HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1913, Page 8

HOCKEY.

The rep. match on fcasurdsy afternoon revealed a weakness in the local eleven, and it was just as well the selectors had the opportunity of testing the chosen material. The country team, drawn together at the eleventh hour, and comprised of men tired after a severe week of hockey, held the locals in the opening 1 stages, and it was only when they tired that their opponents assumed command. The opposition was by no means outplayed, and their exhibition came as a big surprise after that given last year. Their methods are clean, their stickwork good, and "with a game or two they would develop into a hard combination to beat- A couple showed a tendency to one-handed play, and did well with this means of propulsion, but it should be cut out, as it leads to disaster. The display of Munro (Whangarei) between the posts was of a high order, several savies in the eecond spell being very clever. Sloane and Dittimer were a splendid pair of full-backs, and both would be appreciated in town, especially the former. A player without the facilities for constant practice, for he has to make journeys of twenty miles for his game, Sloane possesses a fine knowledge of hockey. The blue and whites found him a difficult proposition to overcome. Hβ stopped well, and hit powerfully aud with judgment. The half-back line was moderate, and found difficulty in lasting the journey. The forwards were full of dash, the best perhaps being Murdock and Johns. Both had rather an inclination to one-handed play. The former is dangerous in the circle. Cameron put in good work on the right wing, and sent in some very fine centres. As goalkeeper for Auckland Allen left nothing to be desired, and did the work that came his way in business-like fashion. Baker revelled in his work, giving a high-class exhibition, which the countryites greatly appreciated. Speight was hut moderate, and was frequently beaten. The haltline was weak, Robinson alone being worthy of mention. Of the forwards. Murray was not up to l;is club form, being out of his usual place. King headed several runs, but the field was open. Neither of the wings—.Steuart or Jacobsen—was up to first-class representative form, and McLeod was not impressive The going greatly hampered operations, but there were no concerted movements, and this section of the team will require nraoh alteration*if any hope is to be held of capturing the shield.

Wairarapa hae held the Norden Cup for the last two years, and this season warded off the attacks of Manawatu and Nelson. A big programme is still ahead, for the claims of Wanganui will be fought on July 31, Waikato August 21, Poverty Bay September 12. A trip to Nelson is also on the cards, and a match is set down for Augnst 27. The proposed visit to Auckland is deferred until next year, but it would not have been unreasonable to have the journey made this year, especially as Nelson has already been played. Wairarapa koast of a very strong team, especially in the forwards, and claim to be equal to the teams of the A section. Wellington eneeesefuHy defended the shieM from Hawke'e Bay by a bigger margin vhan was ever anticipated. Considerable disappointment was expressed at the Country B. Reps, and Auckland Junior Reps, match beinj; cancelled, but it was unavoidable, as the visitors had not sufficient time after the morning matches.

M. Alison has recovered from the injury to his hand, and will assist Tonsonby in their future engagements. Kavana.'h has also had time to recover from hid injury, and will Ix available nes.t Satvi-

day. The second annual Country week ia now a. matier of history, and Whartga-rri are now the proud custodians of the White House Cup. although they -lid not defeat Kooney, their perfo.-mancfS were enc-igh to merit the honours. The rain fell throughout the week, ami the grounds suffered accordingly; yet the games were interesting aud keenly contewted. The hockey displayed under the :;.d"P.ise circumstances was above thfi averajn, and one would liked to have the saixp teetns in action on a more substantial surface. Wliether it is the usual thing or not in the country I am unable to state, but all the teams invariably played the hard-Uitting game, which was almost the only method possible for success under the prevailing conditions. The games have been fully dealt with day by day. and there Ls little to add to that already published. Not to lose a match under such conditions is a splendid record, so the Whangarci team deserve every credit for their success; their play show-o.d clear proof of system. Jf .Sloan (fullback) plays as well on a fine day as he did in the mud. then i predict a big future for him. Another player that caught the eye was Murdock —a brother of the ox-Auckland left -winger. The Whangarei man is equally <it homo, in any of the inner positions, and r an shoot, too. Munro showed good form <vs a goalkeeper. His defence was sound, but he wants to clear bettor. The manager of tho Whangarei teaTn—Mr. A. <■>. Baddiley—is well known horo as a referee' of the first order, and the country champions are lucky to have the services of such a postmaster at their disposal. r%.

Kodney had to part with the i. up upou tho first time of asking. In the first series of matches they went under to Waipa, and. not losing a match afterwards, made, a desperate attempt to check the ultimate winners. They wore a fairly evenly-balanced team, with Via.ll, Vipond and Morrison just ahead of the ethers. In the rep. match they did not respond to tho call of the selector, and failed to inform him of their intentions. As the newest team in the competition, Warpa acquitted themselves splendidly. To reach third place and defeat last year's champions is a record of which any young team may be justly proud. In stick work they were excellent, and I doubt if anything better was accomplished during the week. Tn Davis and Duncan they possess a. couple of good haoks. and Johns and Davis are forwards of no mean order. Cambridge lost to Whaugarei by a solitary, and next day suffered defeat by Waipa by seven goals to nil, which is rather inconsistent. They were 'Weakened owing to a couple of leading players being unable to make the trip. The four most prominent players during the week wove Chambers and Peako in the backs, and llicks and Cox in the forwards. Rotorua never won a match, yet they stuck gamely to their forlorn task. A couple of topnotch«rs were unable to make the trip, which proved a great drawback. Dittimer played well at full-back, and Mitchell is a clinking half. The honour of scoring the most goals during thr White Horse Cup competition is shared by Johns (Waipa) and Hicks (Cambridge), with tire goals each; then follow Storey and Murdoch (Whangarei) , and Gordon (Waipa), three each; Dickson, .Sloane F (WiliSE(gaiEi) J. Morrison and JfolragtnTi an^-

Davie, two each; Mason and Cameron (Whangarei), Davis (Bodney), North (Waipa), Keeley (Cambridge), Melville, Harp, Cottrel, Wickett (Rotorua), one each.

The sphere of operations oi tht Auckland Referees' Association is gradually extending, and now most of the province is compassed. Members are to be found from Whangarei, in the North, to Tauranga and Rotorua, in the Soath, and it ie pleasing to note the recognition the Association is receiving.

At Waihi on Saturday a match wa s played between the ladies and men of the Waihi Club, the male players using the right hand only. The game resulted in the defeat of the ladies by six goals to four.