HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15625, 3 June 1914, Page 9

HOCKEY.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The Auckland HocKey Association will hold a carnival' at its Remuera grounds to-day, commencing at 10 a.m. A varied programme has been. arranged, including a number of- athletic events for bona-fide hockey players, and seven-a-side tournaments for men, women, and school players. Good weather conditions again prevailed on Saturday for the championship competitions,' but tho grounds were someheavy as a result of the previous night's rain. Nothing, of, a very exciting nature occurred during - the afternoon, although the defeat of College . Rifles by Ponsonby was not altogether expected. Ihe followihg -table shows the positions of the teams in the senior grade at the conclusion of the third. round, and ,it will bo noted that Areta has a dear win to tho good :—

It was not expected that Auckland ooiild beat University, but the display by th former team," especially during the first half, was most disappointing and must have banished the hopes of even their meat sanguine supporters. Never at any stage of the game did the red and blacks look to have the remotest chance. of winning. They wore two goals down in the first five or six minutes, and from then on it was just a question of how many goals the blues would win by. The display ,of the Auckland'back division .throughout the first spell would not have done credit to a third grade team, and was possibly tlio worst in the history of this long-success-ful club. With individual exceptions the work of the forwards was little better;., there was practically no combination, while the work of the whole team was sluggish. It 13 difficult to find excuses for this old-seasoned team, six of whose members have represented tho province for years. In comparison with the dashing work of the club's second eloven the senior team suffered badly, so that tho remedy seems obvious. More life was put into the work during tBo second spell, but still much room for improvement existed.

At Victoria Park a fast game was played by Areta and Mount Eden. Flashes' of brilliancy were seen, the smooth playing surface holping considerably, while the fortunes of the teams were continually changing. Areta's combination was best, but a deplorable number of chances were missed. Mount Eden's play wasHiore of an individual nature, there being very little concerted work, and this made it easy for the blacks' backs to clear. Against this, Areta's halves played too far back, and this mitigated against the blacks' driving home their attack. The winners were the best team on the dav, but - nevertheless were fortunate to seeuro a margin in their favour. Tho first goal was secured under somewhat unfortunate circumstances, as the net had been disarranged by a football plaver and the Mount Eden goalkeeper turned to help in its adjustment just immediately before the shot came. There seemed to be some doubt in the minds of some of the play era whether a goal should have been allowed. but this was entirely a question for the referee. If that official had considered that one team was at a disadvantage through the incident he should have shopped plav before the goal was scored, but since he did not do go it is assumed that sudi was not the case, and the Mount Eden goalkeeper would have been wiser to wait for tihe whistle before taking his attention off the game.

, , P'd. Won. Lost. Dm. Points. 'Arot» .-3 3 — _ 6 University ... 3 2 1 — 4 Auckland ,...31113 'College Rifles ... 3 — 1 2 2 Ponsonby ... 3 1 2 — " Mount Eden ... 3 — 2 11