HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, 9 July 1928, Page 15

HOCKEY.

TOWN V. COUNTRY.

GAME 07 THRILLS.

CITY PLAYERS WIN ON FIRST

SPELL LEAD.

Country week concluded in rainy, stormy weather on Saturday, when the chosen eleven of the Auckland Hockey Association met the country eleven in the first representative match of the season. Throughout the whole game rain fell, and the playing area cut up badly. The game was a revelation to the "big crowd of spectators that assembled, and they were rewarded with a startling exhibition, brimful of exciting incidents and thrills. In the first spell the town team dominated the situation, and left the field with a clear lead of fiv© goals. The second half opened sensationally, for country quickly attacked, and made up the leeway to within two goals. Despite steady rain and a slippery ground the players maintained a great pace. Each side added four goals, and when the time whisle sounded the huge tally of 13 goals had been registered, nine in favour of town and four to country. The teams were:— Town.—K. Highfield, H. Williams, W. Gardiner, Radcliffe, R. Cole, A. Steele, D. Reid, P. Anthony, E. Watts, C. Watts, R. Phlllpotts. Country.—J. M. Thomson, L. Hammond, L. Spiers, R. Smith, G. Turnbull, A. Smith, R. McNamara, Candy, T. Grimmer, J. Goertz, B. Spiers. Auckland opened the attack and reached the circle. Goertz worked play back to halfway, but was repulsed by Steele, and play returned to the circle where Cole had a shot. From a twenty-five bully, Goertz broke through and the ball went out to McNamara, who sailed leisurely along the right. His centre was blocked, and the Auckland forwards broke through and Anthony sfcot and netted.

Country retaliated, only to be sent back, and Town evaded the country backs, and Reid slipped in and scored Auckland's second goal. Further pressure by the Town forwards was nullified by a penalty. A pass from Radcliffe to Reid went into the circle and from the ensuing play Anthony scored. Town 3, Country 0. Spiers got away nicely from the bully, but slipped, and the Town back had no difficulty In clearing. A pass from Watts to Reid looked dangerous, but Turnbull saved. The Reid-Anthony combination menaced the Country goal, and they were compelled to corner. A let down by Cole saw the Country forwards away, headed by Grimmer, but after evading Steele they were brought up by Williams. A moment later Cole made ample amends, and the ball went out at halfway. An exchange of hits between Cole and Hammond took play to Town's quarters. A great run by C. Watts was beautifully stopped by Hammond, but Town were quickly back, Reid running along the line, but Country escaped with a corner. Town returned E. Watts sent Reid off, and catching the Country backs napping he shot from an acute angle into the net. Town 4, Country 0. , Cole hit to Phillpotts, who centred, and the ball came across to Reid, who returned to the circle. Thompson saved, but E. Watts nipping in gained Town's fifth goal. Town 5, Country 0. Nothing daunted the Country made some valiant attempts to reduce the margin, and although they gained a footing in the circle, failed to materialise. Half-time was called. Town 6 Country 0 Country Corns to Light. The second spell opened quietly, but the sensation was not long in coming. The country forwards, after Rallying with the ball, were sent back, but regained the circle, and Grummer put in a terrific shot from the edge of the circle, the ball going as straight as an arrow into the net. Town 5, Country 1. Town raced to the other end, but play was just as qjiickly taken back by the country van, and after a couple of ineffective attempts in which a scramble ensued Spiers pushed the ball in from the left. Tiwn 5, Country 2. Town broke through, and frjm » scramble Anthony netted. Town 8, Country 2.

Play was no sooner in progress again than country launched another attack on the Auckland citadel. After & miss-hit the right wing had sufficient power to rock the ball in. Town 6, Country 3. Town retaliated, and gained the circle, and E. Watts netted. Town 7, Country

3 ' i The country team were again goal* hunting, and a hot shot at a vacant goal jurt missed. The Town forwards came once again into the picture. The Watts brothers broke through the_ centre, a corner resulting. Town persisted, and Cole, hitting to C. Watts, the latter netted.

Working up the left, Country again gained a footing. The ball came to Gummer on the circle edge, and he shot. Highfield attempted to kick, but missed, and the ball rolfed into the net. Town 8, Country 4. , A fine clearance by Hammond set the Country vanguard in motion, and hot moments in Town'* circle followed until Gardiner cleared. Pl*y moved up and down field, principally through the big hitting by the respective backs, until from a roll-in Country A free hit improved matters, and Gardiner hit to Reid, who ran down the line, but was blocked. E. Watts took up the running, transferred to C. Watts, who went through, but missed the net. Country advanced, but Radcliffe checked and hit to Reid, who centred, bnt Hammond interfered, and piny veered to the other Side. A tap'by Goertz to Candy wee intercepted by Steele. The Rodney _ »orward got away again, but Willi**" scratched the ball away, nnd. Town invaded an empty circle, Anthony scoring. Town 9, Country 4. Spiers cleared, and further play saw the countrymen storm the local citadel, Goertz just missing as he slithered past the Town goalie. The game ended immediately afterwards.

Town ... ® Country Messrs. T. Nicholson and D. C. Eraser refereed.