HOCKEY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1939, Page 8

HOCKEY

REPRESENTATIVE GAME WELLINGTON v WAIRARAPA. HONOURS TO WELLINGTON. Despite the adverse weather conditions some sparkling hockey was seen on the Lansdowne grounds on Saturday, when Wellington A and B teams met the Wairarapa A and B teams. Honours of the day went to the visitors who won the A grade game by 3'2 and drew in the B grade 2 all. The grounds were fairly heavy owing to recent rains, while the showers which fell during play made the surface very slippery. The exhibition given by the Wellington team was very good despite the fact that conditions were all against their style of play, and the stick work, positional play and back passing of the visitors was the highlight of the match. A TEAMS’ MATCH. In the Wellington A v Wairarapa A match the teams lined out as follows: Wellington: Marshall, Adams, Wilson, Shaw, Rqugh, McLean, Chapman, Browne. Fuller, Garbett and Kelly. Wairarapa: Tildesley, Kay, S. Fisher, R. Dick. S. Knutson, M. Knutson, Hooper, Wotsfold, A. Fisher, Fleet. Bicknell. The referees were Messrs Dregde (Wellington) and Stubbings (Wairarapa).

Wairarapa commenced by rushing play to Wellington territory from the opening bully and the visitors' defence was soon to be tested. The defence held, and after about 15 minutes of even play, Wellington settled down and worried the Wairarapa defence. A fine forward rush by the visitors saw Fuller draw first blood for Wellington with a hot one to the corner of the net. Wellington 1, Wairarapa 0. Wairarapa were soon back on the attack and though they went very close to scoring on several occasions half-time sounded with Wellington 1 up' after a very evenly contested firs,t half.

On changing over an alteration in the Wairarapa team was made. Fleet and S. Fisher changed over, Fleet going to full back while S. Fisher went up into the forwards. S. Fisher ’signalled his appearance in the forward line by running clean through the defence to goal, making the score 1 all. Wellington were quickly back to the attack and showing pretty stick work soon had Wairarapa in trouble. Tildesley was called on to save a series of hot attacks to the net. Wellington were exploiting the right wing attack and Browne was seen in some pretty work. Cutting in nicely he had the Wairarapa backs working hard. Wellington took the lead when from a pretty forward rush Chapman received the ball to cut through. He gave a smart back pass to Garbett which completely beat the Wairarapa backs, the last named player sending in a stinging shot. Wellington 2, Wairarapa 1. Wellington kept up the attack and only solid work by the Wairarapa halves and backs kept the Score down. Wellington forwards were playing pretty hockey, back passing, cutting through, and using the flick shot to great advantage. All the forwards had a hand in Wellington’s third goal, the ball passing along the line to Kelly, who made no mistake. Wellington 3, Wairarapa 1. Chapman just missed from an angle shot, while soon after Browne put the ball over the net. Worsfold put Wairarapa in a good position with a good run, beating two players to pass to Bicknell, whose shot at goal went wide. Wellington appeared to let up for a time and Wairarapa rushed play to the Wellington territory. Worsfold reduced their lead by slamming in a shot from a penalty corner. Wellington 3, Wairarapa 2. Wairarapa were still hard on attack when time was sounded with no further score, leaving Wellington winners by 3 goals to 2. Wairarapa did really well to hold such a strong combination as the Wellington team, and with a couple of alterations will have a very good side for their challenge for the Nordoh Cup. B TEAMS’ GAME. The B game was quite interesting and produced at times some first class hockey, being fast and spectacular. Wairarapa played in brown and yellow which were far too similar to Wellington’s colours, yellow and black. Why Wairarapa did not play in the colours advertised is hard to understand as the similarity in colours was misleading, both to the players and referees. Several of the Wairarapa players were missing and the team took the field one player short for the first ten minutes. This looked very bad for Wairarapa and in future any player not advising, those responsible when not available should be dealt with bj r the association. The teams were: Wellington: Beresford, Dixon. Banks, Double. Newcombe, Coom'oe. Alexander, Jenkins. Shaw. Stevenson and Lyall. Wairarapa: Ward. Ordish, Larsen, Sigvertson, Worthington. Townsend. Leete, Bell, Ruakere, Dick and Foster.

Wairarapa attacked from the start and in the first ten minutes Ruakere cut through the defence to open the scoring with a nice shot. Wairarapa 1. Wellington 0. Wellington next look a hand and forced Wairarapa to defend for a time. The defence held till Newcombe received from the right wing to send the ball high into the net, giving the goalie no chance. Wellington kept up the attack but eventually Wairarapa broke through and carried play to the other end where the Wellington goalie kicked clear twice.-Shortly after Foster had a shot which went astray. Even play followed but halftime sounded with the score 1 all.

Wellington set off at a fast pace on resuming and had Wairarapa in trouble for a time but the backs were too safe. Wairarapa broke away on several occasions but the forwards appeared to be passing too deep, thus giving the Wellington backs time to clear. At this stage of the game Worthington, who was playing a great game for Wairarapa, received a severe cut over the eye and had to retire. his place being filled by E. Steer. Wellington kept up a strong attack and were rewarded when from a melee Jenkins goaled, and Wellington led by 2 goals to 1. Wairarapa looked dangerous for a time but offside play gave relief. Soon after A. Bell shot for the net but the goalie kicked clear. Wairarapa kept up the attack, but the Wellington backs were intercepting nicely and cleared. Wellington were doing most of the attacking when from a clearing shot the ball came out to the wing who centred at half-way. and Ruakere, who accepted the pass, set off solo for the goal. He dribbled past three Wellington men. Drawing the goalie he flicked the ball

into the het, and the score was again even—Wellington 2, Wairarapa 2. Both teams tried hard to gain the advantage but full time was called without further score. Messrs McKenzie (Wellington) and Harding (Wairarapa) were the referees. VISITORS ENTERTAINED. After the game the Wellington teams were the guests of the Wairarapa Hockey Association to dinner at the “Cosy’ Luncheon Rooms, when the usual toasts were honoured, Mr G. Hayne, president of the Wairarapa Hockey Association, being in the chair. GAMES POSTPONED. ADVERSE WEATHER. Owing to tlje adverse weather conditions all junior men’s, and all women’s games were postponed on Saturday.