HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 134, 9 June 1930, Page 16

HOCKEY.

STILL UNBEATEN. ST. LITRE'S AND UNIVERSITY. SHORE AND MOUNT EDEN SCORE HEAVILY. The result of the sixth series of matches made no change whatever in the position of the teams in the senior competition, therefore University and St. Luke's still share the leadership with eight points apiece, while Somerville, North Shore and Mount Eden fpllow with six points each. St. Luke's have played one more match than the other teams, so there is a possibility of some alteration being effected. Saturday's games were played in dull weather, and in the tricky turf clever hockey was difficult to accomplish. Added interest was evinced in the games on account of the two leading teams, St. Luke's and University, meeting, and after a strenuous and exciting struggle the match was drawn, each side scoring two goals. Out of six matches played St. Luke's have figured in four drawn games. On the run of play St. Luke's were more often on the attack, but they showed a weakness in front of goal. North Shore demonstrated their ability in defeating Wesley by five goals to nothing in a game which developed into a lopsided affair for a while. Mount Eden were also in a goal-scoring humour, beating University whippets by half a dozen goals. SHORE'S EASY WIN. Although North Shore gained an early lead in their game with Wesley it was not until the second spell that Wesley showed any signs of collapsing, and then to their credit made an effort and finished up with some sort of showing against the relentless attack of the North Shore forwards. Although the game contained some clever stick work it was not a good exhibition of hockey. Comhination was conspicuous by its absence and there seemed very little cohesion in the play of either forward line. North Shore did attempt to indulge in some sort of movements at the start of the second spell, but after notching a couple of goals attacking was conducted by individual efforts. Wesley put up a fairly good fight In the first spell, although &they had little hope of winning the game, and on more than one occasion went very close to scoring, in fact Rankin had difficulty in getitng out of trouble at times. They rearranged the middle division at half-time, but after North Shore, or really Monteith, had rattled on a couple of goals in quick succession, went back to the original positions. The North iShore forward line is almost composed of individualists and if they could only be persuaded to combine would be a more effective force. 'Monteith who was transferred from ithe wing to inner-right showed his appreciation by notching four out of the Ave goals. Anthony got in a lot of useful work with the stick. Reid made some good openings on the left, but clearly indicated that he was after goals. ' When the game was safe on the Wesley side Michel did the hulk of the defending in the full-'back line. At half-back Chappell met with most success, while in the forward line Burton worked well in the open. Roberts got in some nice centres from the left and A. Chappell made progress.

ST. LUKE'S RECOVERY. A keen and interesting game of hockey with the leadership at stake resulted in a drawn game in which University and St. Luke's- were the corrtestants. It was a contest in which the fortunes of the teams changed considerably, although the result was not in doubt until towards the end when St. Luke's managed to even the scores. At the start of the game it seemed as if an easy victory was at hand for the partners in last year's championship, as they freely attacked in the opening stages of the game, tout through poor shooting, the inability to accept t opportunities and last but by no means least," the last line of defence opposed to them, they were unable to score. University, on the other hand, did not make so many excursions, yet they were successful in seizing a couple of opportunities and led at half-time toy two goals to nothing. It can be said that as an attacking force St. Luke's showed more cohesion and their onslaughts were anore sustained than the advances of the students, chiefly on account of the support from the middle division. The 'Varsity trio initiated many of the attacks conducted toy the front line, tout did not furnish the necessary support, being content to act mostly on the defensive and in that met with ho small measure of success. In the second spell the students' forwards almost slipped through the St. Luke's barrier on several' occasions, still they failed to increase the score. The greatest opportunity was lost in a penalty 'bully close to the St. Luke's goal. How Don, the University centre-forward, was beaten by Hanna? is 'hard to realise. Yet the St. Luke's goalie extricated himself from a well nigh hopeless position like a tradesman, and it was some redemption for a previous blunder. When the second spell started St. Luke's did not appear to have much chance of recovery, and it was only through consistently attacking that they managed to break through the students' defence in order to make the game drawn. Through snapping up the opportunities University were fairly entitled to the lead, and no one could have found any fault had they won the game, still there is no question that St. Luke's claimed their full share of the attack, especially during a period of the second spell. Although overcoming the halves to a certain extent they were only able to gain" further ground witti much difficulty, owing to the strong opposition remaining. After the scores were even the game grew more exciting, the scene of operations shifted with amazing swiftness, and tooth teams were within an ace of scoring, the last stroke of the day toeing a shot over, the top of the University net. The students' goalie, Crawley, played with more confidence than his rivai, and besides accounting for some awkward situations accepted a terrific shot from Burnett beautifully. Brown- played safely at full-back and hit judiciously. In the half-line Wilmott, as a substitute for Radcliffe, created a good impression and has a good style which on the whole proved effective. Storry featured some clean-hitting in a good allround game, although inclined to find the sideline. Noakes is a greatly improved player and-did really well until he injured his knee. The forwards seldom worked up any great amount of combination ; probably the ground was against it. Both wingers, Bestic and Hay, made progress along the wings and the latter centred well. Bestic had more chances, but appears to lack the use of the reverse stroke. The inner forwards were not so conspicuous, although Don initiated several attacks in good style. Amongst the St.. Luke's backs F. Clark had a trying time in the first spell and came through the - ordeal -with credit. H. Williams hit well both with reverse and free strokes, although speculating nearly caused trouble on a couple of occasions. Robertson .showed out in .the half-line both in attack and defence. • Burnett was the pick of the forwards and served up an exceptionally fast shot which deserved a better fate. Giles worked well in the open, and Don, a brother of the University centreforward who went on at half-time, proved a ; valuable substitute*