HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 21101, 5 June 1930, Page 9

HOCKEY

LADIES’ MATCHES. UNION AND SCHOOL A DRAW. AN EXCITING TUSSLE. 'ffie grounds were in good order at Queen’s Park yesterday afternoon, when matches in both the men’s and ladies’ Wednesday competition were played. The keenly-,aiiticipated Union and High School A was a sterling exhibition of fast and exciting hockey which, especially in the second spell, kept the large' crowd of spectators on the qui vive throughout. Union led 3-0 at half-time, but in the second spell School embarked upon dangerous movements, some of which were brought to a successful culmination and the onlookers were treated to attack and counter-attack following each other in close succession. The pace was a telling one right- to the finish and the issue was always in doubt. The Union defence was sound, and again and again the vanguard was sent into the opponents’ preserves. A splendid tussle ended in a draw, 3 all. The teams were as follows:

Union—D. Hawke; E. Hope, C. Sparks; E. Burrell, D. Cleine, J. Ronald ; E. Woodhead, M. Clark, M. Woods, E. Insall and A. Conley. High School A—K. McKay; E. Kerse, T. James, J. Anderson, E. Buckingham, N. O’Brien; V. Davies, M. Belsham, E. Brumley, N. Watson, D. Walker. School were quickly on attack, N. Watson and D. Walker penetrating the half-back line but C. Sparks relieved and sent E. Woodhead away on the right wing. The Union winger put in a good dash but could not pass J. Anderson who cleared temporarily. Ml Woods, gaining possession, dashed away towards School’s danger zone and, as the Yellow vanguard backed her up well, things began to look dangerous, but E. Kerse saved an awkward looking situation by powerfully sending the ball well downfield. E. Buckingham sent across to D. Walker, and the right winger set off in a determined effort, the ball being centred smartly to N. Watson who passed to E. Brumley, School’s centre-forward. This player bustled into the circle and M. Belsham hurried in to aid her but E. Burrell cleared temporarily as did E. Hope a minute later. E. Woodhead came away again on the right wing and, when in a handy position, centred to M. Woods. The determined Union captain, by good stick work, carried play to the circle but T. Jones proved the stumbling block. However the hungry Yellow vanguard gave no quarter and Monica Woods sent across to J. Ronald who passed to A. Conley, the left-winger. This player gained ground and, reaching the edge of the circle, sent in a hot shot from a difficult angle, but it hit the post and a meritorious effort was thus nullified. E. Buckingham was prominent in a good piece of work for School, she and N. O’Brien combining effectively to pass D. Cleine, but E. Woodhead was handy, and, recovering possession, she leapt away again on the wing. M. Clark and M. Woods were handy to accept her centre and the School defence was sorely taxed until E. Kerse, who was playing ,a sound game, cleared well. J. Ronald scooped the ball away to M. Clark, who sent hard across to A. Conley, but the winger was offside and a likely movement was spoilt. A moment later J. Ronald again sent her forwards away, M. Woods and M. Clark combining dangerously to see the latter score a good goal.—Union 1, High School A 0. Play was very fast and some good stick work was witnessed on both sides. Soon after the bully, V. Davies, who was working hard, beat E. Woodhead and set her heart on entering Union’s circle, but the Union winger dashed up and retrieved the position, dashing away again past J. Anderson only to be sent back again by E. Kerse. School now launched a strong counter-at-tack, and, headed by E. Brumley, who was hitting on all cylinders, the School forwards looked dangerous until M. Woods relieved the pressure. School, however, were equally determined and pressed strenuously until C. Sparks sent M. Clark and M. Woods away to pass J. Buckingham but too hard hitting spoilt the movement. N. O’Brien gave E. Brumley a chance to make things merry and, beating J. Ronald, she entered the circle. C. Sparks, however, was working like a Trojan and gave no chances. She sent clear to E. Woodhead who again shone in a “flying Dutchman” streak down the wing and the ball was passed in to M. Clark who sent to A. Conley. The winger, however, found T. James too safe. The game was very even at this stage, though many chances were lost on both sides by the players waiting for the ball to come to them instead of tackling. High forwards, more particularly E. Brumley, M. Belsham and D. Walker were in rattling form, but seemed unable to finish off their onslaughts. E. Woodhead was getting plenty of the ball and she was in splendid form being always dangerous. She topped off a dashing run down the wing by sending hard across to M. Woods who drew the defence and sent to A. Conley, who, in a handy position, made no mistake.—Union 2, High School 0. V. Davies set things moving after the bully, and School launched a strong coun-ter-attack, but E. Woodhead again proved the stumbling block. She passed in to M. Woods who returned to the winger whose shot went wide. Stung by these onslaughts, School retaliated D. Walker bringing play well up the wing before centring to M. Belsham. She and the centre-forward dashed into the circle but C. Sparks, sorely pressed, scooped to J. Ronald, who sent D. Cleine into the opponents’ territory. J. Anderson came to the rescue and the ball came to D. Walker who bustled along the wing only to find the defence sound. J. Ronald showed up well in baulking a strong attack by School’s vanguard and she dashed into the circle well supported by M. Woods and M. Clark, but E. Kerse did not fail. E. Brumley darted away in a brilliant solo effort, but E. Burrell cleared. M. Belsham was away again a minute later and the position became critical when she beat the Yellow full backs. However D. Hawke was not in a trifling mood and the advantage could not be pressed home. School, maintaining the pressure, were severely taxing the defence, until J. Ronald cleared. V. Davies, in a good effort, evaded C. Sparks to pass to M. Belsham. E. Hope came across quickly to give relief. E. Insall secured and sent M. Clark and M. Wood right into School’s circle, where the last-named player scored a good goal.—Union 3, High School 0.

A minute or so later, E. Woodhead showed a clean pair of heels in a dash on the wing and, reaching the edge of the circle, sent in a stinging shot, but it was too high. Union were attacking when halftime sounded soon afterwards.

In the second spell, N. King took M. Clark’s position in Union’s vanguard, the latter having to retire. School embarked upon a determined onslaught right at the commencement and carried all before them, and, when the full-backs were evaded, D. Walker had a hot shot which just missed. This player had all through given a good account of herself and was putting, in some tireless work for School. She dashed away again and sent across to M. Belsham, who passed to V. Davies. The winger returned again to M. Belsham who harassed the defence badly to score a good goal.—Union 3, High School 1. School continued to pen Union in their own territory until D. Cleine sent A. Conley away on the wing. The winger beat the halfline and followed up fast but too hard hitting spoilt the effort. J. Ronald next darted away in a good solo effort and passed to W. King, but the defence, which was working in top gear now, was sound. J. Ronald was playing much better at this stage and worked like a tiger, as did D. Cleine. The halves had plenty to ido, for School were battling in upon them again and again, and the Yellow backs had to exert their utmost energies to pen the attacking vanguard. After a period of zigzagging play, in which the honours were about even, M. Belsham leapt away on a brilliant solo effort and had only the goalie to beat, but D. Hawke saved well.' School continued to press, Union appearing to tire,

and, from a melee, M. Delsham scored a good goal.—Union 3, High School 2. The Union defence was now taxed to its utmost, but it was proving sound. J. Ronald got the ball away to her forwards and N. King and M. Woods combined in a dangerous rush which, however, was repulsed by J. Anderson. Union forwards were away again soon afterwards only to find the effort frustrated by E. Kerse, who was very sound. M. Belsham and E. Brumley assailed Union’s goal-mouth on two exciting occasions, but C. Sparks relieved. M. Belsham could not be deterred, however, and, taking play past the halves, sent right across to D. Walker, who followed up fast to the circle where she scored School’s third goal.—Union 3, High School 3. The pace now became gruelling as both sides strove determinedly for victory. E. Burrell sent the Yellow vanguard away, but they could not evade E. Kerse and T. James. Play was very fast, the ball travelling from one end of the field to the other, and a thrilling duel ensued between the opposing players. Excitement ran high as E. Woodhead dashed away to beat E. Kerse, but she spoilt a good effort by hitting too hard. D. Walker got away on the right wing and, coriibining well with M. Belsham, eluded the full-backs and had only the goalie to beat, but she’was too safe. Attack and counter-attack followed one upon the other and the spectators were treated to some sparkling hockey in the dying stages. The game ended shortly afterwards with the score 3 all. For Union, C. Sparks, M. Woods, J. Ronald, A. Conley and E. Woodhead were outstanding as were E. Kerse, E. Brumley, M. Belsham and D. Walker for School. Mrs Murray and Miss P. Guest controlled the game. A DECISIVE WIN. Technical College were superior to High School B in all departments of the game and penetrated the defence again and again. Though the odds were distinctly against them, the School players stuck to their work gamely, but the final score was 7 to 1 in favour of High School. For the winners, M. Gormack (3), E. Clark (2) and E. Murdoch (2) were the scorers, while E. Crosbie netted for College. MEN’S SECTION. Only two matches were played in the men’s section. High School A overwhelmingly defeated the School B team by 34 to 0, while Rangatata A emerged victorious in their tussle with Central by 3 goals to 2. The latter match was a very even tussle and a good exhibition of hockey was provided. For the winners, Butler (2) and Webster (1) scored, while Morrison (1) and Graham (1) were responsible for Central’s total.