CLOSE CONTEST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 249, 18 September 1933, Page 2

CLOSE CONTEST

SHIELD HOCKEY MATCH. MANAWATU JUST FAIL. AUCKLAND, Sept. 16. At Remuera this afternoon, under excellent iveather conditions but on a tricky ground, Manaii-atu struggled desperately—but in vain—to capture the New Zealand championship challenge shield. Although Auckland started off sensationally ivithin the first tivo minutes, it developed into a very close encounter, the scores being level on tAvo occasions during the second spell. Without the least shadow of doubt, territorially, the game Avas easily in favour of Auckland. They did by far the greater bulk of the attacking, served up innumerable shots, but the goal crop Avas checked by the magnificent custodianship of Hart. It may be stated that it is this player’s first year in hockey, and his display Avas easily the best witnessed here for some years and earned great applause. Early in the second spell the challengers appeared to have' gained the upper hand and notched a couple of goals quickly. HoAvever, the Auckland backs recovered and thereafter the shield holders had the best of matters. Nevertheless, the sudden change in the game caused no little anxiety, and in the end Auckland Avon by‘ five goals to four. A remarkable feature of the match Avas Auckland’s score, the five goals being obtained by the Watts combination from penalty corners. Tire teams Avere :

Auckland. —Vail, Williams, F. Clark, BroAvn, Robertson, T. Clark, Reid, CraAvley, E. Watts, C. Watts, Philpott. ManaAvatu. —Hart, Pratt, Sutton, Eckersley, Hansen, Harris, O’Brien, Lundy, Hoare, Monteith, Hoare. Auckland broke aAvay from the opening bully and the ball Avent to Craiv rley, to Reid, avlio centred to C. Watts, and ManaAvatu Avere cornered. C. Watts found the net Avith a good shot. —Auckland 1, ManaAvatu 0. ManaAvatu advanced, but Auckland Avere soon back again. Hart stopped a shot from C. Watts., The succeeding play cornered the visitors tAA r ice in succession. O’Brien took the ball doAvn the Aving, centred, but offside play spoilt the chance. From loose play O’Brien gathered up the ball, and advancing into, the circle had a shot which beat Vail. —Auckland 1, ManaAvatu 1. From a melee in the Auckland circle the ball drifted across to the left and D. Hoare shot Avitliout success. Auckland cleared and Clark put the shield holders on the offensive. Monteith broke aivay- from a free hit, to fall before Williams, and Auckland Avere soon back in the circle. A couple of free hits to ManaAvatu Avere of no avail, Watts and. Crawley renewing the advance until Monteith headed a rush goahvards. An exchange of hits betAveen Eckersley and Clark saiv Harris clear. Reid struggled against Harris but eventually Pratt shifted the danger. Eckersley and Lundy made progress, but hard hitting enabled Manaivatu to break through, R. Hoare shooting into Vail’s chest. E. Watts got possession at midfield and ran into the circle. After some hot Avork in the circle Sutton cleared, but Auckland maintained the pressure and gained a corner Avhich C. Watts converted. —Auckland 2, ManaAvatu 1. Long hitting saAv Hoare and Monteith aAvay. Although giving a faulty, centre, Hoare recovered, but the Auckland backs cleared. Robertson initiated an attack and Hart stopped a good shot from C. Watts. Again Hart came to light, stopping tAvo hot shots in succession. Philpott served up a reverse centre and C. Watts, SAvinging the ball Avith a reverse stroke also, just missed the net. Sutton put in good stick Avork in extricating the side from danger, then Pratt caught Auckland dallying and hit upfield. Offside spoilt several advances for tlio greens, and Auckland resumed the attack. A great run by R. Hoare and Lundy looked promising, but Monteith blundered and the Auckland foi’Avards took up the attack, Philpott poking the ball, but the goalie sAvept it aside. HoAi-ever, further attacking cornered the greens and the Watts combination produced C. Watts’s third goal. —Auckland 3, | ManaAvatu 1. ManaAvatu rallied. O’Brien picked up at the Auckland twenty-five, raced for the goal, and centred beautifully, a corner resulting. Play drifted to the other end, Avliere CraAvley made an opening, and the ManaAvatu citadel AA r as subjected to bombardment by Reid, E. Watts, Philpott and C. Watts in turn. From an attack initiated by Btoavii, Auckland again stormed the goal, Hart gaining applause by stopping tAvo hot shots from the Watts brothers in quick succession. The full-backs raised the siege, and just before half-time ManaAvatu Avorked play into Auckland territory, F. Clark hindering progress.

MANAWATU IMPROVE. When the game restarted Auckland reached tlie circle. E. Watts working around on the left. A free hit brought relief, and in another sortie Pratt found the line at lialf-way. Auckland maintained the attack, and after some battering Philpott shot high over the goal. R. Hoare broke through and ran to half-way, where a free hit further improved matters and O’Brien, recovering the ball from going over the line well out, landed tlie hall into the net from a very acute angle. It seemed a very, long shot. Auckland 3, Manawatu 2. Roused by their success, Manawatu renewed tlie attack, and from a corner Monteith landed another goal.—Manawatu 3, Auckland 3. The Auckland defence appeared to waver. The visitors carved a passage through it and the Auckland goal was in grave danger, Monteith just missing. Auckland rallied. Iteid brought the line into action, and from his centre Manawatu were cornered. C. Watts again converted his fourth goal from corners. Auckland 4 Manawatu 3. Both teams fought strenuously and O’Brien, obtaining possession, steered the ball through tlie Auckland backs, and Manawatu were awarded a penalty bully for obstruction, in which R. Hoare won. —Manawatu 4, Auckland 4. The next big movement on the part, of Auckland saw Reid centre, and Hart stood up to a couple of shots, stopping a beauty from C. Watts under his feet, and then making a great save. Play travelled rapidly to the other end, and tlie Auckland goal escaped by inches. Just as quickly the scene of action changed, and Reid, C. Watts and Crawley essayed at goal. A splendid centre by Plulpott went begging, but Manawatu were cornered, and wonderful to relate C. Watts landed Auckland’s fifth goal from that source, a fast true shot glancing off Hansen into the net. —Auckland 5, Manawatu 4. A strong sortie resulted in a swift invasion in which Crawley and Hart collided, both being knocked out temporarily. Play hovered round the Manawatu goal, Reid and C. Watts’s shots being brilliantly stopped. Philpott liit over the net and Reid shot wide. After a brief journey into Auckland territory Manawatu were on the defensive again, but Hart repelled

the raiders, and on the call of time accounted for a shot from lleid. The final scores were: Auckland 5 Manawatu 4 Messrs A. Williams (Auckland) and W. H. Wilson (Manawatu) were the referees.