HOCKEY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1942, Page 4

HOCKEY

OPENING OF SEASON LANSDOWNE GROUNDS FULLY OCCUPIED. The hockey season in the Wairarapa opened on Saturday. Although the weather was not favourable, the grounds were in good order for play. Some interesting games were played, especially in the men’s games at Lansdowne. A number of the men were playing their first game of hockey and several showed good promise. As the season progresses some good games should be witnessed among these teams. The senior ladies’ game was dominated by Excelsior. The Kia Ora team should, however improve if they keep together as they have some young players who only lack experience. For their second season at the game Sincerity have turned out a good team. They defeated Carterton A on Saturday in the junior ladies’ competition, and should give Excelsior a good game when they meet. LADIES’ GAME. EXCELSIOR v KIA ORA. Excelsior attacked from the bully off, D. and H. Harding both having shots which missed. Kia Ora conceded a penalty corner from which N. Page and I. Palmer had shots which were saved by the Kia Ora backs. Many opportunities were missed through overkeenness. The Kia Ora backs were not brilliant but their defence was stubborn. J. Grantham took the ball up the side line but the Excelsior backs soon had their forwards on attack again, and from a penalty corner N. Page opened the score after 25 minutes play. A spell of ragged up-and-down play followed, and just before the end of the spell N. Page added to the score. Excelsior 2, Kia Ora 0. During the second spell Excelsior dominated play and were attacking nearly all the time. From the bully off E. McKenzie went straight through to score. Shortly after I. Palmer added another goal. From this stage on, Kia Ora were unable to hold the Excelsior forwards, N. Page scoring one goal and E. McKenzie adding' four goals, the final score being Excelsior 9, Kia Ora 0. RESULTS AT A GLANCE MEN’S GAMES. No. 6 team 7 defeated No. 7 team 0. No. 2 team 9 defeated No. 4 team 7. No. 5 team 5 defeated No. 1 team 4. No. 3 team 8 defeated No. 8 team 3. SENIOR LADIES. Excelsior 9 defeated Kia Ora 0. Carterton 7 defeated College 1. Greytown a bye. JUNIOR LADIES. Excelsior 10 defeated College 0. Sincerity 3 defeated Carterton A l. Carterton B a bye.