DRAWN GAME LEAVES HOCKEY LEADERS LEVEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 190, 14 August 1939, Page 14

DRAWN GAME LEAVES HOCKEY LEADERS LEVEL.

United and St. Luke's still share the leading position in the Devonport Shield contest. Their match on Saturday resulted in a draw, two goals apiece. University and Grammar Old Boys improved their position with wins over Mount Eden and Training College respectively, while the Somerville-Albertian match was postponed as Somerville travelled north to play Rodney. Details of the scores were:— University 7, beat Mount Eden 3. (irammar 2, beat Training College 1. United 2, drew with St. Luke's 2. DOUR STRUGGLE. As was to he expected, with each side keen to take the lead in the competition, the United St. I.tike's match developed into a hard-fought battle for supremacy. Unfortunately the scientific side of the gam" was superseded by vigorous tackling and robust hitting, and it was just a nisittor 01 which side could make the most of the opportunities offering. Torbctt scored both of linited's coals, one from a penalty bully, while Carroll and ltoberison were the St. Luke's scorers.

There was a lack of understanding among tlie Coifed forwards. Consequently most of their onslaughts were more or of an individual nature, and usually failed through lack of support. in comparison the St. Luke's vanguard frequently moved down the field in formation, and it was only the stubborn resistance of the opposing defence that broke up their attacks. With its full-backs playing well upfield. the St. Luke's half line was able to support its forwards in an cnd-a Your to sustain the attack, but loss of position through over-eagerness enabled the opposition to find the gaps for their clearances. The Cnited hacks, on the other hand, were playing a purely defensive game, tackling with determination, and relying on hard hitting to their forwards to enable them to initiate counter-attacks. I'liited players worthy of mention were I'.invden, Millar. Torliett and Hedges, while Carroll. Corin. Brodie and King were conspicuous on the St. I.tike's side. 'VARSITY TOO GOOD. Although several changes wore made in the I Diversify eleven the game h;id not been in progress very long when it was clearly evident that the team would prove too strong for Mount Ivden. University owe their success mainly to the forwards, who possessed bettor ball control and were more dashing and penetrating on tbe attack than their rivals. Moir gave a very sound display of fullback play for 'Varsity. The half trio were sound rather than brilliant. Cooper was best of tbe forwards, while Devereau proved very dangerous once inside the opposing twenty-live line. As full-back for Mount Kden Ilorspool proved sound. Sell was seen to greater advantage in the half line and more should have been done w'ith (be openings lie made. Howe and Logan were best of tbe vanguard, although at times iMirnan led some good advances. ODD GOAL WIN. After winning this season's championship. the form of the Oramniar Old Boys' ("•am in the subsidiary competition has been somewhat disappointing. Again they demonstrated that the heavy going was nor to their liking, and had to light hard ti get the verdict over Training College liy the Odd goal in three.

Most of the Training College attacks were engineered from the left flank. Hotting proving a penetrative a nil elusive wing, mill being nhly supported by the hardworking It.valls. Itut even when the attack reached lli<» danger zone it was tlio lack <>f support from the halves that brought failure. They were playing far too deep anil refusing to taekfr. This last fault was allowing the Grammar forwards plenty of room to manoeuvre, and time to recover their positions to stage a counter-attack. Wilkinson was the best of a mediocre line. lieilgood's powerful clearances were usually well directed, and he was easily the better of the full-hacks, )vliile Fisher, the custodian, gave a sound display between the posts..

The Grammar backs were inclined to crowd one another, and their positional play led them into some awkward situations. Hay was steady throughout, but his partner, Wilson, seemed unable to adapt his play to the prevailing conditions. Lawry was outstanding in tlie half line, his fast recoveries being responsible for npsetting the efforts of the College vanguard. W. Ross at centre proved a tireless worker, but his body play detracted from his display. The forwards all found the heavy going unsuitable for their particular style of game, although Armstrong staged several characteristic runs down the right wing and sent across some useful centres. Houghton was more subdued than usual, but I'earee worked hard and was responsible for creating some very nice openings which were not always taken advantage of.

OTHER RESULTS. SECOND filtAllK. University U,' 7. bear Wnifemata 3. Air Base 5. beat Alhertians 1. St. Luke's 1. beat I'iiiversily A 0. TIIIUD GRADE. Waitemata 2. beat Y.M.C.A. 0. Grammar Old Hoys beat Training College by default. FOURTH GRADE. Y.M.C.A. beat Wesley bv default. University beat Training College by default. FIFTH GRADE. Mount Eden 4. beat Ilowick 3. SIXTH GRADE. Owni Rovers 4, beat Mount Albert Grammar B 3. Mount Albert Grammar B 7, beat Howick Mount Albert Grammar A 21, beat Somerville 0. Mount Eden beat Wesley B by default. SEVENTH GRADE. Auckland Grammar A 10, beat Mount Eden 1. Mount Albert Grammar B beat Waitemata by a penalty corner. Auckland Grammar A beat Wesley B by default. .Mount Albert Grammar A beat Somerville by default.

" REP." TEAMS CHOSEN.

CHALLENGE SHIELD AND FI.TIANS. The Auckland sole selector, Mr. C. Watts, has selected the following players for the New Zealand Challenge Shield match against Waikato, to be played at Hobson Park next Saturday — D. Anderson (Grammar), H. Jones (United), F. Clark (St. Luke's), captain, C. Stewart (Somerville), S. Robertson (St. Luke's), L. Watson (University). W. Armstrong (Grammar), G. Rowe (Mount Eden), R. Houghton (Grammar), L. Wyatt (Somerville), G. Greenbanks (University). Reserves: D. King (St. Luke's), G. Dowling (United), H. Cooper (University). The Waikato team is:—Goalie, W. Smillie; full-backs, D. Pountney and A. Sinnatt; halves, A. McKinnin, W. Burns, L. Jenkins ; forwards, F. Forster, C. Floyd. T. A. Ewan (captain). J. Hoff. C. Chard. Reserves : A. Spiers and C. Harvey. Mr. D. Hastie, the sole selector of the provincial "team, has chosen the following players for the match against the Fiji touring team, to be played as a curtain-raiser ;it Hobson Park next Saturday:— A. Henderson (Rodney), C. Lawrence (Pinko), W. Curtis (King Country), L. Kerr (Piako). E. Ashton (Rodney) captain. It. Spiers ("Waipa), R. MeGowan (Franklin), W. Stevens (Piako), Peacock (King Country) vice-captain, M. Stevens (Piako), E. Phillips (Rodney). Reserves : F. Bellingham (Franklin), R. Hayward (Rodney), N. Wyatt (Rodney).