MEN’S HOCKEY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 221, 15 June 1936, Page 11

MEN’S HOCKEY

Karori, One Man Short,

Defeat Huia

SURPRISE VICTORY

Wesley’s Good Win From

Wellington

Karori I rose to the occasion at Nat Nai on Saturday to defeat the leading team, Huia. by t"’o goals fio nH in •* game full of incident, but of only moderate quality as hockey goes this season. The result was a surprise .o those wlio have followed senior hockey form (.bis year, it. having been expected that Huia, with their goal-getting capabilities, would have brought, ott anol her win to their unbeaten credit. Another victory not anticipated was Weslev's defeat of Wellington by b goals to 2, also at Nai Nai. At Karori Park, University 4 defeated Technical 3, and Karori II and Hutt played a drawn game, two all. Both results were about what was expected ou form. WESLEY v. WELLINGTON Jlore entertaining than scientific, about describes the Wesley-Wellington fixture on No. 3 ground at Nai Nai. The game was won easily by Mosley, the final score being 6-2 after it had been d 0..at 3-2 to Wesley at half-time. The winners were the better combination ailround on the day. 'While the run of play was fairly open and even m the first hail, Weslev through superior work in tiie forward line, had it all over Wellington in the second spel. The plav was good senior dub standard, but was never outstanding. Inc frequency with which goals were coming sustained interest in the match, but otherwise it was unattractive. Wesley lost no time in opening the scoring, Maloney, inside left, finding the net from a corner within a few minutes of the initial bully. Wellington were trying hard to pierce the defence put up by Dvkes and Bade, but when their for wards, led by T. Ferguson, did get within striking distance, they met solid opposition from Bremuer, who uas kickin., clear verv well. Half-way through the spell Smith, inside right, added another for Wesley. The play was rather in Wesley’s favour'and a neat combined passing rush featuring Maloney, ReUy and Smith,' enabled them to evade Osborne, Coorabe and finally the S?«l-k ec ratt, who was beaten by Kelly. Wellm„ ton came to light when Osborne, always dangerous when taking a corner shot, connected with a fine drive. lerguson found the net with another a minute or two before half-time. . The second half was mainly to XVeslev. territorially and in goal-getting. Kelly, with a hard shot from, a corner, put 'on their fourth goal, ana Maloney secured the fifth. Kelly accounted for Wesley’s sixth, and t.be last goal of the match. Mr. XV. Keys was the umpire. KARORI I'v. HUIA Huia's defeat by Karori I at Nai Nai ou Saturday came as a surprise to most followers of this seasons hockey form. Huia have exhibited a quality or play that has looked like carrying them through, the competition without a loss, although the standard displayed on the previous Saturday against Karori 11, when they scraped home by one goal, was an in “ ica * tion that they were not unbeatable. In vanquishing Huia by two goals to nil on Saturday Karori I deserved their victory, particularly when they fielded one forward short. Despite this handicap they had rather the better of the game •territorially and enjoyed as many attempts at the goal as their opponents. Knrori’s defence was superb on the day. particularly that of Hull, who emerged from retirement to help his club over a difficult hurdle, and Charlie Moore, who was at the top of form as custodian, and who presented an impenetrable barrier to the shots of XVheatlcy, cooper and Cotter, to name the most aggressive of Huia's forwards. Huia were at a disadvantage in the forward division by the absence of Brown through a previous injury, but tills did not explain the failure of the front line to penetrate the defence. Karori realised that a bustling game was the tactic to follow, and the Huia at; taekers were well marked, the Karon halves, Rowe, Blair and Harnson, tackling with a fine determination. The general standard of the game, as so often happens when a good deal depends on the outcome, was indiilerent and both sides were guilty of numerous breaches of the obstruction and sticks rules. Not only that, but offside play was verv frequent. It was a dour struggle, patchy, and only moderately interesting to the galfc ry. A hot pace was set. eariv in the engagement, too hot to last, and half-way through the first spel the players drooped a bit, but, warmed up again before the interval, which came without score to either side. . After the change round play continued much as before, except that Huia’s vanguard were not quite as aggressive as earlier in the match. The hardest working people on the field were the halves on both sides. Chambers, centre half and captain of the Huias, was toiling manfully and was everywhere he was needed. His placing shots were well distributed, but the wing forwards were failing too often to accept the ball and were letting it over the lines in a way that is not like their usual careful game. One of the prettiest pieces of play was Harrison's (Karori right half) solo effort that culminated in his hitting the upright when he had the opposing XX ilsoa well beaten. The first goal was by Adams, centre-forward, who connected after a fierce scramble in the Huia goalmouth. He also secured inc second goal, this one the result of a heady bit of work that gave the Huia goalkeeper no show. A series of corners, mostly for infringements, presented opportunities to both teams, but the defenders were too quick out for anything to accrue from them. The umpires were Messrs. XX . A. Bcott and A. C. Watts. UNIVERSITY v. TECHNICAL After being 3-1 down at half-time and spending the whole of the second spell on attack, University turned defeat into victory in the last few minutes of their game with Technical at Karori Park. It was a hard, clean aml interesting exhibition, with University's spoiling tactics and their unorthodox defence formation holding the Technical front line in check for most of the game. Technical opened well, and were soon one up from a long corner, which was well driven home by Kelly. Bborlly afterward Garbett, their centre-forward, received a severe cut over the nose, and went Io full-back to recuperate. XX’ithout him Hie forward line lost its dash completelv, ami X’arsity had a long spell of attack. After being very close ou several occasions, a free-bit on the edge of the circle gave Shaw his chance to equalise. XX’ith Garbett back at.centre, the Technical forward line came into action again, and it was not long before Macdonald, with a beautiful drive, gave them the lead again. Another added by Garbett a few minutes later gave them a still more •fiopel'ul view ot the game. X’arsity made several determined attacks in the short time remaining before (he interval, but the Technical defence was sound. Egglcton had bad luck with a neat flick shot which struck the crossbar and bounced over. With the resumption of play the whole'

complexion of the game was altered. From the bully the greens swept straight down and within a minute had reduced their deficit. Thereafter the Technical forwards saw little of the ball, .and only crossed the halfway line three times durin- the spell. X r arsity launched attack after attack, and kept Technicad fighting stubbornly to retain their slender lead. XX’ith only a couple of minutes to go Technical were still just hanging on when Robinson, with a lusty drive, ar last managed to put the ball past. Mason, the Technical goalkeeeper, who bad been having the busiest half-hour of his life. With less than a minute to play a draw seemed inevitable, but the green forwards threw themselves into the fray and Robinson became the hero of the day by scoring his second goal right on time, the final whistle sounding almost before the ball touched the back of the net, A newcomer to the Technical team was Emley, a promoted junior player, at cen-tre-half. Emley made a very good impression iu his senior A debut, and was the outstanding half-back on the field. He plaved eagerly without being unduly bustled,' thrusting with great vigour and following up any advantage. Emley s chance came through the absence of XX allace at inside-right, his place being taken hr Macdonald, usually centre-half, but he showed on Saturday that he is worth? of permanent place in the grade. HUTT v. KARORI II

la a rather uninteresting exhibition, marked by the number of opportunities wasted, particularly by the home team, Hutt and Karori II played a drawn game nt Karori Park. Karori had much the bettor of the first half, but it was not until nearly half-time that their attacks brought any result, erratic play when scoring opportunities were presented disappointing their supporters time ami again. Just before the interval the black forwards steadied up. and two quick scores came from Phypers and Gapes. Hutt opened Hie second spell with the best movement they had thus far shown, and rattled the Karori defence for Phillips to score. There was little good hockey in the remainder of the game, Hutt holding the advantage in a series of rough and ready exchanges, and Judd equalising after a scries of dogged attacks. From start to finish the game was marred by bunching ou both sides and too much hard hitting. There was little attempt to open the game up or institute short-passing, and tile uneven ground was of no assistance to the game. The two Karori wings were the. best forwards of the day, but they must have been disappointed at the fate of most of their centres. J. XVatchman was absent from centre-forward. Perrin, as usual, was conspicuous in defence.