HOCKEY CUP HOLDERS BEATEN IN FAST GAME

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 398, 5 July 1928, Page 7

HOCKEY CUP HOLDERS BEATEN IN FAST GAME

RODNEY DOWNS WAIPA THIRD ROUND COMPLETED It was anticipated by all who have j studied the merits of the various teams j taking part in the annual hockey tourj naments at Remuera that the meeting of Waipa, holders of the White Horse Cup, and Rodney, would produce a stern conflict. So it proved yesterday afternoon in the third round of matches. Again there was a large attendance of enthusiasts who saw a magnificent exposition of the game by two sides > which knew their business. The match was fought out in a line spirit of sportsmanship. From the bully-off until the final whistle the rivals mixed things with gusto. Whangarei, last year’s runner-up, is now out of the competition, having won none of the three matches played. The first was lost, and the team had to be content with two draws in the remaining fixtures. A strenuous battle was staged by Franklin and Whakatane which, after 70 minutes' hard work saw no score to either side. Piako had little difficulty in accounting for the newly-formed Maniapoto sub-association. The more experienced eleven succeeded in netting five goals, but their opponents failed to open an account. Crickett secured three and Cleave and Sutherland one each for the winners. Whangarei, two goals (Hewlett and Hannan) drew with the new team Tliames-Hauraki (Cundy 2). In the girls’ matches for the Auckland Provincial Cup, at present held by Auckland Collegiate, a match of considerable interest was decided by the meeting of the Collegians and Whakatane, last year’s runner-up. The Auckland team defeated the visitors by 2—o, but the game was much more closely contested than the scores indicate. Miss Hayes and Miss Bilham scored for the Auckland girls. Auckland B has had no luck in the series, having suffered its third loss in successive games. The team is nowout of the competition. RODNEY V. WAIPA. j The teams were:

Rodney. —Bays, Tomlinson, Torkington, K. Smith, J. Smith, Simonson, Powderell, Toovey, Grimmoi*, Goertz, Matthew. Waipa. —Linehan, Karl, L. Soiers, O. Finch, Macky, T. Finch, Civil, Thompson, G. Finch, Coombes, B. Spiers. Keyed up in a full appreciation of the issue of the game both sides got to work from the first bully at a pace it seemed could never be maintained. Play swung up and down field for five minutes, both teams sharing attack and defence. Then as a result of a spirited attacking movement Waipa invaded Rodney’s circle, where G. Finch drew first blood with a close, crisp shot: Waipa 1, Rodney 0. Now thoroughly roused, Rodney retaliated and swept down upon the Waipa defence. Goertz was in a scoring position and essayed a reverse sticy shot, which was smothered at the goal mouth. Maintaining pressure Rodney hammered away for admission, and from a centre from Matthers, Goertz shot from a difficult angle and beat the goalie: Rodney 1, Waipa 1. Elated by success the whites swept down time and again upon their opponents’ stronghold, the forward line working like clockwork. Splendid defensive w'ork was performed for Waipa by Den Spiers, whose “speculating” was a feature of his play. Linehan in goal was having an unenviable time, but effected some good saves. Although forced to play mainly on the defensive the cup-holders frequently broke through Rodney’s rearguard, but reliable opposition at the last stage and the inability to finish off on the part of their forwards cost them the game. The vanguard did not receive adequate support from the halves, and the wings were riot fed as they might have been. Too much was left to the inside men. and many movements got no further than the incipient stages. Rodney’s second goal ,came from the sticy of Toovey, inside right. It was a wonderful shot from an almost impossible angle from a pass by Powderell, right winger. Waipa replied by netting, but an infringement spoiled the shot. Half-time found the scores: Rodney 2, Waipa 1. On changing over Rodney set up a strong series of attacking movements, the van making the most of its wingers Play was now being carried on at a tremendous pace with honours patently favouring the Northerns. A fine centre from Matthew looked productive, but Toovey was off-side. Prom the free hit Waipa gained territory, and the whites had some anxious moments. As the game progressed the leaders obviously began to “play safe” in the back divisions by turning the ball out of bounds when ordinarily it would be driven back into play.

A corner against Rodney gave Waipa a chance, but the waiting forwards failed to stop tlie leather at the circle edge. The mistake proved disastrous, for the centre of operations immediately shifted to Waipa’s circle, where, following in fast, Goertz banged in Rodney’s third goal.

Fortune smiled again for Wapa when B. Spiers, left wing, following in fast, goaled from close quarters. Rodney, 3; Waipa, 2. From then on there was no holding Rodney. Delightful shortpassing was indulged in freely, all of the forwards throwing the ball about prettily. A fourth goal was obtained in the closing stages by Goertz, who drove in a stinging shot from a centre from the right. The game ended: Rodney 4 Waipa 2 The referee was Mr. H. B. Speight. POSITION OF TEAMS

The tables set out below show the positions of all teams at the conclusion of the third round. It will be seen that finality has been reached in the men’s B section, and the girls’ A and B sections, which each comprise four teams only. In the case of tlje men’s A and the girls’ C sections, 'which nave five teams, a fourth round, being played this afternoon, was necessary. Section winners to date are:—Men’s B section, Franklin A: girls’ A and B sections, Auckland Collegiate and Waipa respectively.

WHITE HORSE CUP A Section

Rodney .. .. W. I.. ID. Goals Pts. 4 W aipa 2 1 — 8 Piako l l 1 Tauranga .. .. 11 1 11 Maniajoto — 4 — 30 — Franklin A* . . B Section 2 — 1 . Whakatane 1—2 5 Whangarei — 1 2 4 Tharaes-Hau-raki _ 1 6 10 ‘Winner. .AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL CUP Ak. Collegiate* A Section 13 4 6 hakatane 2 1 — 11 2 Franklin B Hauraki Plains — 2 — S 0 Waipa* . . . . ‘•'W inner. B Section 11 1 6 \V hangarei 2 1 — 14 4 Kaipara . . . . 1 2 — 1 Auckland B 1 14 0 Ta ura rig a .. .. * W inner. C Section 2 — — > 4 4