HOCKEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1921, Page 6

HOCKEY.

LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY STRATFORD. Tbe Snal of the ladies' hockey competition was played at Victoria Park, Stratford, on Saturday, )>efween Stratford District High School, winners of the southern section, and New Plymouth High School, winners of the northern section. A good game rcstiited in Stratford winning by 3 goal. l * to 1. New Plymouth won the toss, and at once set up a vigorous attack, which took play to the Stratford circle. Stratford relieved, and open play followed, after which Stratford attacked, and a scramble in front of the New Plymouth goal resulted iu Miss N. Curtis scoring. Past up-and-down play fol lowed) and then New Plymouth took play into Stratford territory, with a good concerted rush, and Miss P. Worn sent in a good shot, which found the net. Stratford rallied, and a fast dash was followed by Miss W. Knight scoring the home team's second goal. Stratford again attacked, but good tehm work by the New Plymouth forwards took play Into the Stratford quarter. From a bully on the Stratford 25 line Miss N. Curtis took the ball into the New Plymouth circle with a fine run, but her shot at goal went wide. Stratford continued to attack, and New Plymouth conceded a corner. Good work by the New Plymouth forwards had Stratford on the defensive twice, but the homo team’s backs’ solid hitting saved the position. Stratford rushed play into the visitors’ circle and nearly scored just before half-time, which sounded with the score: Stratford, 2; New Plymouth 1.

Up-and-down play characterised the opening of the second spell, and then Stratford set up two attacks, in one of which Miss A. Ward was noticeable for a good run. Stratford were having the best of the game, but were having to fight hard for every gain. New Plymouth took play into the Stratford circle, and a shot at goal missed, and Miss Elgar promptly brought play back with a good run down the line. The New Plymouth threequarters saved, and then Miss Worn took play into home territory with a fast solo effort. Up-and-down play followed, good work by Misses Ward and Knight taking play into the New Plymouth circle, where both players had unsuccessful shots in quirk succession. For some time play of a give-and-take nature followed, both sides doing their share of the attacking, and then from a scramble in the New Plymouth circle Miss Knight poked the ball into the net. A moment or two later the same player took the ball down to the goal, but the goalkeeper just saved. A further rally by the Stratford forwards ended in an unsuccessful shot, by Miss Ward. A free hit for 'sticks” gave New Plymouth a chance to set up an offensive, and a good rush gave Miss Worn a chance, but the shot went wide. New Plymoutli rallied, and again attacked, and the final whistle sounded with play in the Stratford territory, with the score: Stratford, 3; New Plymouth, 1.

Mr. H. Pennington, of Eltham, refereed.