HOCKEY.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 32, 4 August 1911, Page 2

HOCKEY.

TE AWAMUTU V CAMBRIDGE

WIN FOR TE AWAMUTU.

On Wednesday afternoon,at Victoria Park a most exciting match was played on the occasion of the visit of the Cambridge representatives to Te Awamutu. The match from start to finish was a very brilliant one, and is probably the finest exhibition of the game that has been witnessed at Te Awamutu. Both teams took the field with full strength, and at 3 30p.m. the whistle sounded for the bully off. Cambridge attacked for the first few minutes, but the defence of Te Awamutu was successful in preventing a score. Te Awamutu forwards got possession, and carried the ball down the field. At this stage a score seemed certain, but by hitting too hard the ball got carried off the field. Shortly after the bully off, Te Awamutu was penalised for offrside play, and the ball was soon among the Te Awamutu backs. A very fast run soon had the ball in favour of Te Awamutu, and a brilliant shot by Ryder was stopped in the nick of time by Isherwood, the Cambridge goal. For the next few minutes Te Awamutu had possession, and the visitors were playing a defensive game. Play then became more open, the ball travelling from end to end of the field, and after some good play Te Awamutu got possession, and from a shot at a difficult angle just missed the net. From the bully off Cambridge got possession, and hadTe Awamutu on the defensive, but Te Awamutu worked the ball to mid-field, when C. Stewart drove to Ryder, who from a brilliant shot gained the first score of the day.

Te Awamutu... ... 1 Cambridge 0 After the bully off, within two minutes Keely, for Cambridge, from a scramble among the local backs secured a goal for his team. Te Awamutu... ... 1 Cambridge 1 For the remaining five minutes todialf-time give and take play followed, the ball travelling lyIn the second half play for the first few minutes was in favour of Cambridge, but after a very brilliant run they were busy defending. Moeller centred to Ryder, who secured another goal for his team. Te Awamutu 2 Cambridge 1 Both teams were now playing a hard game, and the ball went rapidly from end to end of the field. At one time Ryder just • failed to further add to the score, the ball going within a few inches of the goal. For five fninutes, Cambridge was on the defensive, when Cox centred and a brilliant stroke by Robinson secured another goal. Te Awamutu 3 Cambridge ... ... 2 Play again was soon among the Te Awamutu backs, and for a few minutes the visitors looked like making the scores even. The order of the play was changed by the ball being carried to midfield, where, after some very‘fast play Te Awamutu had the visitors in trouble. Cox, from a difficult angle failed to add another score. From the bully off Cambridge got possession, and Keely from a good hit just missed the net. For the remaining five minutes the play was very fast. Both teams were playing the best possible game, and although some very brilliant strokes wbre made no further score was secured. The whistle sounded with play in midfield.

Mr C. Ruge, of Cambridge, gave every satisfaction with the whistle.' It is very evident that if the Te Awamutu team practised systematically they wonld without doubt be able to do credit to themselves on the hockey field. The game was certainly a very interesting one, and was all the more enjoyable because of the friendly feeling that was so very evident with both barracker, and player. Both teams were very evenly matched, and the plahr to the finish was of a clean And sportsmanlike nature. At the conclusion of the game the visitors were entertained before leaving for home.