HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13781, 20 June 1908, Page 8

HOCKEY.

REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. Julv 4 : Auckland v, Taranaki. '~./. July 11: Auckland v. Canterbury. '■ •. August 1: Auckland v, ManawatU. August 8: Auckland v. Nelson. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Plunfcet) has accepted the position of patron 10 the New Zealand Hockey Association. The championship matches will be continued to-day • at : Remuera, ■ Elferslie, and the Domain." In the senior grade the PonsonbyAuckland B, St. George-College Rifles, and United-North Shore contents will take. place at Rernuera, while University and Auckland A will try conclusions at the Domain. The meeting of Auckland A and University this afternoon should provide a splendid exhibition of hockey- The capabilities of each team are well-known, and as both indulge in excellent combined play the game in many "respects should prove an objectlesson to younger players. Owing, to an injury to his hand, Murdoch will be unable to play for Auckland, and Jerfsup has been chosen to fill the vacancy. The first match for the New Zealand Association's challenge shield will be played at the Polo Ground, Remuera, on July 4, when Auckland will meet Taranaki. Auckland will be the defending team, and within the next week every local' player will be engaged in surmising as to who will comprise that party. The selectors (Messrs. F. S. Sherriffs, E. G. Whitley, and A. E. Tattley) have a difficult task before them—it harder one than that of last year, I believebut they can be depended upon to use their best endeavours to see that Auckland is worthily represented. The back division, especially the half-line, appear* to require much sorting out, there being so many olaycrs in that branch of defence and attack of equal calibre. A trial match will be played next Saturday. Two years ago hockey was an unknown quantity in Sydney; this year there are 28 teams tinder the association's jurisdiction. Tile Australian squadron was largely responsible for the introduction of the game. The other day Jack Tar had the tables turned upon him, when he suffered defeat at the hands of the beginners. A meeting of the members of the Ponsonby Club will be hold at the dressing-shed before the commencement of play this afternoon. Both the North Shore teams will be engaged at Rernuera to-day, and members are requested to catch the 1.40 p.m. boat from Devonport. Auckland B put up a splendid showing against the A team last Saturday, and gave their fellow-club players a warm time.. The game was remarkably fast, and was noticeable for the fine defence, of the B's backs. Hene. Howell, Eastgate, Pond, Reid, West, and Speight were especially prominent. The clever combination of the A.'a forwards was also apparent, Mason. Mather, and Brooke-Smith doing especial]** goutt work, which Murdoch, who was suffering from an injury, and J. Lepine also helped materially. The B's had a very strong forward line, and they at times exhibited good combination. Considering that Jessiip and Bell were not accustomed to the play of Short, Whyman, and vv. Lepine, the line gave a firstrate display in every department. The A's backs are, on the whole, about the soundest in the competition, and they gave the opposing forwards few opportunities. Kavanagh. at centre-half, played his best game of tho season, and fed "his forwards like clockwork. 0. Lepine was as steady as ever, and a-similar remark applies to Whitley and Hill. Spear appeared a little off -colour. For the B team Howell played a brilliant game in goal, and the manner in which he stopped the majority of shots of the attacking forwards was a treat to witness. The United-St. George game was of a very interesting nature. At half-time St. George were leading by two to nil, but early in the second spell United equalised- matters, and shortly after St. George placed another two goals to their credit. United forwards worked hard, and just before the call of time ; managed to equalise the score. The game ended in a draw. Badham, of St. George, played well at half, and should go near winning 'representative, honours. The second-grade match Ellerslie «. University provided an exciting contest to the number of enthusiasts who gathered on tho line. In the first spell the students had the best of the game, but in the second half the Ellerslie forwards, by good combined passing, broke through 'Varsity's defence and scored two goals. • For Ellerslie N. ( Hay scored two goals and Mark one. Colbeck was the pick of the If-line and plaved a good game. 'Varsity had the misfortune to lose Richards (back), about the middle of the second spell, through an accident. This player was about the best back on the ground and his loss was severely felt by the students in the final stages of the game. Tomlinson, at centre-forward, played a solid game,' and McArthur's goal was a beauty. Burley, at half, was prominent. As. on the previous Saturday the students suffered from inability to shoot properly when in the circle. Although Y.M.C.A. defeated 'Varsity in the third grade competition by seven goals to nil, the game was by.no means onesided. 'Varsity, who wore playing one man short, invaded their opponents' circle time after time, but the forwards seemed altogether incapable of shooting the ball through. Murray, at wir.'g-forwnrd for Y.M.C.A., put up somewhat, of a record in scoring six out of the seven goals. Some of these were scored without any help, as he took the ball right through the blue's backs. Maclean also played well among the forwards. Robinson was the pick of tho back division, and Cullimore also defended well. F€r 'Varsity Edgeley gave a good exhibition at wing-forward, and is improving with every rnplch. Brook also played well, and had bad iluck in not scoring. Budd played a safe game at fullback, and was the pick of the rearguard. The defence of the back division was very disappointing, and the half-line did not put nearly enough vigour into their strokes, which often lacked dirootion. The • match between Ladies' College and Moana last Saturday was fast and interesting from start to finish. For the first five minutes the' College girls had matters all their own way. and gave the rrreen and blues a hot time in the circle, but Miss May Swan getting off-side gave her opponents relief in a free hit, and the ball, reaching the Moana forwards, the <=eene of play was transferred to the reds'. half. Ladies' College possess a fine set of backs, and Miss Myrtle Swann must be regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in the- Dominion. Miss Collier and Miss Payton, fullbacks, are both very sure, and place their shots well. Misses "Skean and Hopkins played satisfactorily as halfbacks. Of the forwards Miss X. Watson, right-wing, showed up most prominently. Miss Norden and Miss May Swan also nlayed well, but were inclined to get off-side. < For Moana Miss C. Maris Clark, as cen-tre-forward, was, always in tho van and had bad luck in not scoring on several ocI casions. Miss L. Goudio. as left-wing, showI ed out prominently, causing the opposing backs much trouble, and she always centred 'at the right moment. Of the remaining forwards. Miss M. Cooke was tho best, her goal being an especially fine effort. It is a coincidence that in the last contest between these teams Miss Cooke should be responsible for the score. Of the half-line Miss K. Wynyard caused the opposition much trouble, while Miss E. Maris Clark is rapidly developing into a first-rate • centre. ' Of the other backs Miss N. McLean, as goalkeeper, deserves mention. A noticeable feature of the game was the brilliant display, of the College backs. Their stopping was well-nigh perfect, while their hitting and placing was a fine lesson to tho other teams. With Moana their strength lay in the forward division, and as the season progresses that asset will prove a source of trouble to opposing, teams. The remaining fixture was between the Rawhiti-A and- B teams, and it resulted in a win for the former by. three goals to nil, Missos Probert, Muldoon, and Marshall being the scorers. The competition will be continued at Remuera to-day. play commencing at two p.m., when Ladies' College will meet Rawhiti A, and Rawhiti B will be pitted against Moana. The Kopana Club will Isold a practice match at the One-Tree Hill Domain, commencing at three o'clock this afternoon, and a full attendance of member;! is requested. Manawatu met and defeated Wanganui at Palmerston North on Wednesday by four goals to one. The Wanganui team was not as representative as it might have been, owing to several players being unable to get away.