HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 137, 10 June 1919, Page 7

HOCKEY.

The fifth draw in connection with the

premiership -was played last Saturday, and as the outcome College Rifles- have extended their lead by a point from Somervell. The leaders in the competition defeated St. Luke's by 4 goals to 1. While Somervell, who are second on the list, had a lucky draw with University with a score of a goal apiece, Areta accounted for Training College by 5 goals to 2. The Ponsonby and Edendale contest "produced another drawn game through dividing half a dozen goals between them.

Somervell succeeded in maintaining their unbeaten record, but University had them penned long and often enough to have scored a substantial margin, iiy virtue of the closeness of the score keen interest was sustained right up to tne end, but in other respects it was not a finished exhibition on account of the poor shooting of the students' van and the lethargic work of their full-backs. Somervell were at fault also. Certainly they did not have nearly so many opportunities as their opponents of showing their ability, at shooting, but their attacks were not sufficiently concerted to secure goals. In the first spell play was of a more even character, but in tho second half University had undoubtedly the better of the game, and they had Somervell penned down and hammered at their goal in prolonged attacks. Allowing for the indifferent shooting ol University the opposing full-backs put up a magnificent defence, George being especially prominent. Cooper, in goal, was as solid as a rock. Munro suffered in comparison with George, but nevertheless accomplished good work. His brother was the best of a half-line that were only moderate. Carter was the star of the forward division, and in the second spell the attacks developed most strength when he was associated with Claudet. Watts showed up better in the first half.

Fawcett was unavoidably absent and Speight tilled the position. The fullbacks were slow. Aβ the game progressed the students' half-line became a powerful quantity. Rennie suddenly struck form. Clayton eettled down ana played welL Ahlers worked hard throughout, with just a tendency to wander centrewards, and in consequence the flank was exposed to Carter and Claudet. Waddingham and Carr were the best of a forward line that could not shoot.

St. Luke's put up a good fight against their more doughty opponents in a game that wao' well contested but only mediocre in quality. College Itinee did not perform by any means up to the standard of their work against University, probably the smart attacking ol their opponents had something to do with it. The work in front of the goal of the champions in prospective was weak and indecisive. The backs were more consistent, and held up the irregular attacks of the junior champion's forward line. However, St. Luke's are to be congratulated on making a game fight. They kept College busy from start to finish, and more than once caused College Riflee some anxiety, but the task of beating the College fullbacks was invariably a tough proposition. Sloman and Horspool were a capable pair of full-backs, and in the halfline Swan and Baildon had most of the play. The forwards, as mentioned previously, did not perform up to expectations, although there were glimpses ot good work.

Notwithstanding the general weakness of the College Riftee' attack, Hanna, in goal for St. Luke's, had a busy time, and played up to form. Williams (fullback) and McLeod (half-back) shaped the #ast of the rear division, and in the forward line the left side Williams and Duncan were the most prominent.

On the Domain Ponsonby, which had been performing very evenly, maintained that reputation, and drew with tdendale, thereby making their fourth drawn game in five matches. The blue and blacks were rather disorganised on account of three necessary changes througu the absence of Ryan, a capable fullback. Ponsonb} , had the best of the first spell, and wound up with a couple of goals, but immediately after the change over Edendale set the pace, and held the advantage. However, when the spell advanced Poneonby were in evidence, and the Edendale goal suffered a severe bombardment. Hobson, the Edendale goalie, had a busy time, and accounted for a lot of hot stuff. Ricketts played well at full-back. Davis, though not possessing an artistic style, was a very troublesome haif-back to the Ponsonby van. The forward work was patchy. For Poneonby Steele and Crawshaw were the best of the backs. Satchell and Bay divided the honours of the forward line, which did not create much fame with their shooting ability. Areta notched their second victory of the season as the result ai an encounter with Training College in a game that contained some unusual happenings. The ground was rather rough, and not conducive to good hockey, although play was fast, efforts to combine on either eide did not meet with any material success, and a lot of scrappy work ensued. The game was prolong-ed on account of a couple of minor accidents, and the closing stages were played in the dark.

The winners' attack was strengthened by the inclusion of A. Preston, recently returned from the front, and he was the best of a line that had a little individuality, but lacked cohesion. Nicholson did well on the right wing, and when he realises the crucial moment to centre the team will reap more benefit. At halfback Simpson showed promise. Nicholson and Ellison were reliable on the next line. Hallam, in goal, proved an obstruction to the students' shooting line, yet was not up to his usual form.

Training College are imbued with plenty of dash, which requires more method, and another fault is a tendency of some of the backs to over speculate. In the forward line O'Connor and Scherer shaped the best, while Boswell played an excellent game at half-back. The remainder of the rear division were patchy.