HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 163, 13 July 1931, Page 14

HOCKEY.

DAVIS CUP FINAL.

SHORE THE CHAMPIONS.

ST. LUKE'S IN SECOND PLACE

The Davis Cup competition wound up on Saturday, although the trophy was not at stake, North Shore having already clearly established their claim. Nevertheless, quite a lot of interest was centred in the contest between North Shore and •Somerville. It will be remembered tha. Somei'ville was the only team to interrupt the sequence of successes of the new champions, and it was only after a very haul fought struggle that North Shore had the satisfaction of turning the # tables on Somerville, scoring the _ winning goal twelve minutes before time was called. The game was considerably hampered, and many movements spoilt by the sodden state of the turf; in fact it was almost impossible to play skilful hockey. est. Luke's scored an easy victory over Wesley, winning by five goals to nil, although Wesley performed 'better in tlie second. SP At Remuera, University defeated Mount Eden by one goal to ml in the most wretched game of the season. The following table shows the position of the teams at the conclusion of the Davis Cup competition: Qoals Ch P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. North Shore . 10 9 1 — 37 15 IS St. Luke's .. 10 bo 1 -6 IS lo Mount Eden . 10 4 - 4 -0 11 11 Somerville •.. 10 o 4 o lo 11 o University •. 10 2 0 2 lo 36 b Wesley 10 — 7 o o -o o

NORTH SHORE V. SOMERVILLE

The game opened at a brisk pace. After both sides bad taken a turn in attacking Reid broke through, only to see Smith fand the line. Line play enabled bomeiville to make progress. Wilson sent to Monteith, and with Anthony invaded the circle, where Shore made desperate attempts to score. Somerville cleared, only to find Parker in the wav, and be sent to Anthony, who broke through, and Monteith centred. Haggett turned the ball outside. It was a good effort. Watts and McNab made a good run, but Parker returned, Somerville suffered a long corner. Anthony missed a good opportunity. Play travelled to the other end, and the Shore goal was stormed. Hard bitting enabled Shore to reach the other circle, and both Penman and Anthony had chances. Play drifted back to halfway, and McNab broke away. Rankin smothered his effort, but Heard recentred, and Watts scored. Somerville 1, North Shore 0. The scene of action changed ends quickly. Somerville's attack was countered. Storry got the ball to Anthony, whose pass to Monteith was blocked, and he managed to carry on and cross-hit Haggett, speeding the ball into the net. North Shore 1, Somerville 1. A false bully marked the start of the second spell, then Shore advanced, but were summarily repulsed by Cole. An exchange of hits between Gardner and Allen ] saw Ilagget away, but Rankin stopped. The ! ball was sent back and Smith saved almost a certain goal. Two dashing Somerville sorties produced a couple of twenty-five bullies, then Shore attacked strongly, a dash by Penman being stopped in the nick of time. Cole cleared anct Hard hitting forced Shore, but afterwards they raided the Somerville circle, Penman being unable to manoeuvre into position iu a one-man circle. Play was transferred to the other end, where the whole of the Somerville line struggled for a shot. A big hit sent the ball to the other circle, where Haggett badly upset a piece of work between Smith and Gardner, but the Somerville goat escaped. Both teams indulged in a lot of tremendous hitting, and at times players did not seem to care about facing it. Still, it seemed the only method of initiating attack on the treacherous going. From a lofty hit Shore launched a strong movement, but Cole saved, and after being subjected to more pressure, obtained relief in a free hit. Heard had a shot, but it was turned, then Seccombe connected and he was also unfortunate. Within twelve minutes of time Shore, by hard plugging, forced an opening in Somerville's solid defence and Haggett dived into the cage. North Shore i 2 Somerville 1 Messrs. G. E. Waddingham and A. Tlayle refereed.

ST. LUKE'S V. WESLEY.

Wesley defended the southern goal and although they were first to advance, T. Clark replied and the forwards carried the ball across the line. After Wesley had visited the other end. St. Luke's took up the running from Clark and Williams' clearance, and Wesley were cornered. Another attack initiated from the middle division saw Stuart judiciously centre and Brown steered the ball into the circle and scored. St. Luke's 1, Wesley 0.

A little later more open play on the left enabled Corin to find the net with a long straight shot. St. Luke's 2, AVeslcy 0. Wesley then took a turn on the attack, but T. Clark intercepted Surman's pass and play drifted to the other twenty-five. Robertson set St. Luke's in motion, but Ahlen cleared. A couple of centres by Stuart looked promising until a free hit gave Wesley some freedom. Further work saw a cross-hit badly missed, but Stuart made a good recovery and after a couple of fruitless hits Grace scored. St. Luke's 3. Wesley 0.

St. Luke's were first away when the game restarted, but Wesley replied, and when within an ace or scoring were penalised. Renewing the attacK F. Clark found the sideline, but it was not long before the St. Luke's defence was subjected to further attacks, but the shooting was weak. St. Luke's retaliated, and working upfield invaded the circle, and a cross-hit from Stuart seemed likely to go astray, but Corin stopped, and without interference scored from short range. St. Luke's 4, Wesley 0. Another sortie saw Brown shoot without success, but the succeeding work cornered the greens. Fleet cleared, and Robertson obtaining the ball at halfway ran through the defence into the net, but the - ball went outside. Ensuing play from a corner enabled Grace to centre, and, following in, he tapped the ball into the cage. St. Luke's 5 Wesley 0 UNIVERSITY V. MOUNT EDEN. A cross-hit by Bestic gave Lamb an opening, but Jones checked, hitting to Chaplin, who sent the forwards away on the right. Horspool returned to Wellbourne, who shot, Crawley making a fine save. The Edenites forced the attack for some time till Bestic, with a run down the left, shifted play to the Eden quarters. Good work by Bay was stopped in the circle by Darroch, a twenty-five bully resulting. The studemts gained a couple of corners, but Mainland cleared and Eden advanced. Brown turned the invaders back, and Broun was obstructed. From the free hit Radcliffe ] secured and netted. 'Varsity 1, Mount Eden 0. Upon resuming, Bestic led a students' attack. A hard centre was intercepted by Darroch and play returned to midfield. A central Eden attack looked dangerous till Crawley came out and kicked clear. Another raid by Bestic and Bay produced a corner. Chaplin stopped Radcliffe's shot and play returned to the centre. Eden gained a corner from the resultant play and Chambers cleared. Bay made a fine solo run and from close .play the students gained several corners. Eden were relieved with a free hit, and M. Jones securing, gained the circle, but hung on too long. Up and down field play waged for some time till Bay got away. His shot was well stopped by Oliver at the expense of a corner. Again Eden got out of the trouble. The last quarter was marked by wretched play, during which Mainland was warned. Time was called. University * Mount Eden u Messrs. H. Watts and •E. J. Hewitt refereed.