CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 101, 30 April 1923, Page 5

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

SOME VERY CLOSE STRUGGLES

STANDARD OF PLAY IMPROVING.

Karori 1 Huia 0 Wakatu „..,.... 3 Wesley 2 Hutt 3;... 2 Wellington ... 1 Petona 4 'Varsity 3 A feature of the four senior hockey games on Saturday was !he very narrow margin by which they were won, in each case there being only one point, differenoe between the respective scores of the winning and the losing teams. Weather conditions were most uncongenial, and all the grounds were damp and slow, but unusual keenness was displayed by teams, and "greenness," which is characteristic of play at the commencement of. the season, has almost entirely disappeared. Superior combination and experience enabled Wakatu to defeat Wesley by 3 goals to 2, but the losers played a. good game and extended the championship favourites to their utmost. Huia may be considered unlucky to lose to Karori, but with an all-senior team in the field they should have no difficulty in routing the wearers of the black jersey on gome future occasion. 'Varsity went down to Petone, but it certainly was not the fault of any of the college men, who put up a great fight, but lacked, in common with several of the other senior teams, the ever-essential combination. Hutt made the pace too feat for Wellington, who were unable to respond to the forceful tactics of the suburban men, and were defeated by 4 goals to 3. Hutt's many assets included condition and combination, which qualities Wellington have yet to' acquire to a more pronounoed degree before they can contemplate winning the local championship.

Games also were «played on Saturday in all the junior grades, a&d competition was commenced for the various ladies' championships.