HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 226, 25 September 1933, Page 13

HOCKEY.

SOMERVILLE DEFEATED.

ST. LUKE'S GREAT WIN,

The annual match for the Kent Cup aroused exceptional interest at Remuera on Saturday, the contesting teams being St. Luke's (challengers), Devonport Shield winners, who, with Somerville (holders), are bracketed winners of the senior championship. The spectators were rewarded with a hard, stubbornly contested and exciting game, won by St. Luke's bv 4 goals to 3. The best team on the dav won.

Since the Kent Cup was introduced in 1023, Somerville have only suffered defeat twice. For eight successive seasons Somerville won the trophy, and tasted their first defeat by North Shore in 1931, but last season regained possession. The teams were:—• Somerville: Vail, Smith, Munro, Hedges. Wilmott. Heard, Glanville, Seccombe, E. Watts, C. Watts, Wellborne. St. Luke's: Williams, Clark, Brodie, Robertson, F. Clark, Burnett, Torbet, Vipond, Corin, Grace.

Robertson set St. Luke's going immediately the game started. Vail returned, and after a free hit to either side St. Luke's got away, and Burnett centred within a few yards of the goal. Torhet connected, enabling Vipond to swing the ball into the net from close range. St. Luke's 1, Somerville 0. Renewing the attack, Somerville suffered a corner. They managed to get away, Glanville improving matters. T. Clark returned, and then an exchange of hits between Smith and T. Clark saw play back in Somerville territory. Vail hit the ball out of the circle and Hedges effected a clearance. A free hit saw Glanville reach the circle, but his centre was intercepted by Williams, and St. Luke's advanced along tlie left. Vipond sent Torbet away, but he got mixed -up with Hedges and suffered a penalty. However, St. Luke's persisted. Grace was blocked from centring, but a penalty eventuated. Burnett dallied too long over a shot, and -was robbed of the ball. Another saw Torhet lunge forward and shoot, but Vail was in the way. Wilmott intercepted a pass meant for Vipond, and Somerville launched several attacks on the St. Luke's citadel. Glanville's centre was deflected by Williams, but the attack drifted back, and a corner resulted. A pass from Heard saw E. Watts gain tlie circle, but St. Luke's escaped with a free hit. The scene of action shifted (tuiekly, and. Torbet cross-hitting, Corin and Grace attempted to profit. However, another hit from the same direction enabled Vipond to scrape the ball into the goal. St. Luke's 2, Somerville 0.

Advancing immediately, Somerville stormed the circle and C. Watts, making an opening, a desperate scramble in front of the goal ended in Glanville scoring. St. Luke's 2, Somerville 1.

St. Luke's moved slowly towards the Somerville goal, and the hitter's backs took time to clear, a couple of free hits coming in handy. Flay drifted for a while, then E. TYatts made progress, but Williams countered to see Glanville centre to a goocf position and 13. Watts miss-hit outside the post. A few minutes' later, during hot work on the edge of the circle, Williams was injured and retired. Maintaining the pressure, Somerville strenuously attacked, and from close work Wilmott poked the ball into the net. Somerville 2, St. Luke's

After some even exchanges E. Watts broke away, and, Wattam missing, chased the ball into the net. Somerville 3, St. Luke's 2. Another loose attack was interrupted by Williams, who had just returned after receiving medical attention. Somerville persisted for a while, then came a reaction, Vipond getting the ball and cross-hitting beautifully from the side line at Somerville's twenty-five. Corin intercepted, to be blocked, but Grace intervened and made no mistake. It was an excellent movement. St. Luke's 3, Somerville 3.

St. Luke's continued to force the pace and twice the Somerville goal was in danger. Somerville cleared and three times in succession Williams returned the St. Luke's hits, but E. Watts broke away from a roll-in. His reverse centre went astray, and St. Luke's were again goalhunting. Vail saving at the expense of a corner, the ball glanced off his foot over the net. Somerville took a turn on the attack, but the St. Luke's defence held and play shifted to Somerville territory. Wilmott and Hedges repelled the attack and E. Watts initiated a movement which troubled the St. Luke's defence. Seccombe \ failed to connect and F. Clark hit upfield to put the other goal in danger. Play

surced round the Somerville citadel and, following a free hit, Corin did the trick with a sudden shot. St. Luke's 4 Somerville 3 Messrs. E. J. Hewitt and A. Kivers refereed. Kent £up Record. —1923, Somerville; 1924, Somerville; 1925, Somerville; 192G, Somerville ; 1927, Somerville ; 1925, Somerville ; 1929, Somerville; 1930, Somerville; 1931, North Shore; 1932, Somerville; 1933, St. Luke's.