HOCKEY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 162, 14 August 1914, Page 2

HOCKEY.

THE QUEST OF THE SHIELD. CANTERBURY TEAM'S TOUR. The long-looked-for expedition to Auckland by a Canterbury representative hockey team, in quest of the Championship Shield, has now been realised, and Canterbury is still without the coveted trophy. The selectors had chosen a very formidable combination to do battle for the province, and not a single man was unable to make the trip. It was confidently expected that Canterbury would bring back the shield,. but this was not to be, as Auckland managed to win by the narrow margin of 2 goals to 1.

The match was relayed at Victoria Park, Auckland, on a good but damp ground, in the presence of about 1500 spectators. From the first bully the Canterbury men took the ball towards Auckland's end, and after a pretty passing rush between most of the forwards Throp sent in a good shot, which the Auckland custodian just managed to glide over th.e line. The reds maintained the attack, but brilliant defence by Baker kept the Auckland goal intact. The pace soon became exceedingly fast, and the, ball travelled up and down the field at a great rate. Canterbury was having much the better of the deal, several good shots being well saved by Hallam, the . Auckland keeper, Throp was in*a very good scoring position when Baker brought relief with bad obstruction near, the edge of the circle. As a result of -the free hitj Throp sent in a beautiful goal. This livened up the blues, but the Canterbury forwards were keeping possession of the ball well. With a hard drive, Speight, the Auckland skipper, set his forwards in motion, the ball lodging near the red net, but Martin saved cleverly. At half-time the score was: Canterbury 1, Auckland 0. CANTERBURY BACKS DISAPPOINTING.

On resuming, Auckland set up a hot attack, and frequent free hits'in the northerners' favour gave them increased advantages. The Canterbury backs were giving a'very, disappointing display, repeatedly missing the easiest of shots. The Auckland referee was extremely severe; and this somewhat discouraged the visitors,.who dropped their dashing play of the first spell/ with the result that the blues were able- - to, notch: a couple of goals, 'both from scrambles in the circle. The challengers made great efforts to equalise, but' their, forwards did not receive any solid support from the backs.

. «... THE PLAYERS CRITICISED. Hallam, in goal for Auckland, brought off several clever saves, but was inclined to kick. to. disadvantage, especially in the second spell. Baker played, the best back game on the, ground. His. defence was impregnable,, and his cleaning shots were always placed ;well v Speight, too, was very solid, and forked well' with !B ; akeiv tthe, Auckland halves,, were not .very, strpng • on. attack, but. their' stick-piay was good.' Of the for-j wards,, Mahoney'was .easily, the fcest,' his clever stick-play standing him in good stead. Jacobsen; on the left wing, sent in a good number of tiihely centres, but there was rooni for improvement in his fielding. Worsley distributed the play judiciously amongst his fellow-for-wards, and his work in the open was very good.

THE CANTERBURY. TEAM. Bellamy gave one of his best displays. As he did not touch the ball in the first spell, his .play then could hardly be 'criticised, but in the second spell he brought off several clever saves; one, in particular," being a brilliant effort, he stopping a shot from Whittaker with rare judgment. Martin and Sherwood were most disappointing; both ; men giving very poor displays, especially in the second spell. The severity of the' referee on the former might have disheartened him, but even then he was badly beaten by the opposing forwards. Sherwood repeatedly let the opposition through; missing the easiest of shots, while his clearing was weak in the extreme. Duffield was easily the best of the halves,,his, coolness and tricky stick-play quite nonplussing the Aucklanders.' , .

Parton was weak in the extreme, his play on Saturday last being much below representative form.' Repeatedly did he keep possession of . the ball until an Aucklanders relieved him of it. He was also inclined to . obstruct. Sepie was much better than, his 1 centre, but he, too, was not up tohis usual form. Nevertheless, he got in a fair amount of very useful work, and cut the opposing forwards out cleverly at times. Patrick gave a first-class exhibition. His centreing was like his Hawkins, at right inside,: although inclined to wander, worked, like a Trojan, backtackling effectively, while his work in the circle gave the Aucklanders an anxious time.

THROP'S FINE PLAY. Throp, as usual, played a "heady" game, and distributed the play in good style, always to where the best opening was. His goal was a beauty, and he was unlucky in not registering at least another couple of goals, especially one in the first minute of the match. Grammar appeared to feel the importance of the match very much, and, together with an injury to his leg, received early in the game, he was somewhat handicapped. But his play last Saturday was not of the high standard shown in club, representative, and trial fixtures previously this year. He will probably overcome this nervousness with the experience gained. The left wing position was not decided until the morning of the match, and it was really midday before the issue was beyond doubt. During the night prior to the match a very heavy shower of rain fell, and this gave the selector (Mr W. Simpson) a very trying position to overcome. However, Holland gained the verdict. " . Mr Walton gave a very judicious exhibition of refereeing, while the Auckland nominee gave a brilliant exhibition of whistle-blowing. For any referee to give thirty-three free hits against, and only three for, any team, requires some explanation. There is nothing so disheartening to any player as to be continually penalised time after time for breaches not in the rule book. The Canterbury players were enter►tained by the Auckland Association at

a theatre party on the evening prior to the match, and on the evening of the game were given a complimentary dinner at the "Waverley Hotel, where the usual toasts were honoured. The Auckland supporters were unanimous in their praise of the play of both teams, the opinion being frequently expressed that the game produced some of the most brilliant hockey ever seen in the northern province. MATCH AT PALMEESTON. On Sunday evening the team left Auckland, for Palmerston North,.to play Manawatu. Arriving at 12.30 p.m. the players hurriedly prepared for the match, which commenced shortly after 1 o'clock. The game, which ended in a draw, was not taken very seriously. Several of the players went out for a good afternoon's amusement, and certainly got it, if sore legs, heads, and ears count for anything. Hardly a player escaped without showing some marks of the battle. Although the game was not rough, or contested with any amount of "feeling" by either side, minor injuries seemed io be the order of the day. ,

In the first spell the Canterbury team played well, and at half-time led by two goals to nil. The first goal was scored by Hawkins, after a pretty movement, in which all the forwards participated. The second was obtained by Patrick. Throp hit the ball l up the field to the left, and, dashing away from the green backs, regained | possession near the line, on the edge : of the circle, and centred to Patrick, who sent in a good one-handed goal. Early in the second spell Sherwood received a bad injury to his knee and i jretired. Chappell took his place, and JHolland went on at left wing. Play Was very fast;' the Manawatu\ forwards consistently, and the score wafr equalised. This reverse livened up the reds, who maintained a hot assault,- on the greens' end, but.,, the local goalkeeper was defending very solidly, and! stopped several hot shots. Several good : chances were lost through playing the right when the left had open chances. Bellanvy - again -gave- a ; good-exhibit tion, and adopted the sporting tactics of always trying to keep the ball in play. Martin showed a great.improvement ; over the previous;'gaule; and tackled his man well. ~..'. .... A BRILLIANT PLAYER. , .

The hero of the day was Chappell. When .he took Sherwood 'a position he played a great game, completely "fooling" the opposition, while he did not make the mistake of sonie of the other backs of '-sparing the -timber;" His display on Monday gave one the impression that his natural position is as a back, not. as a forward., ' . Pascoe played a good game "&t : right half,' back-tackling well,'' 'while hecleared 1 with hard and wellplkced Shots. Partoh was again weak; his' ;; non success ih the Shield match had apparently disheartened him, as he seemed ttrhave lost ithat 'dash„,which secured for him a place i'ii' thV .tackled well, but urd ; 'haird enough' when clear.injir. • i and Hawkins all worked haru; ;|and [ did not go.'"stale'X f,or : w|ant of' work,most - pf ,;,the play , gQing; their,,"vvay., , ; ',was .again uniqrtunate; in';, receiving a bad' injury to of ■ '. r l l'egs, ? which prac'ticaiiy crippled him for the of the,.match. The "team ckijght, the' Napier,, (express to^y^lli'n^tan,''where it was met .by the geiiiat''J-Gusi.':' Bennetts, who escortecf it;to the.steamer. . '■"'...' The.team.is.unanimous in its praise of the".splendidmaimer in which the tour "vv;as managed by Mr, Simpson.. He spared nothing to. make the players cbnihappy, and the very; enjoyable trip was largely due to. his .excellent management. It was truly a ease of the right man,in the right, place.