HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12609, 25 June 1904, Page 7

HOCKEY.

Auckland's bye the previous Saturday did not improve their play last week, when they met 'Varsity on their own ground. Although 'Varsity were defeated by five goals to two, their play on the whole was quite up to the standard of Auckland, and at times much better, but they are at a loss without a good "shooting" man in the team. The play of Auckland was disappointing, and they did not reach near to that perfection which characterised their play in the other matches. Mason, who scored the five goals for his side, was in good shooting form, but his eagerness to score made him play the selfish game, insomuch that many chances were missed which might have been hit with profit had they been handed over to one of his fellow forwards.

. The left wings were fed too milch at the expense of the* right, where the Lepine brothers did not have their time occupied as fully as they would have liked. I J. Lepine did his share creditably, but would do better were he to pass to the centre sooner, while on the j left wing Speight has still a tendency to hang offside. Broadfoot was the only one of the halves who did any work at all, but he at times " fiddled" too much with the ball instead of getting in his stroke at once. Allen, at fullback, played a solid game, and disputed the way of many of 'Varsity's hard drives, but Hill had a day off, and attempted too many haaardoua shots, instead of trying to stop the ball before striking. 11l goal, Kavanagh put in some good work, and is the right man in the right place. The 'Varsity forwards, with the exception of the left wing (Randerson), played a fast and dashing game, the most conspicuous being G. Miller and Metcalfe, the former being unmistakably the best forward on the ground. Moore, on the right, and Metcalfo divided honours for goals scored by their side, the former shooting a neat goal from rather a difficult angle. ■ , • Donovan, centrehalf, and Hampson, on the right, kept their forwards well supplied with the sinews of war, and by so doing enabled them to make repeated onslaughts into their opponents' circle. Their stopping, passing, and driving were a feature of the match. Latham neither hit hard nor clean, and played a wetik game. MeClure got his side out of difficulties on more than one occasion by his strong defensive and bitting capabilities, x "V Finlayson, in goal, repelled a good number of hard shots, but has a tendency to rush forward and leave his goal undefended. Mr. J. Shera had charge of the whistle, and gave ©very satisfaction. The match, United v. West End, does not call for much comment. United were decidedly superior to their opponents, scoring four goals in the first spell. In the second spell, however, West End made a stubborn defence, although kept nearly the whole time in their own 25, while United threw away several chances by rash hitting over West End's base line, Shirriffs being the chief offender in this respect. United'* forwards were strengthened by the inclusion of Shaw and Clarke, and these two, with Barry and Morpeth, made a good' combination. Barry still roams too much, and now that he is supported by good forwards should have no excuse. Clarke played a fine game, scoring two goals. Morpeth and Clarke play a fine combination game; the former is a very unselfish player, and other players would do well to follow his example, both of Clarke's goals being scored from his passes when he might have had an uncertain shot himself. The United backs all played a sound game, and Farrer {at full) was again hitting and stopping well. Court also showed an improvement. Of the West End forwards, Brown, Quin, and Stokes were the best, but they still insist on bunching and spoiling the chances they get. They all seemed to know what should be done, but apparently did not know exactly how to do it. With good coaching, however, they would make a formidable forward team. The West End backs played well, but the wing halves go to the centre too much. Weston, at Full, played a fine defensive game, his hitting being clean and hard, while L. Alison, in goal, was & great | stumblingblock to the opposing forwards during the second spell. Auckland A defeated West End juniors by 8 goals to nil. The winners had all the best of the go, and their forwards displayed espeR, Benjamin, C. Eastsate, ana P. Steele played solid games. The losers played a hard game throughout, but combination told its tale. Messrs. R. Barry (Auckland) and 0. Pearson (Wellington have been appointed selector* of the North Island team to play the South Island at Wellington - some . time in August. At a meeting of the association last Wednesday night, it was decided only to have two rounds in the championship matches, and these matches will therefore be concluded on July 23. The date of the representative match, Auckland v. Waihi. has been fixed for August 13 at Waihi, if that date suits the Waihi players. Thames have been asked by the local association to send a team to Auckland on August 27 to meet the local representatives.^ The Auckland Association is in communication with the Wellington, Taranaki, and Poverty Bay Associations in reference to these latter associations sending representative teams to play Auckland during September. The association is having the rules printed in book form, and intends to distribute them amongst the clubs at a nominal charge of 3d. All hockey players should secure one of these books, as they include the rules of hockey, hints to players, and notes on the game for players and referees. What should prove to be the game of the season in club hockey takes place at the Remuera station ground this afternoon, when Auckland and United meet in the second Ground of the championship matches. United have been in a winning vein lately, and have a much stronger team than when they met Auckland in the first round. All hockey enthusiasts should take this opportunity of witnessing a good game. The University Club have had to give up their ground at Epsom on account of th© owner requiring it for other purposes, so the match Auckland A v. University juniors to-day will have to be played on the University Ladies" Club ground, near the Junction Hotel. Players are requested to note the change of grounds. The Auckland B-'Varsity match, though ending in a draw (two goals each) was of a one-sided nature, 'Varsity having the best of the play for the greater part of the game. With more combination their forwards ought to be a good lot, as they are all hard workers, while their backs did really good work, being very steady. Thompson and/ F. Moodie of the forwards were both worthy of mention. Auckland's play was very uncertain in all department*!, several of their men continually spoiling each other's play. Some of them seem afraid to hit hard. In the forward line Culpan and Price worked hard.

On Saturday last Mr. H. Rees George presented the United Club with a flag in the club colours, and bearing the club's monogram. In the absence ©i the club captain (Graham Reid) the flag was handed to Mr. S. Shirriffs, captain of the senior team. The College Rifle Club's teams reached me yesterday, but too late for publication, owing to the pressure on space on Saturdays. They should apnear not later than Friday. A full account of the United A v. United B match has also come to hand, but it is impossible to find space for it in Saturday's paper. These matches should be sent in in time for Monday's paper. The following table shows the result of the first round of the senio. championship matches: Games Goals Goals Cup Played. Won. Lost. Dr'n. For. Agat. P*ts. Auckland.. 4 4 0 0 38 4 8 United ... * 3 1 1 11 6 5 Coll- Rifles 4 1 1 3 10 10 3 University 4 13 0 7 17 2 West End 4 0 3 1 2 19 1 From -he foregoing it will be seen that Auckland for the first round occupies » good position, and they thoroughly deserve it, as right through the term their playing has been very consistent. United, last year's premiers, do not seem to have that combination which characterised their play last year, but it is to be hoped that before the season is over they will all have struck form. College Rifles, although a new club, have done wonderfully well so far, and may make things lively yet. University are improving with each Saturday's play, and with a good shot in the team would go very near winning all their matches next round. West End are a hard lot of grafters, but require a great deal of coaching in order to gain combination.