HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1926, Page 14

HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

WESLEY'S GREAT SURPRISE.

•VARSITY'S CALCULATIONS UPSET. HARD-CONTESTED GAMES. ■IMPROVED FORM BY STANLEY. The championship matches under the auspices of the Auckland Hockey Association were continued at Renuiern on Saturday afternoon; The jrrounds were' very soft, but the games were all fast and keenly contested. Wesley brought off a big surprise in playing a drawn game with University, 2 goals apiece. Areta, in a hard game, put Mount Eden down b}- 4 goals to 1., St. Luke's beat the Somervillc Colts by the odd goal in three, while Stanley,. after forcing Somerville to a scoreless first spell, went under by 5 goals to 1. WESLEY V. UNIVERSITY. AN UNEXPECTED DRAW. University opened proceedings along the right flaik, but throe free hits brought a measure of relief, to Wesley, and hard hitting by Sparling and. Burton put University on the. defensive, and loose work cornered the blues. Twice E. Burton pot away, and sending to R. V. Bur-. ton. he was *rell stopped by A. M. Burton of the opposition. Wesley repllod, anrt play reached the students' circle, where Dr. Leonard repelled the boarders, and University cornered the greens. Hood cleared, and the University backs, missing badly, Pitt and Oldham took the ball into the circle, where FHt managed to scrap' , the ball into the net. Wesley 1. University 0. I'niversity retaliated, and from a corner Radcllffe sent the ball through the hunch. University 1. Wesley i: ' The following piny saw Wesley miss an opportunity on pach tiank. Wesley continued to do -most of the attacking. After twenty-flve minutes' play the whistle sounded for half-time, but the spell was continued, and it was the signal for an overdue att&ctt by the students, but ;it was short-lived, and Wesley were again goal-hunting. They succeeded In cornering the students twice. Brook, Burton and Hamilton effected a clearance, and a centre by Greenbank co|rn«red Wesley, and half-time sounded with University on the offensive. t." r - .

. When tlieigame restarted, Wesley were first away, and) after University had invaded the Wesje.v circle, the up the rnnbinsf and hammered, away™ --A free brought relief. Sparling came. through the ruck brlll'antly anil a lifeh tiling'rush by the Wesiey Turwards was not ' terminated until Stecn fell over and smothered the ball. Tuen University served up n hot attack which Wesley cleared, and Burton-, going nt full speed, found an opening and f.teed a. one-man goal, but he was held by Steen in another act and University once more breathed freely, and, advancing, Hamilton accepted a centre from the right and did the trick. University 2, Wesley 1.

I From », couple of corners. University were on the verge of scoring. Wesley Blocked a shot from another and raised the siege. Sparling getting the ball away Burton and Fitt streaked for the goal and tbe former's centre cornered the blues. The Students prevented an Indifferent attempt to convert and regained the attack. In the fading light. Hood sent the ball oui to the wing, who centred on the fly, and, Fitt and Burton Cashing in. Burton did the trick amidst great enthusiasm. Wesley 2, University 2. In the semi-darkness tbe pa<cc increased, but despite the strenuous nature of the play no further score was registered. University 2 Wesley - Mr. H. Craweuaw refereed. ODD GOAL AGAIN.. ST. LUKES BEAT THE COLTS. St. Luke'B beat Somerville Colts on No. 1' ground by-two goals 16 one. The colts settled to worK quickly, and n passing rush by Peace, Preston, and Leo led to an invasion. Hanna just stopping J the shot from Sawyer, and conceding a corner. .Then came several quick transitions and tbe Colts bad tbe best of the piny until Hookbam sterted a right-wing" rush, and Duncan sent in au angled shot to the net for the first goal. Another appeared certain when A. Williams drove dbwn field to liookham, who centred , from the long coruer, but mistaKes in the circle spoiled a good chance. Off-side play told against the Colts, when they attacked again, and for the third time liookham led the reds. Two short corners were given, and the whites were bard pressed, but three good centres from Uookhnm were let through. Lee. Preston, and Glenn were prominent in the counter movements, out only one opening came, which Preston seized and shot bard from mid-circle. Hanna bad the good luck to stop it with bis stick, but the colts wrec soon back again, and Glenn, a junior gr.i'der, was loudly applauded when he equalised with a goal just before the whistle..

I'pon resuming, the reds kept the colts on the defence, and established their lead by a goal, which wab- shot by A. Williams, 'flic whites retaliated, .but were unable to goal from two invasions, and It came back in their own territory. The reds forced a series of corners, and the colts had difficulty In surviving the racket of shots, and only gained relief by hard driving. The game ended :— St. LUkC'B ... - 2 SomertiUe Colds " . 1 Sir. Axery was referee. EASY SOMERVILLE WIN. STANLEY BEATEN IX FAST SECOND HALF. The first half saw each team taking its turn in attack, and the backs played safely, ■while Vail, who was In goal for the first time, stopped a couple of shots from the Somerville van. The whites were showing their usual combination, and attractive passing rushes, but there were no scores at half-time. Somerville Roon changed matters when playing npfleld and scored three' goals In the first live minutes. E. Watts-making the shots. Stanley tried hard, but got I 'within reaenitig distance several times before I'enman finally sent one home. Soruervilie, lowever. were easily superior in the closing stages of the game, and Seccomfoe and J , - Watts scored the fourth and Bftu goals. I while" the forward line showed good flashes of form. Seccoinbe's solo runs were spectacular, and In spite of-the slippery nature of the ground, the whites were playius a fast open > game which overcame tlie opposition. The (fame ended with Somerviiig- on the Stanley twenty-Bye. Somervjlle 3 : Stanley 1 Mr. Nicholson was referee. ARETA'S GOOD WIN. EDEX'S IIEARGtARD FAILS UNDER PRESSURE. Play hung about. midfiejd for some moments, then the :Mt. Eden vanguard swept towards the blacks' circle, a twentyfive bully resulting. J. Carter led an Areta attack, -which Brown checked. Alexander secured and ran to Areta's twenty»flve. Ashley stopped and transffcrred to R. Carter, and smart work with Anthony and .7. Carter forced Eden's defence. Kelly cleared and' play returned to the i'.fty line. Smart passing by the Areta forwards gained a footing in Jit. Eden's circle. A hawl shot was- well stopped by O'Garroll, but Anthony was handy, and snapping the rebound netted a smart goal. Areta 1, Mt. Eden 0. The blacks returned to the attack through the agency of the right flank. A corner was gained, but Eden managed to effect a clearance, and big bitting sent play to Aretp's territory. From the free hit the Eden forwards broke away and forced a penalty corner. The ball came out to Alexander, who sent in a hard shot and equalised. A few minutes later Areta broke away and Anthony netted. Areta 2, Mt. Eden 1. Halftime -was called -with Areta attacking. Attack and counter-attacks marked the opening stages of the second spell, then the Areta vanguard settled to .their task and pre*««d tb* Eden defence. A lengthy onslaught ended in Anthony finding the net. Areta 3. Mount Eden I. A rally py Eden reached the blacky twenty-five, where Ellison stopped and sent the ball out. From the roll in R. Carter raced down the line but Ritchie was handy and saved the hitting out. Still Areta forced the defence, and gained a corner. .The ball came out to J. Carter who netted with a hard snot. Areta 4, Mount Edeo I. Eclen "re.:piied with sharp attacks, but the Areta I

full-backs proved equal to the demands, and Areta forced play to midfield. In the concluding staprtv A rota pressed very hard, and In the fuJllns Light great difficulties was experienced In following the hall. So further score was recorded, and time was called. . .. Areta ..-..- >. 4 Mount Eden I • Mr; 11. B. Speight was referee. IWVINCIBLE INDIANS. .- OTAGO HEAVILY DEFEATED. (By Telesraph.—Press Association.) V DUNEDIN. Saturday. The Indian Army -hockey tcaip <lefea(ed OtncD by 11 goals to 0 at Citrisbrook toclay in glorious iveather. About 12.000 persons witnessed the. match. The ground was dry nnd fast. The home team was considered n good side and harl trained assiduously bur Otago were almost continue ally on the defence in face of the .quielinpPK nnd cleverness of the visiting elevcw. Otago won tln> toss nnd the visitors played agninst ihe siwi. Otngo opfiimd wltli a sens.iti«niil run. which neartjr bro«pht a score but the visitors promptly returned and a shot !>.y Uhlan Chnnrt 'struck the post. .Tho Army toam mnintnined the pressure nnd Susanathan scored neatly froni short range.

The local backs defended well but rerely pressed beyond halfway. Neat work by Dhian Chand ended in a transfer to Captain Belehamber, who scored easily. Otago broke through and Dhian Chand ♦cleared from Johnston in !hn nick of time. Th« visitors immediately charged back >iud Captain Bolchnmber scored again. Otago attacked and the visitors' gOHikecper had to clear twice under pressure. The Army. ten in; by clever pnsping, prepsod again, and Capralii Oox. with a. Bplendlti lonjc drive, found the net. The visitors were attacking at half time, when thu score was 4—O in their favour.

The sun did not trouble Otago on changing over. The visitors opened sensationally, and notched two goals in three minutes, Captains Belehamber an.l Cox being the Kcorers. Playing with* uncanny a*euracy the visitors hovered roitfid Otago'V circle. Davies, ihp Jocal goalkeeper, saved brilliantly three times. The visitors, however, were too clever, and Captains Cox and Belehamber added two more goals each, ami Dhian Chand one. A civic reception was accorded the .visit tors in the morning and after the match they were . entertained at dinner. SECOND 3RADE. Mount Etjen, 2 (Cole), beat Alfriston ' rMlddletonK Areta 3 (Brldson U.Giirner 1, I'eacbey U. t>eot University 1 (Selene). Training Colleger (Wllmott 1. Melville -, Gllllntr-1), neat Sft-f.ake's 1 (Ro^eMsou). Epiphaay 5,-..beat St. Paul's i. THIRD GRADE. University. A 7 (Brown 5. Wilson I. Cos 1). bent JL'oJVersltv B 0. Auckland Grammar U ; .(Lamb 4. Muhro 2. Bay 2. Adams 1, White 1, Ellison 1). beat Wesley 0.

FOURTH GRAPE. St. r.uke"s 4 (Clark. Cawkwell, Broun. Brodiei. beat Somerville 0. Auckland Grammar 7 (White 4. Baverstock 1, Grace 1, Hay 1), beat Wesley 0. COUNTRY MATCHED. WHAKATANE. Waimana tfi bent Whakatnne Territorials (1) for the Federal Shield. Poroporo (•"■) bea:t Whakatane (4.) Taneatua (3J Beat Whakatane (0.) TE AWAMUTU. In a representative match Waikato B ('» beat Waipa B (1.) The respective A teamn played a splenflid game and Waipa won by three goals u> two. SOUTHERN MATCHES. MANAWATU DRAW WITH -WAXGAXUI. A representative match between Manawntu and Wanganyl ended in a draw, each side scoring two goals. ' ■■ PAHIATTJA. Manawntu A beat Bush A by one goal to nil. t s; ; . • • Mnnawatu B beat Bush B. WELLINGTON". Senior A.—Hutt 2, v. Wesley 0; Karori 4. v. University 2; Wellington 6, v. Wakatu 2. Senior B.—Y.M.C.A.. 7,, ■*. Wesley G.;. Training College 8, v. Wellington 1; Karori I, v. Hutt 0 ; Hula 3, v, Petone 1.