HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13193, 2 June 1906, Page 5 (Supplement)

HOCKEY.

'In the senior grade to-day Auckland A' play Auckland li on the Domain, and United meet University at Kerauera. . The Ladies' Association commence their matches this afternoon.

The defeat of University by Auckland B last Saturday eamo somewhat as a surprise after the good showing the 'Varsity -players had made the previous Saturday against the red and blacks' A team. However, the 'Varsity were one or two men short, and that greatly handicapped them. The meeting of those- old rivals Auckland aim United attracted quite a number of spectators to flemuera last week. After a very even and well-oontestcd game victory rested with the red and blacks by two goals to nil. United had the worst of the luck, one of the shots hitting the goal-post, while another just shaved it. For the winners Sarah was very safe in goal, and stopped some good shots. Hill hit cleanly at back, but his parner, Allen, handicapped by a bad hand, did not play his usual skilful game. Of the halfbacks Kavanagh at centre was the pick and did some great stopping and clever stick work. Whitley (right half) fed his forwards well, but was inclined to hit rather hard.

Mason made his first appearance ot' tho season, and though short of practice he was as clever as; ever, and made his presence felt in the circle by scoring- both goals. His clearing and passing were also very fine.

Armstrong played a good solid game, and both the wingers. Jessnp and Lepine, got through their work . well. Lepinc's centring was as accurate as usual.

For United Anderson played a good game at back, and in the half division Porter was as usual the mainstay. He proved a stumbling-block to the Auckland forwards on more than one occasion.

W. Lepine, Barry, and Doyle were the most prominent- of the forwards, and followed lip well. The black and whites' wingers were not in the same class as their inside men.

Auckland A will play in the club's colours to-day, and Auckland B will wear white. The Auckland Hockey Association, Ladies' Association, and Referees' Association are holding a large euchre-partv and dance in the Federal Hall on Friday, July 6. Arrangements for the function, are well forward, and a strong- committee from the three associations will meet next Friday to make final arrangements. As there are over 200 hockey players in Auckland tho success of the undertaking should be assured, and a: good surplus-should result for tho-object-in view, the sending of an Auckland representative team South.

Tllo. Auckland Club arc sending: a team to the Thames to play the Hauraki Club 011 Monday next. The red and blacks, though unable to get their strongest team away! should give a good account of themselves. I was pleased to notice last Saturday that the association has provided nets for the two senior matches. Nets save the referee many anxious moments, and are also much more satisfactory for the players, as disputed goals are done away with. They also afford the forwards a better mark for goalshooting-. A good game was witnessed between Auckland B. and University on the Domain. The match was extremely fast and 'Varsity, playing with nine men, found the pace set too strong and collapsed- toward the close of the game. The Auckland team contains some excellent material and the players have a good idea of the trite- game. With a little coaching _ they should make a formidable combination. ~

The centre-forward does not quite realise tllo opportunities of his position. I would suggest to him that he should field more with his hands and hit harder when in the circle. Eastgate, right wing-half, is a. powerful hitter, and I should think could be more advantageously played at fullback. He was guilty on Saturday of hitting top hard when close in, thereby giving his forwards a lot of unnecessary work. I would suggest to tho other backs the necessity for "cleaner fielding, and more fielding with tho hands. The 'Varisty team have a goalkeeper worthy of the position. His play 011 Saturday was good, his only weakness being. a tendency to come away and leave his goal exposed. Of course, in this the blame is not altogether his, for the team was playing one back short. Behind two good fullbacks he would be a hard man to get a shot past I should imagine. On the play of the- other members of tho team it is difficult to comment, owing to their disorganised stale, but 1 was pleased to note that several members were very clever with their sticks.

St. George's A and B teams met last Saturday, and after a keen game, victory rented with the A team by nine goals' to two. The BV possess a promising wing-forward in Skipworth, and Cummiiigs is showing improvement at half. Pyevofr, their goalkeeper, though new at the game*, stopped some hard shots.

For the A team Tattlev notched lour goals, E. Stone_ two, T. Stone two, and Hay one, and Skipworth and Cuff scored for the B's. The A team is a very strong 0110, and should go near winning the junior championship. After ;t. good game University defeated College B by three goals to or,?-. In the first spell the- 'Varsity players had all the best of matters, but College B livened up in the second half, and but for poor shooting would have put on more goals. Tetenberg, in goal for College, was a host in himself. Both teams were weak in shooting, and the College backs should hit harder, and their forwards should not bunch so much. Woodroffe and Dargaville were the best of the vanguard, and Wilson and Cotton of the bucks. . Auckland juniors boat United by eight goals to one. The greater weight of the winners accounted to » large extent for the somewhat easy victory. Combination was lacking 011 both sides, especially 011 the part of United. On- the United side Robertson and Dennison worked hard, but had little help from their comrades of the back division. Titer* was little to choose between the players, who did well considering that they got tho bulk of the work. Auckland forwards were nearly all old and experienced players. Westwood, Short and Lloyd were the best of them. At halfback Morrison and Caro played well. .Price and Baker at. back saved their side on a good many occasions.