HOCKEY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 47, 4 June 1910, Page 3

HOCKEY

NEW PLYMOUTH v. INGLEWOOD. The above clubs played their championship fixture on ti..> Recreation Grounds yesterday after..oon. The attendance was' very disappointing. The match ended in victory for the home team by three to two, but the result was no criterion of the piay. The New Plymouth men went on without condition, and played without com-! bination, but individual excellence andj a certain amount of luck decided the game in their favor. It was not a good exhibition of hockey, "pointing" being I indulged in to • not inconsiderable extent, and the referee being indifferent to the very fre.juent breach of the rules described as "sticks." The Inglewood players showed the better form, and better comb nation, but several of the players car-.e prepared for a hard, dry ground, and their light, rubber-soled boots afforded them no holding. This was' a heavy handicap. The winning goal wa; a lucky one. It is still in doubt a nongst the spectators as to whether or not the ball shot from the outside right by Outfield was touched by a New Plymouth player before it entered the net. Spectators saw it struck by Curtis, of Inglewood, but the referee said at the conclusion of the match that the ball, originally hit from near the outride line, was tipped by a New Plymouth forward's stick after it cn'"l'ed the circle. Mr. C. Jordan was the "efrree.

Xow Plymouth opened its account with a goal scored by Xfxon from u fine centring pass from Outfield. Another attack was frustrated by Curtis, who played a very safe defensive game throughout, although placed out of his' usual position. His long shot bothered Avery, who. being hard pressed by Harris, kicked the ball back over the line. A penalty "bully" was ordered between Avery and J. Harris just at the moi|th of the goal, and the Inglewood man scored a goal off it. The home team assumed the upper hand for a time, and there were a couple of "ineffectual shots. Tnglewood's second goal was caused bv a misunderstanding between Avery and'

Oornis'h as (o who should take a ball that came hot from one of the logic wood backs. Coniisli, the goalkeeper, took it from in front of Avery's stick, (but wag late with it. and J. Harris returned it to the net. For a time the visitors were kept busy defending, but eventually Stevens initiated a movement, and the ball passed along capitally until Reid was encountered. He shattered the forces of the attackers, and the Reds had a hot time in front of their goal. Inglewood ■repeated the dost, with no better success, Avery now got into his stride, and by hook or crook took the ball from bis opponents and changed defence into attack. Cutficld, Reid and Crawford were playing up prominently for the Blues, and Harris, Stevens aiid Curtis for the defenders. Twice the New Plymouth goal was endangered, but the spell ended without alteration of the score.

Immediately upon resuming. Inglewood reached the net, but from outside tha cimle. Woods broke away with the ball near the goal, and had every likelihood of scoring, but the Inglewood full-back kicked tie ball behind the line, and escaped penalty. Pott had a shot, and missed. The Blues kept up the attack, and after a temporary break away, Avery brought the ball up to the Inglewood cud. The Reds failed to keep the ball out, Ambury shooting a nice goal, making the score 2-all. From a throw-in Pott made a great swipe at the hall, which struck the top of the net and fell outside. A minute later ends were rewind with a vengeance, but Inn! ■'littnig uu'liited Inglewood's advantage. The latter part of the spell was not -:> hiteresirog. the Inglewood player-', in their iuixietv to score, losing their combination and giving several opportunities. The home team, however, was not feeding its outside men sufficiently. From a throw-in, Cutfield sent a very lmrd drive at the goal from away outside the circle. It was .touched by Curtis near the moutn of the goal, and, as far as co-ild be seen from the terraces, by ; > one else, out the referee gave it a goal, on the ground that the hall was touched inside the circle by another player. The game ended in a win for New Plymouth by 3 goals to 2.

For the winners CutfieUl played a dashing game. Rr'd wis perhaps as useful as any man in the team, but in attack and defence, and Crawford played a fine defensive game. Avery got in some good work in the second spell, and Ambury also showed good form wnen lie was moved up into the forwards. For Inglewood, Stevens' gave a very fine exhibition. The Harris Brothers were prominent from start to finish, and Curtis was also very sound.

CARRINGTON ROAD v. INGLEWOOD. Oarrington Road defeated Inglewood B at Inglewood by 6 goals to 3. The game was a very interesting one to watch, and was fought out in excellent spirit. The winners' score was made up of goals shot by Davey (3), P. McEwen (2), and W. Hooker. For Inglewood, Turner, Welham, and White scored a goal each. Mr. Rofston refereed. LADIES* MATCHES. WAPITI v. WHAKATIKA. The ladies' hockey match between Wapiti ' (Eltlram) and Whakatika was fast, especially in the second spell. The visitors won by 3 goals to 2, mainly through the instrumentality of Miss Da Launay, who was invaluable to her side. This player a couple of seasons a'go won the gold medal for the best lady hockeyi*t in Wellington. Whilst her dribbling proved very effective in this match, it is not the best hockey. The player does best who brings the .ball along, and •liases'. Hiss McEwan, of the Carrington Road team, though not so noticeable by the spectators, was probably the finest exponent of the game on the field. Goals were scored by Mrs. Eggers (2) and Miss J. Smith, and for Whakatika by Misses McEwan and Brash. Mr. J. E. Avery was referee. STRATFORD v. INGLEWOOD. Stratford ladies beat Inglewood b" (5 goals to nil. Inglewood played two "men" short.