with a will and had the satisfaction of having their efforts crowned with success. Collegiate were away right from the commencement, D. Bayne sending the fast Wren to the circle. School were pressed, and conceded a corner, a scramble ensuing at the end of the circle. Roberts ultimately broke away and dangerously dashed along the wing. A smart centre to McKelvey saw N. Poole and Ferguson fully extended, but the ball finally went over the back line and a corner was awarded. Semmens was putting in some good work at this stage and he successfully held Donaldson just commencing to streak down the ■right wing. V. Poole was in prominence immediately afterwards in repulsing a dangerous attack by School who continued to press. Ultimately Bissett secured, and sent in cleanly to McKelvey who shot. The ball was deflected but Roberts who was playing a rattling game, bustled in to score a good goal. High School A 1, Collegiate A 0. D. Bayne was working in top gear and, from the bully, he sent Lindsay away, the Collegiate forward line embarking upon a dangerous movement. Morgan was very safe and he returned play to Bissett, playing a reliable game, who sent in to McKelvey and Roberts, but the latter’s shot just missed. School were now attacking in fine style but Donaldson launched a spirited counter-attack which took the ball right up to the circle. From a penalty corner, the ball came into the goal-mouth and a desperate melee took place until relief came to School through Donaldson giving “sticks.” School retaliated, Barham, McKelvey, Roberts and Hughes combining well, D. Bayne, who was always in the thick of the fray, proving the stumbling block. Collegiate came back again, Stirling, Shields, Lindsay and Wren looking dangerous but Shields missed when in a good position. Play zig-zagged for a period, Morgan and Semmens (School) and Ferguson, D. Bayne and N. Poole putting in some good spoiling work. Ford sent Lindsay, Wren and Shields away but Semmens saved, and passed to McKelvey, who careered down to D. Bayne who gave no quarter. Bissett dashed down the wing but the goalie saved his shot and Roberts, who was handy, was unlucky not to score. Play was very fast and open until halftime, which saw School a goal ahead. After halfdime School were quickly on the attack, Bissett dashing away to centre to McKelvey who passed to Roberts. The latter, however, was well off-side, and relief came. Lindsay got the ball away to Stirling to Shields, who, however, stumbled and kicked when in a dangerous position. McKelvey got away well to send to Barham who sent in a high shot which was well saved by V. Poole. The ball came to Roberts who, however, was again off-side. Ferguson sent the ball to Lindsay but Bissett gained possession and reached the circle but his shot just went wide. Collegiate livened up and a promising passing movement in which Donaldson, Wren and Stirling took part culminated in Stirling scoring a good goal. High School A 1, Collegiate A 1.

School came back with a rush, Bissett, McKelvey and Roberts combining well to take the ball to the goal-mouth but V. Poole successfully held off both McKelvey and Roberts as they endeavoured to bustle in. Good work by the Collegiate halves let the forward line away to see Stirling score a good goal. High School A 1, Collegiate A 2.

School were then hard at it in an effort to equalize but they did not seem able to finish off their movements and the game ended in Collegiate’s favour. For School, Roberts, Bissett, Barham and Semmens played well while V. Poole, Ferguson, D. Bayne, Stirling and Lindsay were outstanding for the winners. Messrs H. S. Cordery and J. D. Gregg refereed. Civil Service v. Collegiate B. The match between Civil Service and Collegiate B was somewhat ragged but the latter put up a good showing against the undoubtedly, stronger. Service players. The half-time score was 2—l in favour of Service, who pressed throughout ,the second half, but the Collegiate defence line put up a determined fight and Service added but another 2 goals, the final score being 4—l in favour of the Service. For the winners, Blee (2), Spence (1) and Richards (1) scored. These players were the most outstanding for Service, while Donaldson and Shields were always prominent for Collegiate B. Mr J. D. Gregg controlled the game. Central down School B. The odds were all against High School B in their tussle with Central, who, reinforced by Collegiate men, gave the young players no quarter. The half-time score was s—l in favour of Central. School jjut up a strong defence in the second spell, but another five goals went against them, while they added but one to their total, the game thus ending 10—2 in favour of Central. For. Central, Lockhart (6), Mayston (2), and Carman (2) scored, while Dakin was responsible for the two goals registered by School. Messrs Wren and Hutson refereed.