N.Z. TANK BRIGADE FAILS IN SECOND HOCKEY INVASION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 206, 1 September 1942, Page 5

N.Z. TANK BRIGADE FAILS IN SECOND HOCKEY INVASION

Another 11 representing the New Zealand Tank Brigade "stormed" the city on Saturday in an endeavour to avenge its earlier defeat at the hands of the Auckland hockey representatives. Beaten 2—o on June 20, the margin on this occasion was doubled by Auckland. Played at the Sarawia Reserve, the ground was exceedingly slushy in patches, but the home team was quick to adapt its style of play to the prevailing conditions. The Tank team, on the other hand, failed to appreciate the heavy going, and instead of trying to force the play out to the side lines where the surface was firmer, repeatedly adopted central movements. These were usually slowed up through the players over-running the ball when it stuck in the mud, thus allowing the Auckland defence to recover position and clear.

Auckland's Team Work.—The Aucklanders were far superior to the visitors, the weakest link being J. Dunning (left half), who was inclined to play too deep on attack, and thus failed to give the necessary support to several dashing runs by N. Wyatt (left wing), the Auckland Grammar School boy, who was making his debut in big hockey. Wyatt certainly showed some hard, clean hitting when taking penalty corners, and he should have scored more than the once if he had paid more attention to direction. G. Davies, his schoolmate, playing in the inside-right berth, also gave a solid display, while I. Kelsey (another player making his first "iep" appearance), playing in the centre-half position, had J. Carroll, the visiting centre-forward, well marked throughout and he varied the line of attack with sound Judgment. On defence J. Buchan and S. Wood were a hard pair of full-backs to pass, and T. Dowling in goal was able to cope with all that came his way.

Spcctacular 'Keeping".—The bright-"t spot In the Tanks' display was the- splendid alkeeping of H. Whitman, who repeatedly slewed the barrage of shots from all angles. But for his masterly exhibition the score must have mounted to double figures. J. Hammond and K. Hay (fullbacks) had to bear the brunt of the defence, because of the weak half-line. The positional pla£ of the vanguard was faulty, and both J. Carroll and D. Crichton failed to produce the form they showed here in club games before entering the army. A. Cuthbert (left wing) was responsible for some nice runs which frequently penetrated deep into the Auckland defence, but he was too often caught in possession, or his centres were Intercepted and cleared. Devonport Shield.—The club games wers for the Devon port Shield competition, which has been redrawn and now includes three new teams from the Services. Results were:—A section: St. Luke's 5, boat University 4: C.R.O. 3, beat Mount Eden 1; Army A 5. beat Air Force 4. B section: Wesley 8. beat Grammar 2; Army B 5. beat A.S.C. 1; Somerville 6, beat Owai Rovers 3. HIGH SCORING BY WOMEN The main game at Melville Park last Saturday was erenly contested. Technical defeating Training College 3 —2. University piled up seven goals against North Shore, while Mount Eden defeated Wesley by 11 goals to one. University hit seven goals against North Shore In the first spell, but after the interval the suburbanites rallied and held the "blues" to a scoreless 35 minutes. For University. Hogben (3), Braithwatte (2). Turner and Bilkey scored. Technical was fortunate meeting a weakened Training College XI. Owing to vacation, a number of players had to be drawn from the lower grades to fill the senior team. Even so "Teck" just scrambled home. C. Roberts scored twice for the green and golds, and M. Coldham cne for the teachers before half-time. Centre-forward M. Owens netted for Technical and M. Coldham added her second goal before the flnal whistle: Technical 3, Training College 2. Wesley was greatly handicapped by having only one full-back to withstand the onslaughts of Mount Eden's strong forward line. J. Cameron was again in form, netting five ?oals—a cfangerous player when on her game. Lm-k was still against Wesley in the second spell, onb nine players going on to battle against the champion. However, Miss Cunningham beat Eden's goalie with a well-directed shot, breaking Wesley's "duck." For Mount Eden, Cameron (5). McCutcheon (3), Corringham (2) and Hunt scored. During the afternoon Miss Ellen Melvill. gave a short address on behalf of the W.W.S.A., stressing the need of hundreds of girls for the army, navy and air force, and urging players to Join up.