HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14069, 24 May 1909, Page 7

HOCKEY.

AUCKLAND CUP MATCHES. SOME HARD GAMES. . The Rerauera polo ground, where most of the cup matches under the aupiees of tho Auckland Hockey Association are played, is not an alluring spot during wet weather, 'and. in consequence, Saturday's matches vioro witnessed by very few spectators. The ardour of tho players, however wet the ground, was not dampened in the least, and, in consequence, some hard games were witnessed. The principal contest was between United and St. George's, the former winning after a -most interesting contest by three goals to one. Ponsonby and Y.M.C.A. played a draw, each side netting three goals. At,' the Domain Grafton created the surprise of the season by defeating University by three goals to one. There was still another throe to one victory, when North Shore defeated College Rifles at Devonport. V UNITED V. ST. GEORGE'S. St. George's played with the wind and rain behind them during the first spell, and had their forwards played more judiciously should have had at least three goals to their credit. United' shooting was erratic, owing to tho state sof tho turf, and many of Cathro's fine centres were not made proper use of. The spell ended without score. In the second half, St. George's began to press, and, as a result of a good centre by Stone, Timms drove the leather into the net. Play then became very . willing, and good work, by United forwards gave tho opposing backs plenty to do. Eventually, Porter scored for United, and then Barry put in a couple ot clinking shots. The game ended without further score, United thus winning by three goals to 0110. Mr. Hayes wfls referee. - Swinburne, Shirriffs, Porter, and Exley, wore the pick of the United backs, and of the forwards Barry and Cathro did best. What little he had to do Heaketh, on (ho loft wing, did satisfactorily, while Munro also shaped well. Becker, inner right, wasalways on hand, too much so at times, as he frequently got.too close to Barry during the second spell. With practice, however, ho should soon remedy this fault. Of St. George's Badham, the captain, at centrehalf, played tho best, back game on the ground, and Donovan, -at right fullback, proved an able lieutenant. St. George's are fortunate in Donovan's services being available regularly. Slator, Walters, and Gilmore were the best of the others. The St. George's backs proved themselves very nippy players. Little distinction could bo inado between the forwards, who do not yet appear ,to understand each other's .play. They should endeavour to acquire combination as speedily as possible, for they have one of. the best sets of backs in Auckland behind them. '

GRAFTON V. UNIVERSITY. Grafton put up a great showing against University at the Domain, and kept the students' hard pressed from start to finish. Their backs recognised that " wood" and not tapping was reauirod, with the result that the forwards, got plenty of opportunities, and they showed splendid combination. University, on the other hand, owing to the careful manner in which the Grafton backs marked their forwards, and also tho stato of tho ground, could make no headway, and they were lucky in suffering defeat by so small a, margin as throe goals to one. Both teams deserve credit for the manner in which they conformed to lie rules, the referee (Mr. Larkin) seldom being called upon to stop play. Leo Prime scored two goals for Grafton and Whyman one, while Jacobsen notched for 'Varsity. During the last 15 minutes Grafton played with 10 men—J. Baker having to leave early, in order to'accompany the Auckland Club team to tlia Waikato.

NORTH SHORE V. COLLEGE RIFLES. College Rifles journeyed over to Devonport and met North Shore .on the cricket ground. The match was played in heavy rain, and in the second half the ground was very much cut up. The home team set up the attack from the bully, and play was in College Rifles' 25 for the best part of the spell. Towards the end tho College forwards rallied, and a score went to their credit, the ball being kicked through by the North Shore goalkeeper. The second half was very even until 15 minutes from tho call of time, when North Shore forwards played with combination, and nettod three goals in quick succession, Lockloy and Sherman (2) being the scorers. The College forwards played well, while of the backs Price, at half, was tho best. Steele, ricrht fullback, was fair. Clist, Little, I'Ockley. and Sherman woro the nick of th" North Shore forward line. Barlour and Newman, at half-back, also played well. Farqttharson, at right fullback, was tho best back on tho ground, his stopping and hitting on the wet ground beinpr very effective. Mr. T. H. Wright was referee.

PON SON* BY V. Y.M.C.A. Tlio Ponsonby-Y.M.C.A. match, played at Remuera, resulted in a drawn game, each side obtaining three goals. The heavy grounds and continuous rain interfered with the play. Ponsonby suffered through Young, the mainstay of the forward line, lining handicapped by an injured knee. McLean scored all the Y.M.C.A.'s goals, while for 4 Ponsonby Sakcy (2) and Young put the leather into the net. Mr. Dinnison was referee. SECOND GRA.DE. University v. Ponsonby: University woo by 3 goals to 1. Neal (2) and Bennett scored for the winners and Gick for Ponsonby. United v. Epsom: United won by 5 goals to 1. Mclndoo (2), Barnard (2' d Howarth scored for United and Glau l*.* the losers. Ellerslie v. College Rifles: Ellerslio won by 6 goals to 1. Training College v. Pimpernel: Training College won by 5 goals to 2, Crawford (4) and Crawshaw scoring for the winners, while Langdale and Murray netted for Pimpernel. St. George's v. Y.M.C.A. : St. George's won by 7 goals to 2. Laird (3), Jones, Beale, Cullen, and Griffin scored for St. George's, and Forgie (2) for the losers, who played two men short. THIRD GRADE. Unitarian v. University B: Unitarian won by 20 goals to 1. St. Mary's v. St. George's: St. Mary's won by 8 goals to nil. Doblo (4), G. Killip (2), Beresford, and E. Thomas scored for the winners. St. George's played with 10 men and St. Mary's with nine. University A v. Epiphany: University won'by 4 goals to 1. The winners' goals were scored by Brook (2), Thomas, and Sneddon. United A v. United B: United A won by 16 goals to 3. ST. MARY'S V. HAMILTON. St. Mary's hockey team left for Hamilton by tho Main Trunk express last evening. A match will bo played against a Hamilton team to-day. THAMES REPRESENTATIVES. [IIY TELEGRAPH. OWN" CORRESPONDENT. - Thames, • Sunday. In view of the coming representative fixtures, an A and B trial match took place on Saturday, tho cup > fixtures being postponed. Whi taker and Brownlce captained the respective sides, and after two short spells, in which the game was continued at times in a downpour, the A team won by 4 goals to 2. The team to play tho United Club (Auckland) at Parawai on Monday was subsequently selected, as follows:—Goal, Menziee; fullbacks, Sanders and Rickards; halfbacks, Wright. Whitaker. and Brokenshire forwards, BrownUe, Griffin, Whitaker, Torrens, and Adams. WELLINGTON TO PLAY AUCKLAND. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] • • 'Wellington, Sunday. The Wellington Hockey Association has accepted August 14 as the date for a match with the Auckland representative touring team. It is hoped to get a team away to the Northern city, in July, with a view to wresting the New Zealand Hockey Association's championship shield from the Aucklandera. - ; ' LADIES' MATCHES. , Matches under the auspices of the Auckland Ladies' Association were commenced oil Saturday at tho polo ground, Remuera, and it speaks well for the enthusiasm of tho players that despite the wretched weather each team had , its full; complement. Moana, last, year's champions, defeated Rangatira B (a newly-formed team) by three goals to one, aaa" Rangatira A (also a new team) had a runaway victory over Rawhiti B, tho final scores being Rangatira 10, Rawhiti nil. Tho latter match provided an unusual incident, viz., not onco during tho game were the Rangatira left full-back and goal-keeper called upon to play the ball. Moana v. Rangatira B: This proved, an even contest., the, slippery state of tho ground not allowing the Moana forwards to indulge in much passing. For a new team Rangatira played a great game, and the score at the conclusion of the first spoil was one all. In the second half Rangatira had the bettor of the play for a short time, and had the forwards been a little more vigorous with their sticks would probably have added two goals to their credit. With about 10 minutes ;to go. Moana made matters interesting, and. they netted two goals in quick succession. Miss Jenkins- scored for Rangatira, and Misses 'Matthias (2) and' L. 'Gondie for Moana'. ' Miss Wynyard was the host of the Moana roar division, and the forwards werean even lot. Of tho Rangatira backs Miss Vail« stood out on her own, and Misses Speight, Jenkins, and Schischka wero the pick of the forward line.* Rangatira A v. Rawhiti B: 'By; their showing against Rawhiti B, Rangatira A made it apparent that, they will make matters very lively in the. competition this season. The forwards are a first-class lot,' and the rearguard comprises some ; " star" performers. Rawbiti B deserve credit for the manner in which they held to their opponents, and they allowed only one goal to bo scored against them during the second spell. " Rangatira A won by 10 goals to nil. Miss Steele, at centre forward, wlv'o played a rattling game throughout, notching no less than seven. The; other scorers mMj Missus Cooke, West bury, arid Abbot^sF'