HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 183, 4 August 1936, Page 14

HOCKEY.

AUCKLAND RETAINS SHIELD. NEW RECORD CREATED. WAIKATO'S DETERMINED EFFORT. Auckland has beaten. Wellington's record of withstanding thirteen consecutive challenges for the Xew Zealand Challenge Shield. In beating Waikato on Saturday by 4 goals to 2, Auckland has staved off fourteen consecutive challenges, and thus set a new record. Saturday's match was played on a rather sticky ground, .which cut up quickly, and caused the ball to bump disconcertingly. Although the Auckland team has been seen to better advantage in several past encounters, nevertheless their combination' and better understanding amongst the forwards were the telling features which gave them success. Waikato, on the other hand, lacked that cohesion between backs and forwards which means so much, and the vanguard seldom worked p? a line, being too prone to individual efforts. This fault cost them dearly on Several occasions when they had worked haird to gain their opponents' quarter, pnly to be repulsed by the defence. The difference in the styles of game played was evident from the start, the visitors' type of game being more suitable to the ground conditions than that of the defenders. Auckland, playing the short game, were frequently upset owing to the players over-running the ball, whilst Waikato opened up the game with some robust hitting, but failed to add the finishing touches. Comment On Players. For the winners, Wattam. in goal managed to ably cope with all that came his way. Up until his retirement, F. Clark was playing a sound defensive game, interspersed with some spectacular stickwork. Halliwell, who replaced him, and Jones, his partner, formed a solid bairier for most of the attacks, and cleared with good direction. Robertson claims the halflino honours, being tireless in his efforts and changing his line of attack nicely throughout. Dowling worked hard, but was inclined to take the ball too far upfield before passing, and then found, himself out of position, and unable to sustain the attack. Watson was weak positionally, and lacked direction when feeding his forwards.

The forwards gave glimpses of their usual concerted movements, and showed superiority in stickwork, but spoilt several likely chances through crowding in the circle. Fenton, right wing, justified his inclusion, showing strong penetration and drawing his man well before sending across some nice centres. L. Monteith snapped up some nice opportunities, and was responsible for scoring two of the goals. Houghton centred well for his line, and' with Lawry showed the spectators some clever stickwqrk and bail control. F. Wellbourne on the left wing put in some clever runs, but at times was inclined to hang on too long before centring.

W. Smillie, the Waikato custodian, made several clever eaves, using his feet to advantage, but allowed himself to be drawn too much. L. Spiers wns easily the safer of the two full-backs, his coolness extricating his side from some tight corners. D. Ponntney, his partner, was sound, if not brilliant.

The halves were the weak link in the team, and this was accentuated by T. Ewan, the centre who persisted in taking the ball up with the forwards, thus throwing his flanks out of position and upsetting the understanding of his forwards.. Morgan, on the right flank, proved troublesome to Wellbourne, and was responsible for breaking up many of the attacks.

The forwards lacked cohesion, and played with . little understanding of one another, most of their attacks being of an individual nature. P. Forster, on the right flank, made some nice runs in the first half, but did not get many chances in the second. C. Spiers was always on the job, getting through some useful work, but Was inclined to play too far back on his halves. A. Powdrill at centre played n forceful game throughout, and many of his efforts inight have had a better Fate had he passed the ball more judiciously when in the Auckland quarter. G. Boyd and J. Davies on the left flank were able to cope with all that came their way, although they were not overworked, as most of the attacks were made from the opposite side. Auckland's next representative fixture will be against Canterbury, on August 29.