HOCKEY OPENS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20493, 9 May 1938, Page 10

HOCKEY OPENS

FAIR STANDARD OF PLAY COLTS AND AOTEA WIN JESLLTS OF SATURDAY'S MATCHES On a heavy ground at St*ele Park. Hamilton hookey season was opened on «aturdav with matches in all grade-. Play in "both first grade matches was ragged at times, but the standard was creditable for the beginning of the season. Colts, after being two goals down for the first quarter of heir match with Tokomam. soon assured the ascendancy and emerged the victor* by « goals lo three. \ more evenly mnlrstrd '"abb was provide. |,v Ho>s — Vole.i run,miter, but the standard of play was poor al tunes and only the rinse nature of the play made the match interesting. Aotea scored a well deserved win by 3 goals »o 2,

COLTS WIN SUPERIOR TEAM WORK Superior team work was the chief | I factor in Colts’ decisive win by 6 , pools to three from Tokomaru. The , latter individually played well and had • they displayed better combination the j I winning margin would have been less. ; | The teams were.—Colts: O’Hara, j ! Clark, Rockell. Badcock. Harvey, ve, Perrett, Me- j Kibbin. Wycherley. Tokomaru: Puck, a ; Wilson, Bowler, , McKenzie, Speedy, Snell, Sage, Mellor, ! From the bully. Colts swept through in an early attack. Curteis taking the ball down the right and centring nicely ;to put his team in a handy position. Tokomaru’s defence held well, how-' ‘ever, and they gradually sent the attacking forwards back to centre field. Snell carried 6n the movement and went through on his own to notch the tir>t goal of the new season. ! Play was centred in mid-tleld for a period until another loose forward rush brought Tokomaru once more within . >lrikitur distance. Clark went back to 'goal, but Sage sent in a fast one that •went through to the boards, giving j Tokomaru a two-goal lead. Colts Retaliate I j Colts retaliated with a whirlwind at- j

tack that cut the defence to ribbons, Perrett from close in smashing a hard one into the corner of the net for Colts’ first goal. Tokomaru had another chance when Lipsey brought the ball in a fast solo run down the left wing, but Colts’ | backs got back in time and formed an ! impenetrable barrier. Play soon swung ;back to the other end. but mis-hitting nullified several good movements, j Speedy took the ball out of the dan- ; Per zone oy a bright run down the | right, but his centring shot went astray and a likely chance was lost, j Clough made ground for Colts with a determined rush down the centre, McKibben carrying the movement on to the circle. Coifs’ captain shot for goal, hut the ball was too high. : Colts drew level when Clough sent across a long shot to Perrett. who was handy near the goal-mouth. The centre forward received cleanly and beat the goalie with a good shot to make the score. Colts 2, Tokomaru 2. Perrett made the most of a good opportunity to put. his team in front. Cleave and Curteis attempted to goal fcom the side, but the ball was well blocked by the goalie. However, Perrell was right- on the spot and all he had to do was to tap the ball into the not. i 'i»its continued to press vigorously. the goalie. Puck, bring called upon in bI.M-k IwM good shots from '.lough and .McKibben. Colts on Top ! | Colls continued in the ascendancy

after the interval and a fast forward movement resulted in Wycherley sending a fast shot past the goalie. Ragged play characterised play for ,a period, but the fluctuating fortunes lof the teams made the play interesting [enough. Colts, however, were meeting with more success, but their lead was reduced when a penalty bully resulted in Sage netting. Colts pressed hotly when Wycherley took the ball through, but miss-hitting in the circle lost them a golden opportunity. Tokomaru came again when Snell headed a strong attack into Colts* circle, but indecisive play allowed the defenders to work clear. The venue of play rapidly changed to the other end of the field and Tokomaru’s forwards were called upon for some vigorous defence. First Cleave, then McKibben attempted to goal, but [Wycherley did not mince matters when lie obtained possession a yard from the net and sent in a shot that rattled the boards. With the score now r>— 3 against them. Tokomarß set about to retrieve the position, but Colts’ berter team, work kept them out. Colts went further ahead when after cleave had taken them out of a dangerous position with a long, clearing shot. I'errett followed up fast and scored I lie best goal of the match, leaving Colls the winners bv c goals to 3. Messrs R. \Y. Bennett and J. Coe were the umpires.

AOTEA STAGE RECOVERY OLD BOYS SUFFER DEFEAT PLAY DEVOID OF JKi.'ikl Although Old Boys made the most of the first half and dominated play the whole time, Technical Aotca staged a great recovery in the latter part of .the game and won by three goals to ■ two. Generally the play was poor owing principally to the lack of condi- : tion in several of the players on both ! sides. The teams were inclined to re- ! sort to hard-hitting tactics, which proved of little benefit and tended to .make the playing conditions harder, i The teams were:— | Old Boys.—ll. Sutherland. D. Pountney, j. Pountney, C. C. Ross, L. F. Brainwell, A. McKinnon, K. L. Sandi ford, J. G. West, T. A. Ewan, J. Davies, G. Tomlinson. | Aotea. —Coombes, Beale. Magnall, A. j Hoff, L. Jenkins, Taylor, Forster, Hunter, Powdrill, George, Matuschka. Re|serve, Clark. ! Old Boys were the first, to goal. .The opening play was dominated by them and a fine rush led by West and Ewan, brought them within striking distance of the net. From a short corner Davies sent the ball in to open Old ■ Boys quota. Solid Defence I In spite of a fine penetrating moveiment by the Technical forwards, they [were unable to break down the solid

I opposition defence. Powdrill figured \ prominently in the attack but the sup- , port offered by the Technical forwards was not enough to bring the movement to a successful conclusion. Again Old Boys took charge but Technical saved well when hard pressed. D. Pountney figured prominently and also Davies, who was unlucky not to net, the ball finding the edge of the goal. From a free hit Technical had the advantage and Forster made a valiant effort to bring his team on equal terms with the opposition. Finally Powdrill shot, the ball just- passing outside. The Second Half I Soon after the commencement of the second half, Old Boys had another chance of scoring but Ewan miss-hit. Technical attacked and after an exhibition of clever passing, Hoff took possession and goaled to bring the teams level. With this encouragement Technical continued to press but their hitting was too hard to prove effective. At one stage they had an easy chance but through trying to force the pace the movement broke down. As the result of a series of fast rushes Old Boys again took the lead. A scramble in front, of the goal saw Ewan receive the ball and net cleverly. Taylor figured prominently in another penetrating movement by Technical but finally Hoff took charge to register his second goal and again make the honours even. . Technical took the lead when Hie opposition were recovering from a ] series ui -sorties. Several times Aotea

inatie a final attack and the speedy winger, Forster, took charge to break through and net neatly. Play ended soon after with Technical the victors by three goals to two. Messrs \\\ <J. Fabling and F. L. 13. Craig were the umpires.