HOOKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13796, 8 July 1908, Page 4

HOOKEY.

NEXT SATURDAY'S MATCH. Auckland will be called upon to withstand another challenge for the shield on Saturday, this time from .the ; Canterbury Association. ; The visitors are expected to arrive from New Plymouth on Friday morning, and will meet Auckland at Victoria Park tho following afternoon. , A great game is bound to eventuate, as both combinations are very strong. The Canterbury representatives will arrive at New Plymouth to-night, and will play Taranaki to-morrow, leaving for Auckland the same evening. ■ The Taranaki team to meet Canterbury will be tlu same as that which _ played against 'Auckland, with the exception that T. P. Anderson, of New Ply- • mouth Club, replaces Curtis in the halfback line. The Canterbury Association has nominated Mr. W. P. Nicoll as referee for the t match. . :a' '/ .r . . :• The team ■ tv.' represent Auckland against Canterbury will be the same as;that which played against Taranaki last Saturday, with tho exception that H. Speight, of University, replaces Whitley in the fullback line.. The meeting of Auckland and Taranaki at Remuera last Saturday provided a first-class exhibition of hockey, which was Reminiscent ' of the now famous Manawatu match played on tho same ground last year. The turf was somewhat sticky, but the association had • conferred plenty of attention upon it, with the result that it was in good playing order. Some of the players did not care for it, however, and the manner in which they slid ibout was very amusing—for the spec*, tators. ■ ' ' f( . Auckland thoroughly deserved ■ their win, and should they show the same form next ' Saturday Canterbury will probably return •• home without the shield.' The" .forwards worked ' together.splendidly, and ' the backs , .were almost as good.' Credit must also' be ; given to Shirriffs',' the Auckland skipper, ' who controlled • his men in first-class style. It was evident during the game that he had it had a few "private interviews", with some , of the players ' ' Of the vanguard Mason, at centre, was the j pick. He showed splendid control of the ball, and his short, sharp passing was very " effective,' while his two goals were brilliant : efforts. • " 11 j i Barry, whose inclusion gave rise to ac much comment/played a great game. There was no " lame leg' helping him along, and he kept up with the remainder of "the for- ? wards with ease. He also shot a nice goal. Welham, a clubmate of Barry, who was . stationed on the right wing}, centred well and often, but ho must learn to field the ball with his hands when playing in his present position. , • ' , .Jacobsen, at inner left, did not do anyi thing "showy," but he put in a lot of useful i tackling, and was well vorth his place. Brooke-Smith, on the left wing, was afforded plenty of- opportunities during the first spell, and he made the most of them. His fielding was the best on the ground, and his centring was < delightfully crisp and ac- > curate. During the second half he had practically nothing to do. . , : Of the halves Kavanagh was probably the pick, but they were all up to representative standard. Badham thoroughly justified his inclusion, and his tactics in sending the ball U to his centre-forward occasionally proved very successful.■ , t< Shirriffs (the "captain), ■at right fullback, ' set his men a splendid example, playing in >■ faultless style. Whitley, on the left, did i, not show those present what he is capable : i of. It is surprising that he should have gone off-colour to such an extent during tho past I three weeks. ! ' : 1 . Howell, in goal, had practically nothing ' to do. He saved one certain score, but the ' shot which got past him would have beaten »'■ anybody. - ' Of . the Taranaki forward line Pagan, at • inner right, was the pick, and his goal was ■* a beauty. Sergeant and Crawford played ' well as centre and inner left respectively, t A feature of the play of ,these three was r the delightful manner in which they took i* their passes' on" the fly. ... Unfortunately for Taranaki, however, they were not able to indulge in these tactics very often, their half-line being weak. " R. B. Anderson and Avery, as fullbacks, were* the strongest point in . the rearguard, and they shaped splendidly. G. E. Ander- - son.' in goal, acquitted himself with credit. Mr. K. E. Madden, of the Auckland Re- ' forces' Association, controlled the game, and * his decisions met with the entire approval of both teams. He did much towards keeping . the play open and fast. The Kopana and Iviatero ladies' teanv: played a drawn game at Mount Albert on l Saturday afternoon, neither side scoring. Tho representative team will hold practices I to-night in tho Newton football Training , Shed, and on Victoria Park, to-morrow, at four p.m. sharp. All members are requested ■ to attend. There will bo absolutely no practice on any grounds under tike association 1 control, on account of the representative match on Saturday next. Tho hon. secretary ' 1 of tho A.H.A. wishes all inquiries to be ; made by letter. / care of box 117, or care o» " Sports Club, His Majesty's Arcade.