HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1938, Page 16

HOCKEY.

ST. LUKE'S LEAD. CLOSE SCORING. THE INDIAN VISIT. NOMINATIONS FOR N.Z. TRIALS By their victory over University St. Luke's is the only undefeated team in the senior hockey competition. The results of the games were as follows: — St. Luke's 2, University 1. United 2, Grammar 1. bouiervilie 3, -Mount J?.den 1. Competition table: — Goals. Cli. P. W. L. D. H. A. Pts. at. Luke's 3 3 14 4 a draniuiur 3 - 1 — lo S 4 United 3 'J. 1 — 7 7 -4 University 3 1 2 — 14 U 'J. bouiervilie 3 1 '2. — S U li -Mount iiUeu .... 3 — 3 —- o IS — With the approaching arrival of the Indian team, me .Now Zealand selectors are getting busy Willi the joo ol selecting the players to represent me JJonmnon in the nrst ot the tniee rest matcnes to be played at Christcnurch on July 23. llie hist trial game is to be prayed at Hamilton on dune 4 wneii tiie Auckland and South Auckland nominees will be seen m action. Xnere is every likelihood of another trial match being staged at Xapier on June 0 between I'overty Bay and Hawke's Bay, and turther trials will be held in the southern centres at varying intervals. Auckland's Nominees. For the Hamilton match Auckland's list comprises M. Wattam, H. Jones, F. Clark, C. Stewart, S. Kobertson, L. Watson, W. Armstrong, R. Roughton and L. Monteith, all players who have already gained representative honours, and four of them were included in the New Zealand team in Australia last year. The selectors' task will not be an easyone, as there is likely to be a long list of nominations. With 17 matches to be played before the first Test'they will have time, however, to study not only the form of the nominated players but also the style of play adopted by the visitors. The Auckland selector, Mr. E. Watts, will no doubt be announcing his choice of players to go into training at an early date, for although the Auckland-Indian game is not 6et down for decision until August 13, there is the question of defending the New Zealand Challenge Shield. From southern reports there is a possibility of a heavy shield programme, and the importance of physical training and team talks on tactics cannot be overstressed. Club Games Criticised. A surprising feature of the club games on Saturday was the inability of the bucks to make their clearing hits cleanly and crisply. It seems apparent that with the introduction of so much flick and push passing into the game, players, especially defenders, have degenerated in the art of solid hitting with precision of direction. The clean, crisp hit still has its usefulness In back play. Another feature of the play was the fact that three "penalty bullies" were, awarded—two in the one match — and a fourth might easily have been given. This number is unusunl in the one day. In each case the goalkeeper was the offender. There was a tendency for the goalkeepers in the two main matches to come too far out to meet the attack, a contributing factor being the positional play of the fullbacks. On several occasions this led to dangerous situations, especially for Sale (Grammar) and Henderson ('Varsity), when they allowed themselves to be drawn well out of position with little hope of recovery. Sale's lapse cost his side the deciding goal. Co-operation. One of the highlights of the play was the repeated co-operation hetween the forwards and halves. Back passing was greatly in evidence and as this manoeuvre requires a perfect understanding between the players concerned, it was pleasing to see it carried out so successfully. United and St. Luke's both adopted these tactics to advantage when hard pressed in midtield play. Flashes of combined play were at times seen in all forward lines, but there is room for great improvement. Another phase, of the game worthy of attention at present is the taking of corners and penalty corners. Considering the number awarded, the successful conversions were negligible. ST. LUKE'S DEFENCE. 1 P. Clark was the mainstay of the St. Luke's defence and his exposition of <ffslde tactics frequently had the students' vanguard nonplussed. Repeatedly he would quickly change his position in order to put the opposition in an off-side position, and with his speed on recovery he could afford to play well up on the half-way mark. Robertson, at centre-half, was also solid on defence, hut the excessive use of his body when tackling detracted from*his play. Vipond was outstanding in the forwards and had the able support of Carroll and Corin. all three mixing combined movements with individual breakaways. The two newcomers to the University side—Fulton and Walton—proved a decided acquisition to the students' attack, both playing dashing games.' Welton was unlucky with several of his shots as they either hit or just missed the posts. UNITED'S ATTACK. I A one' team club has its disadvantages. The newly formed United Club has no junior teams, consequently the personnel has to be changed weekly ia order that the reserves may be given a game. Taking these circumstances into consideration it was surprising to see the forward line give such a good exhibition. The whole line worked well with Torbett on the right wing excelling himself. Cooper proved an opportnnist and was rewarded by scoring his side's two goals. The half-line played too deep and failed to sustain the attack, and Jones and Bowden were solid on the defence. SOMERVILLE'S FIRST WIN. The twio pointless teams, Somerville and Mount Enen, indulged in an even encounter marked mainly by the erratic goal shooting abilities of each team. It was left to Wyatt, Somerville's inside left, to place the team with championship points, and these he gathered from two penalty corners and a penalty bully. Herrioit collected Mount Eden's score from close play following a penalty corner, hut he threw i away the easiest of chances in not scoring from a penalty bully. It is most unusual to see two penalty bullys given, but the decision in each case was good. Somerville displayed the best combination, but Watts. Parker and Wvatt cannot hope for success until sharp, crisp passing is indulged in. The flick and push strokes were overdone and slowed up play. Nicholson, right wing, opened splendid attacks. I Stewart repeatedly piaced his team on the attack, and also frustrated Mount Eden's onslaughts. He has justly earned nomination for the New Zealand Test trial. J. Horspool, Clarke and Herriott were Mount Eden's outstanding forwards, hut lack of support from the half-line nullified their efforts. LOWER GRADES SECOND. Y.M.C.A. 3, beat Somerville 1. Training College 5, beat Grammar 3. University A 5, beat Albertians 2. St. Luke's 3, beat Papatoetoe 1. Wesley 2, beat Waiteniata 1. University B 8, beat Air Base 0. St. George's 6, beat Mount Eden 3. THIRD. Train 'nsr College by default. o Auckland Grammar 12, beat Grammar villeT* Albm Granun « *. beat SomerFOCRTH. Wesley 5, beat Somerville B 0 Somerville A 8. beat Mount Albert 0 Lukes 4, beat Auckland Grammar Mount Eden 4, beat University 3 Papatoetoe beat Auckland Grammar B bv default. * :