HOCKEY.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 September 1918, Page 4

HOCKEY.

CANTERBURY BEAT MANAWATU. At the ladies’ hockey tournament In Wellington on Monday, the semi-final between Manawatu and Canterbury was played, and the match created much interest.

The result was, in one sense, a keen disappointment, for Manawatu had the best of the game, and yet in the last few minutes lost it. In the first spell there was no score, but play went in favour of Manawatu. The Canterbury goal was frequently attacked, but the shooting failed to find the net. Toward the end of the spell Canterbury drove the Greens back, and they were attacking strongly when the whistle ble^r.

The second spell was exciting and fast throughout. The Manawatu team played beautiful hockey. Better combination or cleverer stick work could not be expected in girls’ hockey. Their only weakness was in the circle. «• From beginning to end of the spell, excepting for about three very brief periods, they attacked, and attacked vigorously and cleverly. The Manawatu forwards, whose stick work was wonderfully good, took pla? to the Canterbury quarters time after tiine, but the Canterbury defence w r as very sound. Canterbury made numerous efforts to turn defence into attack, but on almost all occasions they were driven back. The Manawatu full-backs were excellent, the remarkable stick play of the' one and the clean, hard hitting of the other evoking expressions of admiration. Towards the end of the game the Manawatu atack w r as so persistent that it appeared certain that the Greens would win if their shooting was quick and accurate. But it was neither. All shots went wide, , and many chances were not taken, the players being ovdr anxious, and therefore uncertain. On one occasion Miss Green had a practically certain goal at her command, but her shot was a poor one. (Later, the same player missed another opportunity. Three minutes from the cal of time Canterbury rushed play into the Manawatu circle, and Miss Pearce shot a good goal. There was no further score, and Canterbury are now to meet Poverty Bay for the championship.

The final will be played this afternoon, when Canterbury will meet Poverty Bay. The referees will be Messrs Pragnell and Edwards.