HOCKEY VISITORS SHOW MUCH-IMPROVED FORM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 397, 4 July 1928, Page 13

HOCKEY VISITORS SHOW MUCH-IMPROVED FORM

PROGRESS OF TOURNEYS EXCITING GAMES SEEN The form displayed by contestants in the second series of matches in connection with the country week hockey tournament played at Remuera yesterday afternoon, showed a marked advance on the standard exhibited on Monday. Both in the, men’s matches and in the girls’ fixtures, very creditable performances were seen, and ' the large assembly of spectators witnessed matches full of incident. One of the most interesting girls’ matches seen at headquarters for many a day was the meeting of Auckland A and the Tauranga representatives on No, 1 ground. The turf was in exWlent order and conditions were favourable for good play. Two more evenlymatched sides would be difficult to find, and from the initial whistle until the call of time the encounter whirled along at a merry pace. The Auckland girls held the advantage in the first half, which closed with the score-board showing 3 to 1 in iheir favour. As the game progressed, however, the pendulum swung the other way and, playing with magnificent dash the visitors added four goals, but Auckland was able to register only once more during the session. For Tauranga Miss K. Kennedy secured three goals, and Miss B. Turner two. The Tauranga team is somewhat remarkable in its .personnel in that it contains two groups of three sisters. They are the Misses K. Kennedy, B. Kennedy and F. Kennedy, and the Misses E. Merriman, J. Merriman and C. Merriman. Another keen match was contested by Auckland Collegiate, holders of the Provincial Cup, and Hauraki Plains. A great deal of interest centred in the match, which eventually went in favour of the college girls by four goals to two. . MEN’S MATCHES With the exception of the TaurangaManiapoto meeting, which x-esulted 9-0 in favour of the former, the men’s matches were very closely contested and produced most enjoyable hockey. The Maniapoto team is new to the tournament and as yet lacks experience. The best display to date resulted from the clash of Waipa, for the past four years holders of the White Horse j Cup, and Piako, played on No. 2 around. So evenly matched were the sides that at half-time neither had penetrated the other’s defence. In the second half the challengers could not quite hold the champions, and B. Spiers, the speedy left-winger, succeeded in netting two splendid goals. Attack and defence was shared equally but the Piako van lacked the finesse in the circle shown by their rivals. A feature of the match was the goalkeeping of Thompson, custodian for Piako. He effected some astonishing ! saves and earned the applause of spectators. The game was a fine battle of sportsmen, and was notably free from infringements of rules. A spirited game was also staged on the adjoining No. *1 field, when Whangarei, last year's runners-up, tried conclusions with Whakatane. Both teams settled down to a ding-dong go, and it was soon apparent that Whakatane’s superiority in the forward line was offset by the splendid defence of the Northerners’ backs. At half-time the score was one all. Turnbull netted for Whakatane and Sloane secured Whangarei’s goal. Both sides went at it hammer and tongs in the second half but neither was able to add further to its solitary goal. Toward the closing stages .Whangarei was extremely fortunate in not having at least one other goal recorded against it. The goalie rose to the occasion and cleared cleverly three times in succession. TO-DAY'S GAMES The third round of matches began at Remuera this morning under ideal conditions. In order to end the men’s tourney by Friday afternoon it was found necessary to play two men’s matches this morning. Rodney met Tauranga on No. 1 ground. The final score of .6 —0 in favour of the former was not a depeiidable index of the run of play. Tauranga had many opportunities and were frequently in their rivals’ circle, but the forwards lacked the ability to finish off. Rodney, on the other hand, made the most of a capable quintet of forwards whose shooting was for the most part accurate and powerful. The referees were Messrs. IT. Watts and D. Fraser. The cup-holders, Waipa, had a light when they crossed sticks with the Maniapoto eleven. In view of the fact that Waipa had to .contest another match later in the day, the selectors withheld several of the best men and played substitutes, not anticipating serious opposition from their inexperienced opponents. Thoroughly disorganised, Waipa made a poor showing. At half time the score board indicated one-all. At best the match was a third-rate display and from the side-line dull and spiritless. In the second half Waipa began to move more freely and added three goals and succeeded in keeping Maniapoto to its solitary goal. The game ended 4—3. The referee was Mr. R. Avery. Results: Auckland Provincial Cup A Section: Whakatane 7. Franklin B 0; Auckland Collegiate 4, Hauraki Plains 2. B Section: Whangarei 4, Kaipara 0; Waipa 4, Auckland B 0. C Section: Tauranga 5, Auckland A i 4;**Waikato 7, Franklin A 5. White Horse Cup A Section: 'Tauranga 9, Maniapoto 0: Waipa 2, Piako 0. B Section: Whangarei 1. Whakatane 1; Franklin 4, Thames-Hauraki Z. Waipa 2, Piako 0, Waipa 4, Maniapoto \ li Rodney Tauranga