Three Teams Will Hold Provincial Cup

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 715, 15 July 1929, Page 7

Three Teams Will Hold Provincial Cup

COUNTRY WEEK ENDS RANGITAIKI'S SUCCESS Rangitaiki, Whangarei and Auckland will Hold the Auckland provincial ladies' hockey Cup jointly this year, thanks to Rangitaiki’s defeat of Whangarei at Remuera this morning. The game was hard and fast throughout, and the state of the ground, though it was still fairly soft and slippery, did not prevent some good fast passing being carried out. The Maori girls showed better combination than in any of the earlier matches, and their superior weight and speed enabled them to beat Whangarei by three goals to one. The three teams—Rangitaiki, Whangarei, and Auckland A—each won its section, and in playing off each won one and lost one. After the match, it was announced that Auckland had agreed to stand out and let the two visiting teams draw to decide which should hold the cup for the first four months of the year. The draw was made, and Rangitaiki was the lucky team. After the match, Mr. L. C. Kent presented the cup to the captains of the three teams, and congratulated the Maori girls especially on being so successful in their first visit to Country Week. RANGITAIKI V. WHANGAREI Whangarei attacked hard downhill, and with the wind behind them. The forwards pressed hard, and within five minutes Miss Harris scored the first goal of the day for Whangarei. Whangarei continued to attack, but gradually the Maori forwards forced them back, and after a short but hot struggle in Whangarei territory, but Miss Rota equalised the scores. Rangitaiki continued to press, and twice in quick succession the Whangarei goalkeeper was hard put to it to save her goal. Toward the end of the half, the Whangarei forwards speeded up. and by superior science drove the Maori girls back into their own twenty-five, hut when the whistle blew Rangitaiki was back again, attacking hard. At half-time the score was 1 all. From the bully Rangataiki led off and presently the forwards were pressing hard in the Whangarei circle. Only two magnificent saves by the goalie kept the ball out of the net, and gradually the Whangarei forwards relieved the pressure on their backs. Rut Rangitaiki came back again, and after a hot exchange in the goal-mouth and a succession of corners Miss Moko put a beautiful rising shot into the top corner of the net. The game now became very fast, and the Maori combination improved, the forwards getting much help from the slope of the ground. They attacked in great style, and presently a beautiful shot from Miss Rota scored Rangitaiki’s third goal. Whangarei made a gallant effort to score, but the Maori goalkeeper managed to save, and the Rangitaiki attack closed down again. But the Whangarei

forwards got away again and almost scored. The Maori goalkeeper fell on the ball and a penalty bully in the mouth of the goal was awarded. The bully failed, the ball going over the | line, and Rangaitafki took charge | again. I In the last five minutes the Wha- ! ngarei attack improved, and the forwards brought off some tine passing j rushes, which taxed the Rangitaiki i defence to the utmost. But the Maoris i were too fast and heavy, and when the ! final whistle blew they were attacking j hard again. Tlio game ended: Rangitaiki s Whangarei 1 Messrs. If. L. C. Kent and If. E. 1 Watts refereed the match. AUCKLAND BEATS MAORIS In the game on Saturday Auckland : A defeated Rangitaiki by one goal to nil in a match that was spoiled by the grounds, which were half swamped. Neither of the teams played its best, > and few of the players came through i the game without having slid badlv half a dozen times. i Rangitaiki led off against the wind and rain. Pools of water were lying J on the ground and it was soon plain that players on both sides had the utmost difficulty in keeping their feet. For a few minutes the ball remained in midfield, but presently the Auckland right wing took it to the Maori circle. Rangitaiki retaliated and the ball was brought down to the Auckland end. Auckland made a determined attack, but the Maori goalie saved and the danger was averted by a smart solo run by the left wing. A melee in the Auckland circle followed, in which Rangitaiki was very close to scoring but gradually the pressure was reduced. Auckland came down the field again. Twice in succession Auckland was on the verge of scoring; but each time the Rangitaiki goalie saved. Presently the Rangitaiki forwards got away and again Auckland was forced to defend. But it did not last long and presently Rangitaiki was back in its own circle defending hard. Shortly before half-time Rangitaiki made a most determined attack. The team got a penalty corner and was trying to force the ball in when the whistle went. There was no score so far.

Auckland charged from the bully at the beginning of the second half, rushed the ball into the Rangitaiki circle and Miss Lowe scored with ease the first goal of the day. The attack was resumed but gradually the Maori girls pulled themselves together and began to take the offensive again. A dangerous rush by Auckland resulted in the ball going into the net but the shooter was off-side and no score was awarded. A pretty piece of combined play by the Auckland forwards saw the ball again enter the net, but again there was an offence and the goal was refused. At this time a substitute replaced one of the Rangitaiki forwards, who injured her arm in falling. Rangitaiki made a determined effort to score. The forwards swept up the field and there was some keen play in the Auckland circle. The Maori attack was continually spoiled by the failure of the players to back up the girl with the ball. With proper support and combination they would have scored time and time again. They got a series of corners and battled hard in the circle, but they could not score, and were still attacking when the whistle went. Messrs. H. E. Watts and A. Burton refereed the match.