HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 125, 27 May 1913, Page 8

HOCKEY.

The second series of matches in connection with the first round of the premiership ' w ere played: last Saturday. Auckland defeated Areta by two goals to one, University beat North Shore by nine to nil, College Rifles and Unitarian drew with three goals apiece, and United and Mount Eden also played a drawn game, both sides scoring a goal.

■■ Chief interest was centred in, the meeting of Auckland and Areta. It was a match in which the Auckland team had the best of the game, played the better hockey, yet were decidedly lucky to come out victorious. In the first spell ■the victors had matters very nearly all their own way, and : were»more often on the attack. When Areta did get an opportunity, it was thrown away by injudicious hitting. The batiks would either hit the .all across the boundary-line or straight down the middle of the field across the goal-line. Twenty-five bullies, and rolle-in were the order of the day. In a portion of the second half Areta gave a better account of themselves, but they require a great deal more experience yet." I

j Baker played a capital game for Auckland, and frequently relieved from awkward, positions. Roberts did well too, I and Lepine in the first half was also prominent. Kavanagh was in his element, and worried the Areta van tenaciously. He kept his place, and did not roam. Moore was the star of the forward division, and made clever runs along the line. Snrythe was in better form than in the previous match. For Areta, England was the 'best back on the side, but a little judicious hitting would have been moTe serviceable than clogging. Richards was the best of the halves. He made a foolish mistake with a free hit. White, at centre,: in the second spell assisted to break the Auckland attack. Thomas and Preston were about the best workers in thej forward line. |

The veteran club, United, met Mount Eden in what can .best be termed a scrambling exhibition with sticks and ball. The d»play was far from hockey, and certainly argues poorly for senior play. Mount Eden had the best of the argument, and but for the worst of erratic goal-shooting would have emerged winners.

Even reverting to individuals, there were none to enthuse over, but the efforts of some players bear mention. Barry, for instance, in the centre of the white vanguard, was head and shoul-| ders above the rest. Porter could have fed the forwards more judiciously, but his defence was alone, and left no cause for complaint. Woods was fair at fullback, but seems to have difficulty in maintaining the perpendicular. Muldoon impressed one more favourably in the new position, and goal-keeper Hallani kept away a few shots that had some sting.

Mount Eden's inside forwards were in-, eliried to -forget there were wing men., Repeatedly both Malcolm and Bartlett, on the left and right respectively, only received the ball when well inside the twenty-five—a fatal mistake. J. Alexander made several good runs,, but lost control at the critical moment. Garrett was a big improvement as centrehalf, and watched Barry. Hunt hung to the ball too much, instead of remembering he had forwards, while A. Bartleet (right-wing half)" put in good' sharp hitting, but advantage was taken of his weight. Cole showed up promineiitly with lightning dashes and accurate speculating, while King was very safe. Hi 3 clearances were always well directed.

At Viatoria Park Unitarian and College Riiles engaged in battle, honours being even when time was called with three goals apiece. The country defenders can claim to have had slightly the better of the deal with the church folk.

YV'righit notched a couple of goals for Unitarian, and Smith one. The lastnamed player, however, is a woeful offender in the offside rule. The habitual practice of remaining offside is bad enough with wing forwards, but with a centre-forward is worse still, and suggests that the individual is itired. Parker, centre-half, was ever alert, while Simpson, full-back, capably played his part. Stewart, right wing, and his brother, on the half-line, were a source of trouble to the blues.

Sloman «ra_ right in his clement at full-back for the Rifles, but as captain of the team is allowed to speak to the members. The forwards worked very well, showing glimpses of their junior form. Mark, Fletcher and Creeks were responsible for the scores, but the lastnamed player wandered in too much and hampered Fletcher. The centre-for-ward had quite enough to do -to keep clear of the opposing half-line, who shadowed him closely. White resorted too much to one-handed play and tapping the ball, the latter fault being one that dominates too many players.

University journeyed to the Nortji 1 Shore, and succeeded in lowering it«4e marine suburb's colours to the tune of j nine goals to nil. The game was better \ than the scores indicate, but, at the same time, 'Vareity were a vastly superior eleven. Their attack was well I organised, and in the first twenty minutes rattled on half-a-dozen goals in quick succession. Shore had a hand in the second stages,, and, although reaching the circle, were never regarded as seriously dangerous. Their attack wai simply individual efforts, and an entire absence of shooting .powers. Farqnharson is again doing battle ac full-back for the green and whites, and proved a tower of strength. Whitaker, in the half-line, shared with his full-back, already mentioned, the honours of the day. They were the backbone of the Shore.

For 'Varsity, the forwards cannot be singled out; they worked in * syste-| matic manner, and often travelled the full length of field with their passing runs. Whitaker , was very good in the! half-line. Speight was below his usual form, but, nevertheless, eotrnd. Jones' display was pleasing.

I June 3rd is a holiday, and the majority of hockeyites are looking for [ games. The day is free from all other j branches of sport, and what a splendid opportunity for the Association to hold a monster' carnival! Time is short, it is ! true, to arrange the function, but if the enthusiasm is there, the difficulty men-, •tioned will soon be surmounted. What about a Veterans v. Present-day rep. match, fancy costume match, Referees v. Executive? Why, a host of interesting items could be arranged, interspersed with a number of field sports, including invitation race 3, in" which Rugby, Soccer, and Lacrosse enthusiasts could take part. A novelty could be introduced in the shape of a lacrosse match between the footballers and hockeyites. If the true sporting spirit prevails, -our fellow sportsmen would enter heartily into the function. We could assist ithem upon another occasion. The excuse of no time should not be a barrier—rather an incentive, showing, also, that the 1913 .hockey management is an even more i l^-^y^_aa'___gr^>f'^bßje_edorewwiK,