HOCKEY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10690, 9 August 1912, Page 3

HOCKEY

THE "NORDOX" CUP

DETAINED BY WAHURAPA

'Pile second challenge match .for the "Xordon" Cup was played at Lan.idowne yesterday before a largo 112:11 enthusiastic ci'owd. The chalkMigor-:, wero Taranaki, and they were defeated by a much better team. The game, taken throughout, was not so one-sid-ed as the score, s—o, would indicate, although the first spell iwas much in the blacks' favour. Taranaki won the toss ar.d elected to play witli the sun and wind at their , backs' On opening the game Wairarapa men forced the leather into tV-ir opponents' circle where Douglas misjsed a difficult shot. Play was now I earned to midfiold, and the Taran.nk: I forwards got possession and after ! some excellent passing in which Sage, 1 Sergeant, and J. Harris were promi- ! nent, several ineffectual shots were j made. Dixon and Williams, of tho J local backs, wero playing a great game, and sent the ball back to the j opposing territory where Fisher sent in a hot shot one which prov- ; ed too much for Stevens, the Taranaki ' goalkeeper. The yellow hacks were at this stage mulling the'ball continuous- j ly, and their forwards very seldom , got a chance as they were not being fed. However, when they did get the ball they made things very warm, but the excellent back play of Wairarapa

kept them at 'b%. The second score [ was registered by Douglas, who placed > a pretty one as the result of good combination on the part of Wairarapa's forward line. Shortly after Reid dribbled the ball into the circle and made a well judged attempt, but the vellows' goalkeeper made a ibril- ' liant save. Taranaki now took a hand and made their best attempt, getting the ball right to their opponents' goal where Morgan, the blacks, goalkeeper, saved by kicking. Wairarapa were supreme* for some time now. having the yellows' backs completely out- ! classed. Williams missed a possible \ o-oal perhaps from being over-anxious. J Tunnioliffe dribbled tho ball up to the j .roal where he fell over, and Reid run- J uWup scored his second goal. Fisher scored .the final goal of the spell from a well-centred hit by Tunmcliffe, and the spell ended Wairarapa 4, laranaki 0. Tho second spell was much more even, and in the opening stages frorrU sheer hard luck Taranaki averted . 1 scorin". Douglas saved the situation 'and dribbled the ball right through I th" vellows' backs, but his shot went Lidc Taranaki at times were very I dangerous, but their forwards always (seemed to miss the golden opportune . I l The onlv goal in this spell was shot 1 by Douglas,' who was playing veil up 'to his best form. The game ended'Wairarapa' C\ Taranaki. 0. The losing team had a fine set of forwards of whom Sargent, Fryer, and J. Harris wero the most prominent. Their outstanding back was M. Harris, at centre-half, who did a tremendous 'amount of good work. Wairarapa's forward line was a brilliant lot and could hardly be improved upon Of their back division Hanley. halfback, Williams, and Dixon, at full, were towers of strength, and the remainder all played remarkably well. On present form Wairarapa should he I capable of holding their own with any 1 team in New Zealand.