HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13497, 25 May 1907, Page 8

HOCKEY.

..'-.-. ',-'-,'.■•'•. jr.- -•■'••.'/• _.'-' 7.- ■:"■• :--:•' ■ '..."■ ..-'. •' .-. '■' . The.senior matches set. down for. decision to-day 'are Auckland A; v. University, 1 United >v. Auckland !B, and" St. George's JyJ (Ponsonby. The University-Auckland match will be ; played at the Domain . Crick** Ground, and the two others' at 'Romuera.

The Auckland A v. United match, played at Remuera last Saturday, proved a most interesting' contest," and a good exhibit tion of the game was given by both teams. In th© first spell: Auckland was.continually attacking, but during the second spell the United forwards combined better, and tin* Auckland backs were given plenty to do. The 7 next contest between those two teams is being eagerly,,looked:forward to. 7? For United/ Gossett, in shaped well, and is the makings of a good goal-keeper. Sheriffs, right fullback, played, a splendid game, his /hitting being most effective. He was the mainstay of the United's defence.: Thomes, left full, was hardly up to seniorform. Of the halves, Porter, was most prominent and fed his forwards in a judicious manner. The ,two wings, Brown and Bloomfield, played well. Of the forwards, -Barry, at centre, played a hard unselfish game, and - the two inners, Millar and Torrens, shaped creditably. Doyle, right wing, centred well, and Keeling, on the left, shot two fine goals. '..//:■;:- . On th© Auckland side, P. • Lepine (goal) had little to do, but the fullbacks, Hill and Allen, were kept busy and did some eleven stopping. Brooke-Smith, centre-half, played excellently, • and ' fed his forwards well. Kavanagh and Whitley, wing-halves, were safe, but the latter did not keep sufficiently enough to his forwards when they were on the attack. Of the forwards, J. Lepine and .Tessup. on the wings/played well, tho latter fielding in good style. Lepine, however, should , centre more quickly. Armstrong was out of form, but Mason and Mather,, in company with Jessup, put in some clever combined play. :/ '.'//".' , The University students met St.-George's team (winners of last year's junior 'championship) on No. 2 ground at Remuera. After a willing contest the game ended in a draw/The blues had the best of-the game throughout, showing better combination than their opponents, but they lost several goals through indifferent shooting. The 'Varsity backs were an even lot, but were rather inclined to speculate instead of stopping the ball. /Of the forwards, Rands and Jacobse-ii' were the pick. Gilmour was , safe in goal for St. George's, and , Tattley played a sterling gam© at centre-forward. '

• The newly-formed Ponsonby Club's senior team was pitted against Auckland B on the Domain and a -well-contested 'game resulted in a win - for the older club. -\ The -winners', forwards showed fair combination, and will no doubt; improve as the season advances'. The backs gave a sound exhibition and quite outclassed their opponents' rearguard. Their clearing, , when : pressed, was especially good. The Ponsonby team showed up prominently and is a promising combination. They have a fast set of forwards and when better /combination is acquired they will give their opponents' a busy time. Young 'and Donovan showed lip promi-nr-i.tly. '' The backs should improve with practice. >-~ . ~-' ' .'. . ; . F, R. Mason was elected captain of. tho Auckland A . team last Saturday. Mason has represented the red and blacks for ..four seasons and has shot more goals than any other hockey player in Auckland.- . .-..-.,. Webster, the Training College, right-wing, had the misfortune to sprain his ankle when playing against Ellerslie at Ellerslie .last Saturday. - ■ . v- <• ■' . , '■■.'■.' J i ; The first.junior competition promises to be- quite as well contested as the senior. Last Saturday two splendid ; matches' were fought out. Training College beat Ellerslie by a goal .to nil and College■ Rifle's, defeated Y.M.C.A. by four goals to three. •_ ;%m The Ellerslie and. Training College match proved fast : and exciting. Both -clubs have only been formed this season and 'foVth&r opening match ■ they gave decidedly goodexhibitions. . Crispe, captain of the ; Training* College, played a fine game and scored "■> the only goal of v: the match. Row©, > at,-:ftill, plaved a sterling game for Training College. J. 'Hay, the, Ellerslie goalkeeper, stopped several hot shots in 'splendid style. liill,' Notoh, and N. Hay were prominent in 'the forward line,' but the . backs were rather weak. *

The action of a large committed of ladies n supplying afternoon to the ..spectators and players ; was greatly appreciated. : Auckland juniors . play Epsom at tlio Epsom ground, St. John's Avenue, to-day. The Ouehunga tramcars pass near the ground. The Permanent Force have formed a. hockey-team and are anxious 'to ariransa matches; for Wednesday r? afternoon oh, '. the Devonport Cricket * Ground. .{.'■" A Taranaki representative team will visit Auckland ■: early in : August. '■•■, The local association have guaranteed, the Taranaki Association; £5 towards the cost of the tour.

The Auckland Association hive invited the Manawatu representatives to visit Auckland' this season. I hear privately .from Palmerston North that a team will be ; sent for. certain. ; Manawatu only suffered one defeat last year and were 'in. the opinion of last year's Auckland' touring team the best all-round combination in the colony. '';'■..;%'■' •' '. ' Considering -that there are nearly 200' persons playing -hookey fat Remuera' every Saturday, and, jin addition, : a large number of .'spectators are present, the Electric Tramways Company might well consider the. advisablenoss of improving the tram service between'' the hours of ; two "and three p.m., 1 understand that the association have approached the company's managing director to put !on v more cars between the-, hours mentioned, and; also a special car.to leave Market Road about five p.m. In the meantime, hockey players should note that a train> leaves Auckland station on Saturdays at ten minutes past two p.m., and New- • market at twenty minutes past two p.m., arriving at Remuera at half-past two p.'ml "' : July 12 has been suggested as the date on which the local association should hold their annual ball. This" date woud fit- in with the proposed visit of the Otago representatives. •■-■!■■ ' . 'I-

■Tlie Auckland Hockey Association have decided to contribute £5 towards the -cost of a provincial : challenge shield, provided the other three centres do likewise. It "will be remembered that the New Zealand Hockey. Association voted £20 towards the cost of a (provincial challenge shield, and asked the four centres to tribute. £5 each, and the other associations what they thoughtfit. The shield should be the means of adding greater ' interest to interprovincial matches. ■ ■:'■'" - •

England's international hockey season was brought to a;doso at Birmingham, on Mar,cli 22, when Scotland were defeated by '6 goals to nil. In their four international engagements the Englishman scored 28 goais to their opponent' nil. ' They first defeated .\Va!e»r.by 6 goals, then France by 14- goals,, and Ireland by 5 goals, and finally Scotland by 5 goals. ■ ■ • The Ladies' Association wili probably start- their matches next Saturday. I hear they-arc experiencing some difficulty ,in .obtaining suitable grounds. Why not.do like they do ;in the South?play on the same ground as the men, but start an hour earlier, say*' at a-quarter past two p.m., This plan has been found to work admirably in Wellington ind Manawatu.