HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 245, 16 October 1935, Page 18

HOCKEY.

THE CURTAIN FALLS. SUCCESSFUL CLOSING FUNCTION,

The officials of the Auckland Hockey Association certainly set an ambitious programme last Saturday for the closing scenes, and a combination of circumstances provided the most successful afternoon for such an occasion within the memory of all hockeyites. There is a significance attached to a Kent Cup match—it decides the champion of champions honourssufficient to make an auspicious closing day. Upon this occasion, however, with St. Luke's, veterans of many a stirring contest, and Grammar Old Boys, new aspirants for the honour —by the way it was their first season in the senior grade—there was a new stimulus given the contest. A wonderful game it proved, but experience won out and St. Luke's left the field with 5 goals to 4 in their favour.

The Selectors' Cup game between the Auckland reps, and the Rest has for some seasons past resolved into a sort of fill-up contest. It was far from it upon this occasion, for both sets of players, entering the game in the right spirit and displaying rare abandon throughout, delighted the spectators with the finest display witnessed this season in any representative match played in Auckland. The game proved conclusively ■ that Auckland possesses a wealth of players, who should i)e able to maintain the records established. THE FUTURE REPS. The game between Auckland and I he Rest provided the most exhilarating dieplay of the great stick game seen in Auckland this season. It was not marked by the trickery or wizardry that so dominated the All-India team's efforts,

but was brimful of the skilful stickwork, j the beautiful passing runs, and positional play that are the delights of true hockey. The game completely excelled any Shield contest of the season, and the Auckland eleven, although winners, were lucky in not having to face an eleven of its calibre when defending the New Zealand trophy. It would not be amiss to teem the game as a farewell to Watts' eleven and a welcome to Twigden's team. It must be remembered that the Auckland eleven has had a lot of training, and several gamps together, whereas The Rest entered the field for the first time as a team. Although Auckland forced play from the beginning, The Rest, displaying rare abandon, soon carried the scene to their opponents' quarters, and a backing up by the half line—play that has been somewhat foreign—soon had the defence worried and overcome. A merry pace was now reigning. How could it last, was the remark to be heard. It did. Auckland fought back, drew level, and then took the lead. Equally so did The Rest fight back, and up and down field play waged, thrilling the spectators with excitement until the final whistle. A hard and wonderful game, won by Auckland with a score of 5 goals to 3, yet with the most pessimistic hockeyite's' fears quashed, and transferred to the joy that in Auckland are many players who should keep the representative flag flying without much difficulty.

For Auckland, in goal Wattam was in his best mood, and had a testing that tried all his ability. Smith proved the best of the full-backs, although at times Clarke's efforts compensated for other failings. Robertson carried the half-line honours. E. Watts stood out among the forwards, but was ably supported by Roughton. This player, with Chapman on the right wing, worked many nice pieces, and Chapman's positional play was an object lesson to many. I. Ross as inner left did well under the circumstances, but it must be remembered that he filled the position at the last hour. Wellborne was not as dangerous as usual, having a half-back opposed to him who gave few liberties.

Delahunty's advent to rep. hockey was welcomed, and he proved, despite the fact that five goals went in, that he possesses the ability to meet the firstclass attackers. The numbers of attacks he met, both combined and individual, were sufficient to prove his worth. Any idea of a weakness in halves can be dispelled, for Herriott, Long and Lawry provided a trio to set doubts at rest. Long should be heard of for many a season. His work in the centre was of high order. Lawry at. times showed an inclination to go too far upfield, while Herriott dropped back. When such tactics are designed all well and good, but upon this occasion it was a fault—one that can easily bo corrected —making for all the difference between success and failure. Twigden was the best of the forwards, and led not only that line but the team in fine style. The combination displayed by the vanguard surprised everybody. Monteith displayed good position, but over-anxiousness cost him chances. Corin's ' appearance on the left wing confirmed I the opinions formed after his perform-1 anee against the All Country eleven. He could to advantage centre earlier. Cooper I, was always da.ngeroue, and although'

Fen ton did a lot of useful work on the right wing his inclination to bore infield must be checked. It not only hampers the inner forwards, but also causes many good openings to be missed. ST. LUKE'S CHAMPIONS. The match for the Kent Cup proved a fast encounter, and was played in a great sporting, spirit. Although both teams found the ground hard underfoot and the ball was inclined to bump at times, nevertheless there were numerous glimpses of brilliant stickwork and cleverly conceived movements by both sets of forwards. J-he scores are a good indication of the trend of play, and St. Luke's owe their victory to the superiority of their solid half-line. The Grammar halves were sound on defence, but lacked support of the forwards on attack, whilst the full-backs were often caught out of position. Ihe hard ground enabled the flick and push shots to be exploited, and this type of pass was much in evidence. St. Luke s deserve their win, for they have been consistent in their displays right through the season. Grammar are also to be congratulated on their showing in this, their first, season in senior grade hockey, for they are bracketed with St. Luke's for the Davis Cup championship, and were runners-up in the Devonport Shield competition. Fof the winners Wattam played a steady game as custodian, using his judgment in advancing to meet the attack. Ihe fullbacks, King and F. Clark, were sound, their clearing hits having plehty of pace and usually good direction. Robertson at centre was the pick of the half-line, playing a tireless game and varying the line of attack with great judgment. Brodie and T. Clark stemmed numerous flanking movements and owed a lot of success to their positional play. The forwards combined well, but lost several chances by hesitating and dallying with the ball 111 the danger zone. Vipond, centre, catered well for his line, and showed plenty ot thrust when in possession Fenton and Alexander on the right flank combined well, and always proved a thorn in the side of the opposition. Corin and Grace on the left flank were responsible for some pretty movements. although the former was inclined to play back a little too much, whilst the latter wou cl spoil some brilliant dashes by indifterent centring. The Grammar side were without the services of Jones, and Twigden replaced him. whilst Armstrong filled the vacancy in the rearranged forward line. Anderson in goal made several good saves, and suffered one or two hot bombardments. The full-backs did not give such a sound display as they did the previous week against Wesley. Hay was the better ot the two on the day. Iwigden stopped well but he seemed anxious to do too much and was sometimes caught out of position when it would have paid him better to have covered up his partner. The halves proved solid on defence but their positional play, on attack did not allow them to sustain the efforts ot the forwards. Lawry was outstanding and might have done even better had be curbed his tendency to join the forwards in their onslaughts. Herriott also did yeoman service and proved a source ot troublo to the opposing forwards. Roughton was easily the best of the forwards, although it is hard to understand why he persisted in using his left flank for attacking instead of his right, especially in the first half. Jerram on the left wing showed plenty of pace, but his tendency to hang back instead of tackling robbed the side of many opportunities of forcing an issue. I. Ross combined well with Roughton and displayed some fine stickwork. Armstrong, on the right wing, did not get his fair share of the ball, but proved that lie has the makings of a good player, lorbett, although not brilliant, was always in the thick of it and proved an able support on attack.