HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 22

HOCKEY

' By "STICKS"

FIRST ROUND OVER KARORI'S GOOD RECORD r VIRTUALLY IN THE LEAD

Saturday's games resulted in some surprising changes in the positions of the senior A teams on the ladder. 'Varsity were expected, to beat Wellington by^, fair margin, but their drawn game has placed theni only ono point ahead of Karori, who have a postponed fixturb with Potono still to play. Hutt have gono down to position as a result of their decisive defeat by Karori, and Wesley, beaten by Young Men after a game in which tho Blue's had. nearly all the advantage, aro now in fourth position and will have to work hard to be anywhere near the top at tho end of tho competition. On tho'form to date, it seems' likely that Karori will onco more scoop tho pool.1 'Varsity havo established a substantial lead in tho senior B competition, being undefeatod with a very creditablu goal average.-,Hutt are- the only other team who appear to bo in tho running, but they are three points behind at the time of writing, and tho leaders aro. not likely to loso niuch of their present advantage. 'Varsity finished up well down tho ladder last year, and a wiii for them this season would be some compensation for thoir previous disappointments. , Kaiori's Decisive Win. Eogarded beforehand, as likely to bo tho star turn of tho senior A competition, tho Karori-Hutt match on Saturday was disappointing in many respects. Play opened at a remarkablo pace and tho stickwork was dolightful, both sides appearing well-matched. A brilliant-goal for Karori seemed to disconcert tho riversiders, and the Blacks rattled 011 threo more goals within fifteen niintues. Casualties were frequent on tho heavy ground, and when Hutt's captain, B. Lusty, had to go off after receiving. a severe blow on the face from a rising ball, it seemed that tho Beds had justification for losing hearK To their- credit, however, they played with more doggedness than over and succeeded in holding, their1 opponents, who scored only onco more. Karori wero playing at tho top of their form and no Hutt man was left unmarked. This possibly was tho reason for their success. Hutt, while sound enough iudi'vidually, were inclined to bunch a littlo and their passing had not tho accuracy necessary against a side like Karori. Upton and F. Lusty both played a dashing ga»io for Hutt, their defensive work being a bright feature" of the match. Of the Karori side, Boberts on tho right wing and Nimmo on tho left were outstanding, while Spiers and Hull, .tho two full-backs were practically impassable. ' . . Wellington's First Point. 'Varsity should havo beaten Wellington by twelvo goals to two. Tho students had by ' far tho better of tho v game, play being confined to tho Wellington twenty-five for,the greater part of both spells, but they were . unable timo and again to reach the net. Shot after-shot either went wide or was intercepted just on the goallin© .by a Wellington man, while Guy, in goal, was in great fon .. Twice in tho second spell nearly all the 'Varsity men wero in tho Wellington circle, but luck was with tho defenders and always tho ball went out to the twenty-five. Wellington's two goals were totally unexpected. On both occasions tho 'Varsity, defence . was caught napping, but nevertheless tho goals wero well-deserved. Newport was a shining light in the Wellington side, ! especially towards the end when 'Var--1 sity were striving to score tho goal which would give- them a win. A solid contingent of Wellington backers urgled on their team in the final stages,. and it would have taken a better side than 'Varsity to penetrate tho defence, Tho result was a complcto surprise, as the teams wero respectively top and bottom on tho ladder. Wellington gained their first championship point, and on Saturday's play should do bettor in tho second round than in the' first. Notes. ' . - ■ . ' .[ It is interesting to note that of tho fivo goals scored against Karori four have been tho result of penalty corners. Tho Blacks havo easily the best goal average in the senior A competition. . Martis was '-playing full-back again for Wellington on Saturday. As it was his first appearance this season, ho was not in the bestof "form,, but he showed up well in tho many fierce attacks on the Wellington goal and relieved nicely several- tinies. K. Peri-in seems to bo quite as useful in Karori's forward line as in his old position with tho halves, and his tally of goals is mounting up. , Nimmo played a sound game on Karori 's loft wing on Saturday, and appears well placed in this difficult position. Wesley Caught* Napping. The defeat of Wesley at the hands of V.M.C.A. camo as rather' a surprise as Young Men did not look like winning at any period of the gamo until tho last quarter of an hour. The only explanation for Wesley's failure can bo that they did not seem to take the fixture quito seriously enough. One thiiig very apparent was the concentration of tho V.M.C.A. players, and this probably accounted for thoir win. Wesloy ceifainly had much tho better of the gamo in the first half, although V.M.C.A. made several ' essays into thoir territory. After tho spell, however, tho gamo took a different turn, and Y.M.O.A. started several very determined attacks. Thpy soon equalised and about tliroe-quarters of the way through tho half taok tho lend, which they maintained to the finish.

Senior "A." I Goals. 'Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. University -6 3 0 3 19 13 9 Karori 5 4 1 0 20 5 8 Hutt ' 0 2- 1 3 17 15 7 Wesley 6 2 .2 2 ' 13 12 6 Petono D. 2 2 1 11", 14. 5 Y.W.C.A. ....6 2 4 07 19 4 Wellington .. C 0 .5 1 8 18 1 Senior "B." Goals. Ch. P. W. L. D. 1\ A. Pts. University 7 7 0 . 0 25 7 14 Hutt 7 5' 11 28 10 11 Hula ...7 4 3 0 21' 12 S Karori 7 ' 4 3 0 16 13 8 Wesley 7 3.4 0 24 24 6 Training College '7 2 ' 5 0 9 13 4 Petono " 7 1 5 1 * 7 32 3 Y.M.C.A. .... 7 .0 5 2 11 30 2 (Training College have defaulted three games.)