HOCKEY. WELLINGTON DEFEATS AUCKLAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 58, 6 September 1909, Page 4

HOCKEY. WELLINGTON DEFEATS AUCKLAND.

, REPRESENTATIVE SHIELD MATCH. -WELLINGTON (3) v. AUCKLAND (2). fBT TELEGBAPH —rBKSS ASSOCIATION.^ AUCKLAND, sth September. At Victoria Park yesterday afternoon, in the presence of 4000 spectators, the Wellington hockey representatives succeeded in wresting the New Zealand Hockey Association's championship challenge shield from Auckland, the visitors winning by three goals to two. His Excellency the Governor witnessed the match. The ground played like a billiard table.At the last moment changes had to be made in the Auckland team, owing to men being unable to play, and this seemed to upset the combination. The visitors had the better of the game, and thoroughly deserved their win, There was not a weak man in the team. Davis, the Wellington, insideleft, played a brilliant game, while the defence of the visitors was superb. From the bully-off D. Smythe took the ball into the Auckland circle, hut his pass was missed, and Wellington conceded a corner. Auckland continued to press until a penalty for sticks allowed the visitors to clear. They followed up the advantage, and, beating all the home Tiack>, smothered Allen and scored. ■Another good attack by the. visitors took the play into the circle, where a hot shot by Davis wap brilliantly stopped by Allen. The home team, now attacked persistently, if not brilliantly, but a behind gave them their opportunity, and Elliott got going. He waa stopped- by Speight. Later Wellington conceded four corners in quick succession. After a short interval of even play a good rush by Davia into the Auckland circle was saved by a brilliant lofted hit by Speight. The visitors continued to press, beating tho home backs badly, and Auckland conceded two corners. The home team attacked for a space, but nothing could get past Hickson, the visitors' right full. Wellington came again, and Auckland gave a corner. From the hit out the ball went fo Mason, who passed to Brooke-Smith, who shot a splendid goal. Wellington 1 Auckland ... 1 " The spoil ended without further score, Op resuming, Auckland were first away, and an exchange of hits brought play into the visitors' twenty-five, whence D. Sraythe played into the circle, but Harty centred, conceding a corner. Mason's shot went wide, and Wellington, chiefly by the agency of Elliott, played into the home cirole>. After a spell of even play, G. Smythe took the ball into the home circle, where, driving at the ball with the point of his stick, he beat/ the goalkeeper and scored the best goal of the match. Fast, even, interesting play, notable for marvellous fielding and beautiful stick play, particularly by the visitors, culminated in Elliott scoring a rather easy goal, after, some very fair passing. -After some even play, the home team again looked dangerous, when BrookeSmith beat all the backs and passed in tho circle to Murdoch, who missed an easy chance to score. Very soon afterwards Jacobsen broke away from halfway, and sending the ball into the circle from near the line, 'Mason accepted and scored (Auckland's second goal. Wellington 3 Auckland 2 The game ended a few seconds afterwards. CANTERBURY (4) v. WANGANUI (2). [BI TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL TO THB POST.] OHRISTCHURCH, 4th September. , Canterbury defeated Wanganui by 4 ( goals to 2. LOCAL GAMES. Only junior and third-class games were played in the Wellington Hockey Association's championship fixtures on Satur flay' afternoon. The reports are ap.pended :—: — JUNIOR. METROPOLITAN (6) v. WELLING- • TON (1). On No. 1 ground, Day's Bay, Wellington and Metropolitan tried conclusions. The game was exceedingly fa3t from beginning to end. Hall, for Metropolitan, opened the score, with a splendid shot. I—o.l —o. Later, M'Kenzie, Metropolitan left wing, received a good pass, ran^ half-way up the field, and scored practically "on his own." There was no further score in tht» first spell. 'When play was resumed, Wellington was aggressive, liut the shooting of tho forwards was erratic. The blues con^ tinued the attack, and Brewer secured and sent in a shot which went through Chapman's (goalkeeper) legs. The ball was then taken by the reds (Metropolitan), and Hall sent in a shot whicn the goalkeeper ran out-to meet, but in his attempt to save the ball went behind. Soon after Wrigley scored three more goals for Metropolitan in quick succession There was no further score. THltiD-CLASS. Wesley defeated Wellington on No. 2 ground, Day's Bay, by 9 goals to 4. In the first spell Wellington led by 4 to 1. Eventually, however, Wesley rallied, and held the upper hand until the call of time. Metropolitan played a drawn game with St. Patrick's College Old Boys on V.M.C.A., ground at Miramar, both teams scoring one goal each. St. Patrick's goal was hit by Bxirr. Petone (8) met and defeated Vic-toria-College B (1). The scorers for Petone were Hay (4), Wallace (2), Bore•land.and Nicholl (1 each), while for College, who played four short, Morrison fonnd the net. The Victoria College A-Gregg's match was played on tha Vivian ground, Miramar, and pr-pved to be one of the closest and most interesting games of the season. The game ended in favour of College by two goals to nil. Gregg's are probably tho.most improved team in the competition, and deserve credit for the game fight they put up against their opponents. All the Gregg team played well. Watson scored both goals for the. winners.