HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 203, 28 August 1934, Page 13

HOCKEY.

TAHANAKI INVASION,

DOUBLE DEVONPORT SHIELD PROGRAMME.

There were several features in connection with last Saturday's hockey, and not; the least interesting was the first visit o£ a ladies' team from Taranaki, which I proved too good for the Auckland ladies'; representatives, winning by five goals to four. ; . The was arranged in conjunction with the Taranaki .junior representatives, I who again caine North iin quest of the Junior Challenge Cup. The trophy has been in Auckland for ten years. It was captured from Canterbury in 1924, ■ and. Auckland has staved off all challengers, although they had a narrow escape in 1925, | when the previous holders drew • with j Auckland. j

Players' Enterprise. ' In 1923 the Auckland Hockey Association sent a team to Christchurch to play for the shield, and the game was drawn, each aide scoring four goals. Next year the local governing body decided to wait until the following year. However, a few young hockey enthusiasts thought that they would like to have another try immediately, so, headed by P. Anthony, J. Penman and \V. Hayson, the required number of players sufficiently financial approached the association and permission was granted. The match was played at Christchurch, and when Auckland gained the lead two of the forwards dropped back into the half-line, and with five half-backs Canterbury were prevented from scoring again, and that is how the trophy carte to Auckland. It may ,be stated that the three players mentioned later all gained representative honours, while P. Anthony went with the New Zealand team to Australia and scored in- every match that he played, with the exception of the Test.

Activity at Remuera. While the Auckland ladies' team was being defeated by Taranaki and the local juniors hanging on to the junior cup, great activity was in progress in connection with the Devonport Shield games. '

Owing to the weather, shield games and country matches the number of playing days are getting scarce, so the executive put on two rounds of the Devonport shield competition.

Of course,, it was wet again, and the ground which was sodden enough before play commenced was further waterlogged after the heavy storm, rendering scientific hockey well-nigh impossible. Still, it is only fair to state that at times there was good work in both the representative and also in senior contests. Yet operations were greatly hampered and hard driving was necessary and often effective.