HOCKEY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10254, 5 June 1911, Page 7

HOCKEY.

PEARSON SHIELD MATCH. EXCELSIOR DEFEATS POST AND TELEGRAPH. BY TWO GOALS TO ONE. An interesting match was played on the Masterton Park Oval for the Pearson Challenge Shield, on Saturday afternoon, between Excelsior and Post and Telegraph. The ground was 1 rather sodden, but was much more even than the Lansdowne grounds. The game started fairly evenly, and some first-class hockey was witnessed. The remarkably clever stick work of Loader, and the solid defence of' Thynne were particularly noticeable. | After about twenty minutes of hard and exciting play P. and T. got in] the circle, but were penalised before they had a chance to shoot. How-j ever, the work of the P. and T. forward line hoon placed them in the circle again, and R.Williams succeeded in shooting a splendid goal. From this stage till half-time the yellows continued to attack, but several chances were missed by faulty shooting, a bad failing of tlie P. and T. forwards. Immediately on resuming Excelsior assumed the agressive. A. Williams and Ashley brought the ball into the circle, and frota an exciting scramble a goal was obtained. Shortly after Williams shot a goal oflside, which, of course, was not allowed. With the free hit P. and T. cleared the circle, but the reds returned directly, and another scramble resulted in Ashley obtaining Excelsior's second goal. Hanley, Hunter, and N. Williams (P. and T.) fed the forward line well by their hard hitting and the circle was gained on several occasions, but without avail. The defence of Thynne and Hall repulsed the P. and T. forwards nearly every time, although there were times when the ball crossed the line. Excelsior also did their share of attacking, when Tory Ratima, A. Williams, and Smith figured prominently. The game was brilliant from start to finish and both teams are deserving of the highest praise for their exposition. The Excelsior forwards, of whom Williams (captain) was the best, made some excellent attacks, bilt they did not possess the combination of their opponent's forwards. R. Williams, Loader, and Jackson, in the inside, made good use of the work the wings (Richards and Diggins) gave them. The red backs were, perhaps, better on the defence, while the hard, long-hitting of the P. and T. backs gave the forwards many opportunities. Hanley, in spite of having received a bad hit on the knee, and i Hunter played in a manner Avhich was a credit to the team. Hall, tho Excelsior goal-keeper, was instrumental iu saving several goals when the P. and T. forwards got in the circle. .Taking tho play on the whole, the best team was victorious.

Excelsior are now the holders of the j Shield, and' are open to challenges from other Masterton teams. P. and T. have the power to challenge the holders after tforea weeks. NEW ZEALAND CHALLENGE SHIELD. WELLINGTON DEFEATS MANAWATTJ. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The.first match of tills season for the New Zealand Hoc-key Association's | Challenge Shield took place yesterday at Day's Bay. The weather was disagreeable. there being a slight rain. I Wellington won by six goals to two. j Elliott scored, both Manawatn's goals, j W.-'HiiM'ton'c; .scorers were Loader (3), 1 Strack (2), and 0. Si track (1).

The match between Wellington and Ma?»awatu representatives was,drawn, each side scoring throe floats.