HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 15 September 1928, Page 22

HOCKEY

BY "STICK 3"

TO-DAY'S MATCH AGAINST CANTERBURY STEBNUOUS GAME LIKELY By their good wins over the Manawatu and AVairarapa teams, the AVellington representatives havo stamped themselves as players who can worthily uphold the prestige of the Empire City at hockey. This afternoon, how-, over, they will be faced with a different proposition when they meet the Canterbury representative team at the Hutfc Recreation Ground. AVcllington and Canterbury have been rivals for many years, and this year's southern team is said to be a very sound combination. AVellington 's task, therefore, should bo far from an easy one, but the pride of victory will be all tho greater if tho local men are able to carry off tho honours. The game should be interesting from another viewpoint also in that it will give some idea of the AVellington team's capabilities when matched against a really strong cloven. From the result, may lie gauged Wellington's chances in the Shield gamo against Poverty Bay. Shield Match Difficulty. The ouly obstacle now in the way of tho Poverty Bay-AVollington match on Saturday next for the New Zealand Hockey Association Challenge Shield is a difficulty in securing a ground. AVhen tlio Bay authorities w6re advised last week that next Saturday was the latest date on which Wellington could field a suitable team, it was understood that the Hutt ground would be'available.. At Monday night's meetftig of tho AV.H.A., however, a letter was received from the Lower Hutt Borough Council stating that owing to.the necessity of preparing the ground for the coining cricket season it was impossible to allow it to bo used for hockey as late as • Saturday next. Then came a wire from Poverty Bay to the effect that 22nd September had been approved as the date for the match. As tho match is ono of the. most important of tho season, the AV.H.A. has decided to make every endeavour to got a ground, and it is intended to approach the Lower. Hutt Borough Council once more with tho object of having the Hutt ground made available. ' A Hard-Won Victory. Although beaten by' a three-goal margin, tho AVairarapa team, said to bo the strongest that has left the district for some years, fully extended the1 AVellington representatives at tho Hutt Bccrcation Ground on Saturday. It was unfortunate that the heavy showers immediately prior to the match spoilt the surfaco of the ground, for it, had been 'given careful treatment, by the groundsman (Mr. H. Vngg), and in fine weather! would have been like a billiard table. Players were unable to keep their feet, and it was miraculous that the accident to H. Perrin, the useful local half, was tho only casualty of the afternoon. Smallwood took his place and filled it well, often beating several opponents and sending tho ball well upfield. Both teams played excellent hockey .under the circumstances, and AVellington 's win was solely tho result of a slightly better finish, consequent probably upon the players having worked together in previous games. The local halves wero outstanding and contributed greatly to the success of the team. Wairarapa were unlucky not to score on several occasions, the forwards losing their feet at tho end of quite a •number of spirited attacks'and giving the local full-backs a chance to clear. Of course, the visitors had More, iv goal, to deal with, but they certainly deserved to score at least another one or two goals.. The AVairarapa custodian was playing in boots without sprigs, and was considerably handicapped in the greasy goal-mouth as a result This should novor have been allowed by the manager of the team for it made a lot of difference and somewhat spoilt an otherwise sound performance. Hard hitting was of necessity indulged iv by both teams and the clean stopping of passes was very creditable on the slippery ground. On the whole, tho game was a most interesting one, and not even the heavy rain during both spoils was able to dampen the enthusiasm of the spectators. Wairarapa always play a hard, clean game, and are worth watching in action, at any time.. Competition Beaults. A striking feature of the various championship tables appended is tho success of the University teams. In both the senior A and senior B competition, the students carried tho day, while in the club championship the honours also went to the University Club by a narrow margin. o Last season Karori won the club championship by 30 points, the points gained by tho other clubs being: Wesley 108J, Hutt 101, V.M.C.A. 88, University 58, Petone SC, Huia 53, Training College 27, Insurance 19, Technical College 11J.-

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP. Sen. Sen. Jun. Thd. Int. Pts. "A." "B." University. . 38 .. 50 45 .5 — 138 Karori .... 34 34 40V. 17 7 132.. Hutt . 30 48 22., 21 — 121V4 Hula — 30 34V- 15 O1/. 86 Wesley .... 26 22 lOV.. S 5. 80>_ V..M.C.A. ..18 8 3 2 10 41 Wellington . S. — 12 ,16 — 36 Petone .... 14 8 12 — — :H Train. Coll. ''—'- 21 — — — 2-1 Tech. Coll. — — — — 13<_. 13 J. SENIOH "A." Goals. Clip. r. W. L, I>. F. A. Pts University .... 12 8 1 3 -12 22 19 Karori 12 7 2 3 41 18 17 Hutt. 12 5 2 5 29 26 15 Wesley .12 5 4 3 26 27 13 Y.M.C.A. 12 4 7 1 14 33 9 Tctono - 12 2 7 ' 3 2S SO 7 Wellington .... 12 0 8 4 16 29 4 SENIOR B. Goals. Clip. V. W. L. I). V. A. Pts University ... 14 12 1 1. 48 13 25 Hutt H 11 1 '2 55 W 24 Karori 14 8 5 1 33 29 17 Hula' •'. 14 *> 5 3 a5 2i 15 Training Coll.'.. 14 5 7 2 33 27 12 Weslev 14 5 8 1 46 46 11 Y.M.C.A 14 1 11 2 IS 70 4 Petone 14 1 11 2 13 58 4 JUNIOR. Coals. Clip. P. W. L. D. P. A. Pts Karori 14 13 0 1 70 13 27 Huia "... 10 10 1 3 58 17 23 University "A" .14 9 4 1 51 27 19 Hutt .13 7 5 1 48 32 15 Weslev 14 6 7 1 35 30 13 University "B." . 14 5 8 1 31 47 11 Petone 14 3 9 2 21 54 8 Wellington 15 4 11 0 25 03 S Y.M.C.A. 14 1 n 0 11 73 2