HOCKEY SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 160, 10 July 1933, Page 15

HOCKEY SHIELD.

CHALLENGE MATCH.

WAIKATO TEAM FAILS.

AUCKLAND RETAINS TROPHY.

Auckland added another victory to their long list of achievements in connection with the New Zealand Challenge Shield in defeating by four goals to two Waikato, at Remuera, on Saturday, under excellent conditions.

After a strenuous struggle on a fast, dry ground, in which the scene of action changed with surprising rapidity, Auckland retained the trophy. • Their ability to accept opportunities from all sorts oi' situations contributed in no small measure to their success. It was a keen struggle, brimful of incident,. and containing many critical situations. Teams: — , . Wiiikato: Smillie, Hinton, Ewan, R. Spiers, L. Spiers, R. Munro,, Powdrill, Lawry, C. J. Spiers, Wood, Finch.

Auckland: Goal, H. Vail: full-backs, H. Williams, T. G. Parker.; halves, N. Broun, S. Robertson, T. Clarke; forwards, D. Reid, D. Anthony, E. Watts, C. Watts, R. Philpott. . -

Waikato were first to move and after line play a nice pass by li. Spiers put Auckland on the defensive. Parker hit upfield, and 15. Watts .overrun the ball at hallway. Waikato returned, and Auckland were forced. Parker and Clark tried to clear., but Waikato persisted, and another twenty-five ensued. An exchange of hits between JRobertson and Ewen brought play to midfield. C. J. Spiers initiated an attack by sweeping the ball to the forwards, and Lawry invaded the circle and Wood, taking the ball on in the air, halthit into the right wing of the goal, and C. Spiers netted. Auckland launched a strong attack, Pbilpott, Walls and Anthony leadiug, but Munro intercepted nicely, and play travelled rapidly to the other end, where a miss-hit by Parker was stopped by Vail, and Auckland gained the circle through the agency of E. Watts, but Smillie brilliantly kicked to half-way. Aiickland pressed again, and Broun covering a Waikato attack, E. Watts made no mistake. < Auckland 1 Waikato 1 Waikato invaded Auckland territory, along the right, where Williams saved. The pace increased and both goals were attacked in. tm-n. Robertson intercepted a cross-hit from Finch and the advantagewas nullified by Evan hitting clear. A clever piece of passing saw Waikato storm' the local citadel. Vail smothered, falling, full length, and Woods almost swept ..the] ball into the net as Vail attempted to rise. | Then came an onslaught on the Waikato goal. Hinton streaked across the circle and found safety in the sideline. -The scene of action changed, Powdrill taking the ball into the circle, and Auckland suffered , a corner. E.' Watts replied l with a great run, but was checked nicely by Hinton. Maintaining the.. attack, Waikato were hard pressed, and after an exciting struggle for-shots Reid found the net. Auckland 2 Waikato ••• 1 . Waikato, knocking the ball about freely, invaded the circle from both sides. Parker eventually cleared. A great run along the left featured the rest-art of the game, but Philpott's centre met with the same fate as many of Auckland's sorties. Smillie booting the ball out of'danger. Waikato x-esponded along their' left, but after all of Spiers' finessing Clark clouted the ball out of danger. Both teams hit hard, work ensued;: First Auckland-were on the defensive, then came their attaCck." An exchange of hits saw Auckland storming the Waikato circle, then came reaction. Spiers bolted, but was interrupted at the expense of a penalty. Robertson set Auckland in motion, and, passing freely, raided the circle. Hard hitting on the left saw Lawry, Spiers and Wood speeding for the circle, where Lawry lost a golden opportunity. A breakaway from halfway, which included excellent stick work on the part of Anthony, Watts and Philpott, saw the latter make a fine shot from an awkward position. Auckland 3 Waikato l Again Auckland, through the efforts of E. Watts, eluded the Waikato defence, and sending across to Anthony the latter almost netted. Waikato rallied, but evidently the pace was telling. After some skirmishing Parker cleared and Robertson sent on to C. Watts, to Philpotts back to E Watts, who dived and pushed the ban into the goal. Excitement ran nigh as the Waikato forwards carved passages through the Auckland rearguard, and Spiers, after a fine run, landed a coal without difficulty. Auckland replied and, rushing upfield, Watts just missed. IVom then until the call of time Waikato held the advantage. Auckland — * Waikato ■* Messrs. E. J. Hewitt and H. E. Watts were the referees. Visitors Entertained. The Waikato hockey representatives were tendered a dinner at Hotel Auckland after the match. Among those present were Mr. B. C. Kent (president) and Mr. Trevor M. Davis (vice : president) of the Auckland Hockey Association, Mr. R. .Bollard, secretary of New Zealand Hockey Referees' Association, who is on a visit from Wellington, Dr. Lawry and a number of Supporters of both teams Apok-gies were received from Messrs HB. Speight, L H Norton and H. B Burnett. A lensthy toast list included, "The Winners SSopXedfcy Mr. T. Ewan), "The Losers" (by Mr. C. Watts), "The Referees" (by Mr Spiers), "The N.Z.H.A." (by Mr L C. KentT, ''The Waikato and Auctod Auckland, but he did not think the tup would materialise this year. However, the Wellington Hockey Association would welcome a match with the Auckland team when on their forthcoming tour.