HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14745, 29 July 1911, Page 9

HOCKEY.

TO-DAY'S MATCHES. i ' The principal hockey matches to-day are as follows: — ' • SENIOR GRADE, . :'■;,. ; A unci B representative trial match (No. Is' ground, Victoria Park, at three, p.m.), referees Messrs. Hay and Baddiley. 0 and- D representative trial match (No. 2 ground, Victoria Park, at three p.m.), referee Mr. W. 11. Jones. ~ ;;.;v.;:- ' " : :; ',•„ ~•: '■' NOTES AND COMMENTS. " The University-Auckland match last Saturday attracted a large attendance to Reniuera, and the game that resulted proved to bo • one; of ; the : best exhibitions seen locally for some time, though hardly ho exciting as the match played between the same teams iat Remueira last year in the mud and rain, wheE; Auckland won just cm the call of time. ' The' first - spell proved very fast and open, the passing, of both vanguards being quite a revelation; compared with senior hockey earlier in the season. Time and again tho student forwards swept down the field, their -short, clever passing keeping the opposing backs dodging about. On one occasion the ball was passed ' from the left to the , right and back again, each forward touching the ball twice before Reynolds put the finishing touch by netting & beautiful; goal from a somewhat acute angle. In the second spell the game was very keenly contested, but owintr. to ■ numerous • penalties the j whistle sounded frequently, and only at, intervals did the forwards of cither side get any chances. Taking the "game right through, honours must go to the Kiwis, and a win by three j goals to one would have been a fair criterion" on the '• day of tho relative merits of the teams. ■■-. ■ Com to individual play, Allen, in goal , for Auckland, was very safe, his saving of King's shot in the second'spell being particularly fine. Baker played a fine game, but in his evident anxiety to watch Jacobsen made the dangerous mistake of backing from the opposing forwards. Ho was well supported "by, Whitley.,; Kavanagh was the pick of I the half line, and got through an immense amount of ■ work, often - helping his fullbacks out of tight - corners. His out- [ siders, Norton and Lepine, were hardly up to their usual form. Moore was about the best of the forwards, and combined well with Mason. Wei ham was too well watched by " Jaeobseii to properly get moving. He, got in a couple of good runs in tho second spell, but showed '■' a tendency to crowd his inside. Mason was ,', always dangerous, but roamed ; a lot. The pace, evidently had its effect on; him,' for lie was obviously done in the closing stages of the game. ;, Mather was fair, but Little, on the whig, was weak. Bunkall, the blue custodian, carried out his not too onerous duties without any mis-* takes. Jackson showed ,up ; prominently. This- player would do well to give his undivided attention -to the game, and not ; have one ear open for remarks from the side lino. Richards was brilliant in the half line. Ho : was unfortunate }in . having _ a penalty bully given against : him.; Cliff Jacobsen, "who-filled the gap caused by; Rowo's illness, showed himself ; well up to senior form, though his ■; stick got him into trouble badly. Robinson was. the best halfback on the ground, his fielding being wellnigh perfect, and his hitting left little) to be desired. His play on Saturday stamps him as one of Auckland's leading halfbacks. It would be hard to discriminate between the forwards, all of whom played their game of the season. .; Their' combination was excellent, and whenever the leather came their way it usually reached the net or Allen. Jacobsen was at the top of his form, and, l ■with Reynolds, ■ kept Baker and Co. -busy. King and Whittaker ; were very clever, and their tackling was very ;good.. Burton, on the right wing, was very neat, : and shot a nice goal, which was disallowed. H. Mather, who played two games' for the Auckland club, has gone to: the Northern Wairoa. ' The/University senior team ; will meet at: Victoria' Park to-day, prior to the practice matches to make final arrangements for tho match against Victoria College, . whioh will be played in 'Wellington on August 14. Tho Areta Hockey Club's "At -Home,": -which .will take place on August 30, promises to be a great success. •; ;.-'s In ; the Auckland v.'Aretaß section "match, plaved last Saturday, J. Cooper, , the Auckland team's centre forward "played a>• fine •game. , ,' -'-. , , The arrangements • are i announced for tho interstate,hockey tournament, which will be held at Melbourne, between 1 South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales Associations, ' from August 19 to j 26. On i the formor date Victoria will play South Australia; on August 23 South. Australia will play New South Wale's j,-' and on August "26 New South Wales will play Victoria. " & The date, of tho shield match has been finally fixed for : August 12. The Auckland representative team will take their departure from here on August 8, so as to enable them to get; some practice 1 on the ground at} Day's Bay, ; which is a , most peculiar one, and totally unlike any hockey field in the; ■ Dominion.. ~,;.,,;;,.. '';»:;',' /'■'iJ^S^SS'Zi, '2 The skating carnival;, which the : association is holding in the Royal Rink on August 7, promises to be a great success. A strong sub-committee: h&ve the arrangements well in hand. • • ~ • , > < . The ladies'- match between Training College and; Ao-tea-roa to-day . should';' go a long way towards deciding the championship. A win for the former team; will give them' the premier . honour, whereas if .Ao-tea-foa win ■ the two teams; will be level. ; *'. *> The six leading teams in A section of the second' grade $ have . been j redrawn ■"■ to . play each other, : and a very fine: contest will result. 5 It is difficult to ■ pick the winner. ?/■•;' Tho association "■ are . trying; two;: referees in the A. and B. trial match to-day, Jjin; view of ; tho probable adoption of this course in the shield match. '.-;;--. The English system of two referees or umpires— for. each half of j;he ground— was adopted in the shield match : played between the Wellington and Hawke's Bay representatives at i Day's. Bay : last? Saturday. The -pace- of the ground at; Wellington necessitates this change, which any referee ■who has officiated in a fast game; will appreciate.. :-' . ;•'■;;-.._. , , > '"' . LADIES' MATCHES: . The; principal ladies', hockey j matches . today are as follows: — .;■ ...', SENIOR GRAPH! (at two p.m.). .» , Ao-tca.roa v. Training College ; (So. 4 ground, Remuera), referee Mr. Dykes. , ■ Rawhiti v. Araws, <No. 5 ground, Remuera), referee Mr. Murphy. ■ ..•-• : ;; Rangatira v. Kopana (No. 1 ground, Remuera), referee Mr. Kent. . .' " A and B representative practice watch (N,o. 9 ground, Bemuera, ;at three p.m.).; referee ■ Mr. 'Moses. ,; \ ' The senior • championship will - conclude to-day, the match .'. of the - day being between Training College and Ao-tea-roa; Various opinions have been expressed as to which team ' will prove victorious, but .the balance of opinion seems to favour the College 15. j '--'■:.* 1 , ''--,"' „ i Tho Ara.wa-Ao-tea-roa match last Saturday, was full of excitement, and the -result came as a surprise. many. > Arawa are a plucky team, and their win. was ; a very popular one. ': .. . .' ' Rawhiti played a drawn game with Rangitira, neither side scoring, but on Rawhiti's part the game was certainly thrown away by careless • play ; among ; the forwards. The : match was ; very :• even throughout, both teams shaping well. Training College accounted; for Kopana, but the blues put a lot of dash into their '. play in spite of the odds against them. The selectors will select the representative.' team during the ..next week, so {that; the players can get some good practice together. Mount Eden are. still leading in the junior grade, and there seems to be every possibility of them winning the junior championship.' - ' • \ ■ - Technical ■ College : and Unitarian ; ■ are both playing up, and ; a close finish for second place can be expected. ; Waihora were unfortunate last Saturday in;playing three short, as this- team is showing improved form. ' -..