HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 132, 5 June 1923, Page 7

HOCKEY.

Follower* of hockey were treated to a couple of entirely different gamps In the prentmited Inst Saturday afternoon under the usual -week-end weather conditions. The rain held off, but the conditions under foot were by r.o means conducive to good hockey. However, there was little to complain about, in the struggle between Mt. Eden and St. Luke's, which provided seventy minutes of exhilarating pfnv. and the result was in the balance- until the final whistle sounded. On both Hides there was some clever stick work. and excellent, movements conducted at n rare Dace, considering the nature of the turf. Frequently the ground was responsible for the sudden chance and thrilling incidents in a came which terminated in a victory for Mount Eden by the odd goal In five. On the adjoining ground an extraordinarj , contest was the outcome of the meeting of Somerville and University, especially in the first spell, which provided no less than nine goals, half a dozen going to Somerville and the remainder being University's portion of the first thirty-live minutes" play. In the second spell they scored n goal apiece, and the game terminated in a victory for Somerville by seven gonls to four. «|ui'te an ahnorville turned out at full strength, although Kaitdon was not up to the mark, but the students did not take the field under such happy conditions, owing to the forward line being sadly depleted by the absence of Ilarman and Cnrr. The" former was away in Hamilton, while Carr was an interested spectator owing to an injury, the residue of the previous match. Play throughout was of Hie ragged order, and seldom contained any brilliant work. It was pitiful at times.'especially in the first half to witness the feeble efforts of the students' backs in trying to stem the assault of the nippy forwards of the Soinerville team. However. the University backs were not altogether to blame, for when the teams changed over there was finite a different tale to tell, and the Somervllle backs found that they were operating on turf that required all their resources to uphold the lead possessed in the lirst spell. .as it turned out the depleted students' line gave considerable trouble, and the tennw emerged from the conflict with an additional goal apiece to their credit. For .Somervllle. Roberts was again the better of the two fullbacks, but. made some bad speculations. Uaildon played consistently throughout, stopping and hitting in good style. Simpson worked hard at centre half. IC. Watts was easily the pick of the forwards. Sec.-ouibe played a useful game. The students' defence got a severe ehaking. ami at some time or other made glaring blunders. in the second spell they were more in the picture. Speight and Sloman had a busy time. The Halves were pateliv. while Kanthorpe and Torrens were the best of the forwards, although the latter missed a couple of excellent chances of goaling. ST. LUKES V. MT. EDEN. The St. Lukes V. Mt. Eden match attracted a large attendance, and the spectators were treated to some really clever play, but some of the players did not give of their best, and this no doubt was due to a certain amount of over-nnxlonsnesa and the soft slippery nature of the playing area. It was, however, a great game to watch, played in a true sporting spirit, at a great pace, and full of interest and exciting incidents. There was little between the teams, and the odd goal in the in Mt. Eden's favour sufficed on the day. To their forwards Mt. Eden owe their win. They hit the ball about more freely than the opposing vanguard, and were smarter in circle work. Their attacks were more varied, for St. Luke's depended too much upon the right. Both scores, however, came from movements engineered by that flank. One outstanding feature was the excellent standard of stick work by both teams, and seldom is such tine work witnessed nowadays. Attacks were quickly nipped in the bud, aud at one stage it seemed that no effort could break either defence. When Mt. Eden did .succeed In Hurting a weak spot two goals were registered smartly, and ends were changed without a score to the church folks' credit. In the second thirty-five Garrard drew the Mt. Eden defence with a good pass to Hookbam, and from the centre the net was found. A few moments later the second goal to the reda was registered, and then it became evident that St. Luke's had many lusty supporters. Then followed the most stirring play of the day. Uμ and dowu field the battle waged, and just as one team's supporters hoped for the majority score in their favour, cleverly the opposing defence would upset and the. more combined effort that gave Mt. Eden the victory. Of the winners' backs special mention may be niado of McLeod, fullback. The half line worked well, but like the opposing trio played too far back at times. Forward, Watson and Alexander were most prominent. Wilkle, in goal for St. Luke's, had some severe testing, and came through well. Rowe was best of the fullbacks, but some of his speculating was of the real chance-to-luck order. McLeod was best of the halves. Forward, Garrurd attracts most attention. lie made many line openings, and was unfortunate in not registering a second score. Ilookham and Dickson claim next mention, but the centre can cater still more for the left wing. SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNEY. SOMERVILLE WIN THE CUr. At Iteiuuera yesterday, under most unfavourable weather conditions, the annual scveii-a-sicle tournament and sports carnival of the Auckland Hockey Association was held. Rain fell at intervals throughout the day. aud the Holds were veritable seas of mud, consequently the play was not of a fast order. The Trevor Davis Cup for the club gaining most points in the seven-a-side matches, and the athletic events, was won by SomerviLle with 40 points, while the run-ners-up, Epiphany, with 14 points, carried off the Harvard Cup. Remuera wou the Hupert C. Moore Cup for primary schools competition, gaining 34 points, Stanley Bay being runners-up with 25 points. The various athletic events and the seven-a-skle competitions appeared in yesterday's ■•Star." The senior grade sevenaside tournament was won by Souierville.