HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 22

HOCKEY

By "Sticks"

SHIELD GAMES WELLINGTON'S CHALLENGE A MATCH WITH CANTERBURY A request from the Canterbury Association for information as to -the date of Wellington's match with Auckla d for the Challenge Shield was discussed at Monday's meeting of the W.H.A. The letter added that Canterbury intended to enter a challenge for tho Shield. The secretary (Mr. R. H. Boys) said that it appeared that Canterbury wanted to play Wellington here, the match to be regarded as a Shield match if Wellington were beaten and then were successful in beating Auckland. The Shield would then go to Canterbury. Members were agreed that this seemed to be Canterbury's idea. "There is really nothing wrong with the idea," remarked Mr. C. S. Falconer, ' " but still there would be no incentive for us to go to Auckland and try to win the Shield for Canterbury." It was pointed outthat Waikato had entered a prior challenge for the Shield. Finally, it was decided to ask the Auckland Association to fix the date for the gamo with Wellington so that Canterbury might be' advised of the position. Karori and Petone. Although it was thought at first that Karori would .completely . overwhelm Petone, it was not long after the commencement of this fixture that the Karori supporters received a big surprise. Petone were in excellent form, and, despite the rather heavy state of the ground, the match developed into a fast and keen contest. Although Karori were eventually tho winners by five goals to four, there was practically no difference, between the two teams. It was only tho last ten minutes that decided tho result in favour of tho homo team, as, up to that time, both teams were level. In an exciting scuffle in front of tho Petono goal, Itoberts, of Karori, just managed to getl the ball into the net, thus scoring the winning goal. Wellington's Good Display. In holding Wesley to a 4-3 victory, Wellington!' demonstrated that their .drawn game with 'Varsity was far from being a Alike. In fact, the first score in tho match was mado by the Wellington team, one of those long passing rushes which have been so successful in the past culminating in a pretty goal. Wellington have shown that this style of game'is most effective, at least so far as they are concerned, and their goals against Varsity were scored in this manner. After tho reverse, the Wesley players combined in repeated attacks on the Wellington net, and although Guy gave a display well above the ordinary, the score until well on in the second spell was 4-1 in Wesley's favour. The last quarter of an hour provided the spectators with an exciting' struggle, the Wellington men playing with such dash as to bring the score to 4-3 before the final whistle went, 'Varsity Back to Form. ♦Varsity showed clearly on Saturday in their game with V.M.C.A. that their poor form on the previous Saturday against Wellington was only a temporary lapse. The 'Varsity forwards were in better shooting mood, and had it not been for the excellent goal-keeping of M'Donneli, in the V.M.C.A. goal, their score would have been considerably augmented. Tho ground in front of both nets was badly cut up, and this added to the difficulties of the custodians, but they both gave a creditable display. It was noticeable that several of the, V.M.C.A. players were disinclined to tackle their men, and time and again their territory was invaded as a result. But for this fault, there was little to criticise in their play, and the;game was quite an interesting one. , The Game in the Schools. The primary .schools' competitions are now in full swing, the fourth round of fixtures having been completed on Saturday last. In the senior A grade play has been exceedingly' brisk, and exciting games have been witnessed. Newtown and Karori are very evenly matched, and the Terrace team, who started in 1926, are also giving a good account of themselves 'in this grade, although they are without the services of a coach. They are going well, however, under their energetic skipper, Gale, who has led the team for three years. Hataitai are still fielding a fine team, and Wadestown who has just entered the senior A grade are also doing well, their combination and dash being most praiseworthy. The various championship tables are appended:— SENIOR "A." „,

It is a matter for regret that tho Island Bay senior A team has been withdrawn from the school competitions. Their place has been taken by an entirely new team from the Hataitai School, under the name of the Hataitai Hovers. A Unique Record. It is doubtful whether the record of progress of Burton, the inside-right of tho V.M.C.A. senior A team, can be bettered, or even equalled. In 1926 he was captain of the Newtown primary school team who won tho senior schools competition. He was then considered by many to bo playing hockey equal to senior B standard. Last: season- ho played in tho Technical College intermediate team. Now ho occupies an important place in a senior A eleven of some merit, and his hockey is quito equal to that of his fellow players. Representative Matches. The W.H.A. has acceded to a request from the' Nelson Association'for senior and junior representative teams to visit Nelson in the near future. Tho Nelson Association baa been written tp asking for a date to bo fixed for tho two matches.

P. W. D. Hataitai 3 3 0 Newtown 4 3 0 Tcrraco 3 2 1 Karori .• 4 2 0 Wadestown 3 11 Berhampore , 4 0 0 Island Bay ........ 3 0 0 Hataitai r.overs .... 0 0 0 L. Pts. 0 6 1 6 0 5 2 4 1 3 4 0 3 0 0 0 SENIOR "B." P. W. D. South Wellington ,...3 3 0 Lyall Bay 4 3 0 Northland „ 4 2 0 Miramar 3 2 0 Newtown , 3 2 0 Mount Cook ......... 300 Khandallah ........ 4 0 0 Clip. L. Pts. 0 6 1 6 2 4 1 4 1 4 3 0 'i 0 JUNIOR "A." P. W. D. Karori A 4 4 0 Berhampore « "4 1 3 Hataitai 3 2 1 Island Bay .: 3 2 0 Newtown 4 1 0 Wadestown »' 3 0 1 Lyall Bay 4 0 1 Karori B 2 0 0 Clip. L. Pts. 0 8 0 5 0 5 1 4 3 2 2 1 3 1 2 0