HOCKEY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 109, 10 May 1909, Page 3

HOCKEY.

«. , OPENING Of SEASON. SOME UNEXPECTED BESULTS. Wesley 5 v. Karori 5. Wellington 2 v. Thorndoo 0. V.M.C.A.. 3 v. United 1. Vivian 4 v. Victoria College 3. The men's hockey season, was opened on Saturday afternoon, the senior, junior, and third class players all' turning out in full force and eager for the fray. Creditable form was revealed in most of the games, and fast and interesting contests were invariably the order of the afternoon. The finishes in a few of the games were unexpected, proving thereby that there are some " dark horses " to be accounted for. Results are as appended. WESLEY (5) v. KARORI (5). Wesley and Karori played a drawn game on No. 1 ground, Day's Bay. The tussle between the two teams was fast and entertaining — the ten goals scored being evenly distributed throughout the game. The Wesleys settled down to their game early, and at half-time had attained a trio of points — registered by Kemp, Birch, and Dixon — to Karori' s nil. Smith added another point to the blue tally before Karoris revealed their scoring ability. Then Murphy, G. Davies, and Fulton each contributed a, goal apiece. Birch next made the score 6—3,6 — 3, leaving G. Davies sufficient time in which to place a couple more to the credit of his team. The referee was Southwick. VIVIAN (4) VICTORIA COLLEGE (3). A fast game resulted in the meeting of these two teams, whose combination was fairly good. Vivian were the winners. The play was not of a very exciting nature, and for the victors Donovan (1), Collins (2), and Thomson (1) were successful in piloting the ball between the posts, while for College the following scored one each : — C. Strack, Oram, and Beere. Mr. Jones was the referee. WELLINGTON (2) v. . THORNDON (0). This fixture was of a rather even character, but proved to be a little in favour of Wellington. Open play, mostly in Thorndon's territory, was seen in the first spell, and Thorndon were often forced to kick behind in order to save. Wellington' won by two goals to nil. Taylor was* first to draw blood, which he did from an excellent shot. On resuming, in the second* spell open and rather even play took place, the ball travelling up and down the field continuously. Watson then scored the second goal. Mr. J. Pope refereed. V.M.C.A. (3) v. UNITED (1). V.M.C.A. defeated United by 3 goals to 1, the scorers for the victors being Sims, A. W. Parton, and R. H. Parton. Mills scored for United. It was a good game, and the result came rather as a surprise. Last year's champions were rather weak in the half-back line. The young men were in very .fair form. The Rev. A. Dewdney refereed. /_