HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 140, 16 June 1930, Page 12

HOCKEY.

FIRST ROUND COMPLETED. UNIVERSITY IN LEAD. The first round of the senior competition came to an end Inst Saturday afternoon in excellent weather, although spectators found it father bleak watching the progress of the games. Although University required a victory to obtain the position at the iiead of affairs it caused little anxiety, and they had no.difficulty with Wesley, winning by six goals to nil. Most interest was evinced in the encounter between Mount Eden and North Shore, not only on account of the evenness of the two teams, but through existing rivalry and stylo of hockey. 'It proved to be a hard-fought game, with very little quarter on either side, and it was not until the second spell that Mount Eden were able to show any signs of superiority. Tile following table fihows the position of the teams: —

MOUNT EDEN'S PERSISTENCE.

••North Shore were beaten by Mount Eden in a strenuous game of hockey in which the pluy was more ragged than scientific. Though hard fought, the game was seldom turbulent, the referees kept a strong grip on it, nevertheless at least a couple of players on the Mount Eden side were warned for tactics not quite in keeping with the traditions of hockey. In a contest: of such a mil lire, with play grim and unyielding; there was little time to develop Ihe finer points of hockey, and for tin; greater part of the struggle the defence on both sides were equal to the irregular onslaughts . (linrst: thereon, but, towards the end of the game the Mount Eden forwards supported by active backs, attacked vigorously, and fully confirmed their one goal victory. Although the Mount Eden goal underwent several sieges, It was not subjected lo the attacks launched upon the Shore citadel. At times play lingered for quite long periods in the territory of the ti-nnshai'bour team, and it was only by desperate work that the situation was relieved. Hard hilling figured prominently in the defence of both teams, still it can be safely staled that-,the hitting of the Mount: Eden backs was more effective than that of their opponents. The Mount Eden at- ' lacks Wire launched in all directions, the centre and holh wings receiving their full ! share ol ! (lie ball. . North Shore on the other li.'ind had a tendency to neglect, the lert wing, and in that direction may have met. with more success. Frequently on the right .Hie attacks broke .down through over- j running the ball, but a feature of -the Shore attacks was the, hick Of cohesion.' Certainly their Individual efforts made rapid progress, but it; was seldom sufficient to ! completely upset (he defence, of Mount Kden. Willi attacks frequently bottled up in their Inception and the ground inclined lo bump, skilful piny was not onlv hampered, but extremely difficult to ac- c compllsh, and (here was little hope of carving a 'passage through either defence. Mount Eden's goalie, Vuile, de'iilt sum- *- marily ,wilh the two most promising attempts of the Shore"forwards' to score. > At full-back Anderson was a tower of strength. ' He .whs more t reposeful .than usual,-mid .did. not hit.so wildly. 1,1: was in the half line that Mount. Eden held an advantage over 1 heir opponents-, nnd with Chaplin outstanding, the trio including Hedges and Jenkins, ' sorely' troubled the opposition. A great portion of. the honours of the forward line go lo Fletcher, who frequenty led Mount Eden attack. ' Ash was also dangerous on the run. Wellbourne shaped well on Ihe left, although his ■centres were 100 .square.', On tjie North Shore side Rankin played a better game than on Hie previous .Saturday, and (wo quick saves showed him at bis* best. For a good portion of the game Allen and Parker stood up to Hie vigorous attacking of Mount Kden in good style, but when the halves started to give way were not seen to the same advantage. There was no heller grafter in the middle division than Hnggelt, and he figured prominently , in the defence throughout, while on two occasions be look the ball from mid-field into the Mount Eden circle. With very little attempt to combine Shore attacks were the outcojme of individual bursts. Individually they worked well up to a certain point, but on the whole their methods were not conducive lo scoring. Monteith frequently got away, but had a tendency to overrun the ball. Anthony, apart from hard work, was nor. allowed to shine. Reid was starved to some extent, hut instead Of utilising the Hank, worked inwards and met with very strong oppostion.

STUDENTS' GOAL CROP,

At: Hie expense of Wesley Hie students continued their unbeaten career, and piled up the big score ot six goals, and kept their own net intact. The game contained some very' bright passages, especially iu the second half, when both sets of contestants had a better measure of the playing area. In Hie, ifrst half the hitting was too hard and straight, and repeatedly it was just a case of an exchange of hits by the respective backs. Well "'directed

angle hitting was more prominent in the second spell, and some good work by the forwards (especially the students) resulted. Although only three players were concerned in it, one of the best pieces of work was when RadclifCe, beating several opponents, placed the ball to Scelen. The inner right wilh a timely pass sent on to Hay. The winger drew the defence nicely, and returning to Seelen he shot the best goal of the match when the fiftti score was registered. The students had better control of (lie ball than their rivals, who were inclined to be impetuous l . Several line chances were lost in,the second spell, and no more striking example requires mentioning than when Burton completed a good run and lifted Hie ball over the net. Crawley, the students' goalie, proved equal to all demands. Kadcliffe and Brown were very safe as full-hacks. Wilmot. centre-half, played too far back, and for; most of the game neglected the left wing forward. He also allowed ,the opposing centre-fprward too much latitude, and work *lie should have tackled, fell on the efullbacks. Noakes was again sound. Seelen proved best of the vanguard, and combined nicely -with Hay on the wing. Con was inclined to go too far on his own, but he retrieved a lot by smart following in when scoring l the fourth goal. Bestie made the. most of the opportunities that came his way. ,

Donovan's, performance in Wesley's goal was decidedly better than the score indi-

cates, and but for his efforts the tally would have been larger. Several times he was,crowded and had no chance of seeing 'the ball. There was little to chooose between Fleet and Michel, but both made the same mistake of hitting too straight upfield. The half line was moderate. Chappell being the best. Burton was always "conspicuous forward, and appreciated the freedom given him. Williamson put in some fine work, but the others failed to accept many: of the 1 openings made.

SOMERVILLE BEATS WHIPPETS,

The feature of the encounter between Somerville and Whippets was the superi-. ority of last year's champions in the second spell, which enabled them to emerge victorious by five goals to nil. Somervllle did not appear to bo able to get going in the first half, but after the change over knocked Hie ball about more freely, with the result that combination was' better and the Whippets' de'fence sorely tried. The AVhippet' forwards were responsible for several attacks, chiefly in the first spell, but on approaching the goal there was a tendency to hit too hard, and in consequence the ball crossed the goal line. On the day Smith appeared the safer of the two Somervillo full backs. Gardner's tricky work suffered through ground irregularities. At half back Hunter was .very active. Glanville got the ball away nicely at times, but was inclined to wander. C. Watts gave glimpses of his old form during the second spell, and made no mistake in scoring from a centre by Seccombe. The Somervllle inner right played a bustling game throughout. Preston did good work in the open, and steered a long shot into the net. Schneidoman made some dashing runs into the enemy's territory. On the Whippets' side Leonard was the more consistent of the two full hacks, although indulging in a lot of one-handed play in the second spell. Gurney was seen to' most advantage in the first half, Brown, at'centre half, worked hard in stemming the .Soinorville attacks. Brown and Lamb were about the best, of the forwards. On the whole the work of the quintet was indecisive?

Goals Oh. I'. W. h. J). Far. As. 1'tfs. University .. 0 4 0 2 17 (i 10 SI:. Lukes . . (i 2 0 4 .17 7 8 Komerville . . (i ;! 1 2 14 i) 8 Mount; JOilen . . (i :j 12 12 4 8 North Shore ..'0222 Hi 10 <> Wesley .. (> i rr o ;; 21. 2 Whippets .. t.i 0 (i 0 4 2(i 0