SURPRISE VICTORY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 119, 22 May 1941, Page 20

SURPRISE VICTORY

N.Z. 'VARSITY HOCKEY THE 1940 CHAMPION BEATEN AUCKLAND B XI. CONQUERS MASSEY COLLEGE Scoring the fu*t goal of hig career, C. L. Green, right half of the Auckland B team, yesterday afternoon, brought about tho defeat of the JVlaeeey College XI., which iafit year at Wellington won the fieddun Stick —emblematic of supremacy in tho men'ti division of New Zealand University hockey.

The occasion was the first round of the annual tournament, staged at Hobson Park, Remuera, where six men's and four women's eirles bullicd-otf in ideal conditions, the fields being in excellent condition and the weather brilliant. Notes on the three men's games follow: Rover Worries Manawatu Xl.—Although there was no score at half-time, practically everybody felt satisfied that the lads from Palmerston North would still be victorious. The fact was, however, that the visitors had been puzzled by an unorthodox formation caused by Auckland's adoption of the three-back game owing to the absence or the regular goal-keeper, P. Barclay. So the home goal mouth was left open, and A. P. Moorhead took up a roving commission in the field, sometimes on the lines of a Rugby full-back, and at other periods appearing in the half-back line. This upset the combination of the 1940 champions Green, a quarter of an hour after the second spell started, dashed Into a melee of his forwards and opposing halves and backs, emerged with the ball and took it clean through the rearguaro to shoot the only goal of an exciting contest. Try howsoever they might, Massey College could not pierce that queer defence, as skipper Bay Henes held his exuberant men together well, besides himself sorely troubling the opposition as an elusive left-winger. The captain of the vanquished XI. was H. B. Lawry, centre-forward, who has a Dominion-wide reputation, as he represented Walkato In 1933-34, Auckland 1935, Otago 1936, and Manawatu 1937-40. Another player yesterday with four years' 3ervice in the Manawatu provincial side was A. J. Price, the centre half, who was emergency for the New Zealand University XI., which played the Wellington representatives In 1940. Messrs. R. Carson and K. Nugent were the umpires. Victoria Caught Napping.—Certainly Auckland wound up with an eight-goal margin over Victoria College, but the Wellingtonlons really lost the match In the first minute, when W. H. Cooper (whose colossal scoring was the feature ol Auckland senior cricket after New Year) netted from the passing rush set up from the bully-off. There was only one other goal in the spell, also hit by Cooper, Inside right. The visitors, however never recovered from the shock of that initial successful attack, and six goals were rung on in the second spell. Cooper, who has been appointed captain of the Auckland XI. to meet the New Zealand Universities' representatives next Saturday," added a third goal to his tally. n. Coldhara (centre) also rang on three goals, G. Jones (lefx wing) and skipper t,. H. Watson (left half) sharing the remaining two. Peter Crawley, who played lor Cambridge University several years ago, Murray Speight (1939 Rhodes Scholar) and Denis Bevell (Y.M.C.A. senior cricket 'keeper) were other personalities in the victorious team, for which all but Ron Robinson, on 'he right wing, had played last winter, when It won the Auckland Hockey Association's senior championship. The most conspicuous men for Victoria College were Harry Scott (centre), who represented Wellington when Auckland's New Zealand Shield was beaten 7-4 at Karon on Augu3t 31 last, and : S. N. Braithwaite (inside left), an Auckland representative in 1937, and a Wellingtonian In 193 a and 1939. The lust-named player went to East Tamakl School and Auckland Grammar. Messrs. F. Carrington and Keith Lawry— brother of the Massey College leader—were the umpires. Canterbury Recovers 100 Late.—A keenlycontested first spell gave Otago a lead of I—o1 —0 against Canterbury, the goal being scored by centre-forward B. O. Ryburn. Soon after the Interval the Inside right, K. Gray, put Otago another goal up. This second reverse galvanised the Canterburlans into action, and two shots By S. R. Scott (inside right) beat Mac Miller to make the score all square. The strenuous efforts of this uphill fight had taken much of the ginger out of the Canterbury attack, despite which the side's defence seemed likely to hold out until an Otago rally on the right wing saw D. L. Matheson (hoot the winning goal, 3—2. In addition to him and Ryburn the Dunedln skipper, Alan Alldred (inside left) were members of last year's Otago representative XI. The most impressive player on defence was C. V. Walter, captain and right half for Canterbury, in whose party is also F. B. Smith, the Brabln Shield cricketer who scored 107 at Eden Park on New Year's eve and subsequently hit a couple of centuries in senior cricket in Chrlstchurch. The umpires were Messrs A. McLean and N. OUe».

WOMEN'S MATCH

AUCKLAND A BEATS LAST YEAR'S CHAMPIONS In the opening matches in the women's section Auckland A defeated Canterbury, the holders of I the trophy (Reeves Stick) by one goal scored I early in the match, and Otago decisively beat ! Auckland B by five goals to nil. j Auckland A impressed -with penetrative ability, consistent attacks leading to an early goal, flicked into the net by Miss S. Hogben, left inner. Defending soundly, Canterbury warded off further offensives, each attack being met with a counterattack. In full-back positions Miss I. Orchard and Miss I. Allan were hard worked, but brok= up movements with strong clearing shots. In ! the half line good interception by Mrs. B Boyd gave Canterbury the advantage, but late centres from the wing saw the play fall into Auckland's hands. Miss P. Melford and Miss D. Gilbert-Smith tackling and clearing well in full-back positions Centre-forward, Miss N. Orchard, exhibited stickwork, but was well marked by Miss S. Senn, the Auckland centre-half. An outstanding game was played by Miss V. Fenton at left half, her anticipation being faultless and her passes well directed. Auckland lost goals through Inaccurate shooting Miss K. Bllkey, a forward of fast scoring ability being very unlucky in striking the posts on two occasions. When challenged Miss M. Hogben in goal, was found safe, her timing being a feature of her footwork. Umpires were Mesdames Hamlin and Nicholson. Otago v. Auckland B.—Constructive play in the forward line enabled Miss E. Hanley, at centre to open the score for Otago. Clever passing bv Miss M. Lindsay and Miss P. Malcolm, on the left wing, drew the defence, the former netting a fine goal. Quick to turn a counter-attack into an offensive, the halves, supported by Miss J. Hewitt, right full-back, played a consistent game Miss Hanley showed tactical understanding with her right flank. Miss P. stockdill and Miss B Jenkins and her stickwork accounted for four goals. Auckland B rallied in the latter stages of the game. Miss J. Sweetman showing speed at right wing, but weak ball control saw Otaso anticipating effectively. The halves Misses Tewsley, Mawson and Miller, were hard-worked but failed to clear well when in possession of the ball. Bunching in the circle when hard-pressed Auckland B kept Otago's score from mounting Miss W. Tombs in goal using feet and stick confidently. Umpires were Mesdames Nicholson and Jensen.

AUCKLAND REPRESENTATIVES Team selected by Miss P. H. Dawson to represent Auckland against the New Zealand University side in a match to be played at Melville Park at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday:—Goal, Mrs. Lafley; full-backs, Miss M. White, Mrs. L. Askew half-backs. Misses D. Ball, T. Bond and o' Stewart; forwards. Miss H. Ruddell. Miss N Hunt Mrs. P. Wain, Misses H. McCutehen and E. Candy' Reserve, Miss T. Petersen.