HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 158, 4 July 1916, Page 8

HOCKEY.

The last series of matches in connection with the second round of the Auckland Hockey Association's senior championship was played on Saturday afternoon under adverse weather conditions after the recent rains. The prospects on Saturday morning were by no means disappointing, but Jupiter Pluvius -was much in evidence at midday. The grounds were very sloppy, and held a good deal of water, consequently finished exhibitions of "the game that grows" were hardly possible. The players required no little skill to maintain the perpendicular during critical periods. The state of the grounds did not affect the ultimate results, as it was anticipated that University would just about account for Areta. and Mount Eden's chance against Training College was decidedly good. University are at the head of" affairs with eight points to their credit, and have still a match with Training College to play to complete the round. Mount Eden, 'who have had their full measure of six games, hold the second position with three victories. They also have scored most goals, with a total of twenty-one, but to counter-balance matters eighteen goals were registered against them. In live matches Areta'a record is even, with two wins, two losses, and a draw. Training College hold the wooden spoon, having lost all four matches played, with a debit of twenty-six goals, while their sum total is only seven.

Mount Eden naturally exppctcd somewhat of a tussle with' Training College until it was ascertained that the latter had some difficulty in obtaining a full eleven. However, there was little cause for anxiety, us they ran out victorious with eight goals to the students' six. Mount Eden were much the cleverer performers, and showed much more enterprise and resourcefulness than their less experienced opponents. The ground was all against good play, notwithstanding which the suburbanites accomplished some clever work at times. Although they managed to goal-hunt to the extent of eight points."their shooting was not up to the mark. Probably insuflicient care was exercised on account of the weak opposition. The goalkeeper and full-backs had very little to do. The halves worked very evenly, Till, at centre, being very tricky, but failed to initiate attacks." The play of the forwards was mostly directed" towards the left, the most "conspicuous in the line being Jansen, M. Alexander and Woolford.

Training College have'experienced all sorts of misfortune since their admission to senior ranks. Last Saturday this was further accentuated by the absence of three of their most promising forwards. Boswcll, Harris, and Barker" and they were in a sorry way when they had to meet Mt. Eden. On the previous Saturday they created some stir by putting up a good tight with University, and their prospects seemed over so much brighter on account of that display. It was only in the first spell that they were in evidence. In the second-half they fell away entirely. The forwards lacked cohesion, but that was only to ho expected, as the lino was entirely different. Perhaps the best of them were Worker and McMillan. The former has a tendency to indulge in too much one-hand play, and the sooner he overcomes this evil the better. The back division contained two performers who bad already played that afternoon. Fortune and Perry are full of promise, and Gash, at full-hack, worked valiantly, but all were inclined to be worked out of position.

It was extremely bad luck that University and Areta had to meet under such conditions as last Saturday. Had the. weatber been fine and the ground dry, a contest of no mean order was anticipated. Wet days are responsible fqr surprises, but University were entitled to their victory, although it was only two goals to one. They had the better of the game, were more often on the attack, and had a most capable defence. It was a stubborn contest, and although University held a lead of two goals for a considerable portion of the game, Areta were always dangerous. In the second spell they made desperate attempts to even up the score, but the students defended soundly, and towards the end of the game goal-hunted mere than their opponents. The "big" man in the University team was Speight, who revelled in holding up the rushes of tho Areta van on the sloppy jrround. He had little difficulty in heating them as he trapped the ball, while the opposing forwards skated past. West played steadily, doing some good bitting. Ronnie played a solid game at halfback, and was easily the best of tho line. Player did good work, being brilliant a I times, but on the whole was rather patchy. It cannot be stated that the forwards made the best use of their opportunities, as some easy shots went begging, but, of course, the ground was partly_to blame. Somcrs was the most conspicuous, while Menzies also rendered good service. For Areta, Baxter shaped well in goal. Baker got through a tremendous amount of work, and acquitted himself well under pressure. Sloman made his first appearance but lacked form. In the half-line Robinson played a good saving game. Nicholson was very steady, and amongst the forwards Fletcher (late of Mt. Eden), Whittaker. and Coleman all did good work under the conditions prevailing.