HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 4 October 1927, Page 15

HOCKEY.

SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS. SOMERVILLE TOO GOOD.

The season's activities advanced another stage last Saturday when Somerville, winners of the A grade were called upon by Training College, the B section winners, to decide the' championship honours for 1927. The game, although containing many bright incidents, was by no means in keeping with the occasion, and unles-s the conditions of the match were thoroughly understood, would tend to create a false impression of the standard of senior grade hockey. The final score of six goals to nil in Somerville's favour does not indicate the trend of play. Once the champions obtained a comfortable lead they eased up and their efforts were a marked contrast to those displayed the previous week, in their great battle with University. The champions had a reorganised back team and were really caught at a disadvantage. It *ras, however, a case where experience and tactics prevailed. The Collegians had a rare chance to jump to fame, but failed. Their condition aijd cpeed were certainly not wanting but the points of hockey so essential to success in the stick game were lacking.

College went off at a great pace and for some time pressed Somerville hard. Their onslaughts however, were too stereotyped to be penetrating, and the white's defence, although caught on the hop, warmed to their task and warded the invaders off. It was then that Somerville's best work was seen, but it was short-lived, for the game did not call for their best.

The Somerville forwards were again the dominating factor and when they really meant business—the most powerful defence would have faced a difficult task—simply went through the opposing forces.

It was well that the white's vanguard was so strong as the defence had weaknesses. Roberts was out for the first time after his recent illness and Cole (limping about), sufficieatly recovered from his Australian accident to take the field offered two sources for openings that should have been taken full advantage of at the start. This failure cost College everything. Had they discarded the straight line formation and playing to the wings and have worked at first with central attacks, their efforts would have met a greater reward.

When E. and C. Watts and Seccombe did give of their best they delighted the visitors and gave to their opponents several valuable lessons of play. The last goal of C. Watts was a beauty and completely nonpulsed Collgee for, instead of driving the ball hard he pushed it along with just sufficient pace to trickle through the defenders and reach the net. E. Rogers was the best of the halves. Cole indulged in a lot of

smart and clever stick work but his injured leg was a handicap; Gardner shone at fullback, while Cooper proved that his goal-keeping is still most resourceful. Schwabe, the College goalie had a busy time anc made some good saves. North was best of the fullbacks, but, like the rest of the rearguard, his hitting was too hard. Worthington played too deep, but his stick work was not clean. Among the forwards Tizard and Wotherspoon were most conspicuous, although Hayr grafted hard.