HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15719, 21 September 1914, Page 8

HOCKEY.

CHALLENGE SHIELD MATCH.

WON BY WELLINGTON,

The Wellington and Auckland hockey representative teams mot on Saturday to contest the right to hold the New Zealand Challenge Shield, the match being played at Remuera grounds in ideal weather conditions before a fair attendance. Twelve months earlier to a day the Aucklanders wrested the trophy from Wellington on the latter's ground, and the moating of the old rivals on Saturday was expected to provide a fine exhibition of the game and a strenuous struggle for supremacy. Both provinces were represented by full strength, and the speoially prepared ground was hard and fast. Throughout the first spell the game was disappointing, owing to the local men falling far short of their usual form, and it was not until the opening of the second half, when Wellington led by two goals to nil, that play became interesting. As Auckland scored twice in quick succession and brought the score level excitement was intense, and it looked as if the locals had the game well in hand, so hard were they pressing the doughty Southerners. Opportunities were missed, however, and . two minutes before the bell rang Boyd put ia a lucky shot for Wellington, which dribbled through the local defence and rolled into the corner of the net, and Wellington once again won the shield.

Wellington went off from the opening bully, and their forwards pressed the local defence, which, however, was sound. For the first few minutes both teams found it difficult to keep a footing on the nard ground, but Wellington first gained confidence, and Speight was twice called upon to remove danger to the Auckland net. The Strack brothers and Boyd kept the attack poing for some minutes oy nippy play, and indeed the work of the whole forward line was much ahead of the local vanguard, which lacked dash and lost all position in the first few minutes. Notwithstanding this, the local players reached their opponents' circle time and again, and on two occasions, when scores seemed certain, bungling spoiled the chances. Worsley was mainly responsible was the local attack, and several times carried play to the visitors circle, whore one fine shot by this plaver Was well stopped by Dwyer. and other ffoiden chances were lost by the inside forwards. The local halfbacks were little better and failed to support the forwards to any extent, continually playing too far back. The_ Wellington men played crisnly, and "maintained better formation, while their work in the circle was infinitely the better. Clever play by the visiting forwards was ft feature of the game, and half-way through the first spell Co" Strack cleverly drew tbe gnalkeener and scored Just before halftime Bovd shot hard from the left and placed Wellington further in the lead. Strenuous efforts by the local men to wipe off the deficit occasionally save their supporters hope. C. Jacobsen and Worsley being conspicuous, but still chances were missed, while the visiting fullbacks, E. R. Jacobsen and downy, maintained an exoelleni defence.

After the interval the local team awakened from its letharsrv anil played in its best form The forwards showed up altogether in a different Ijsht, while the halfbacks worked better behind fhem, and Wellington wag hard Dashed to rer>el attack after attack Whittaker made many oneniner®. and a hot attack •ww maintained, which ultimately resulted in Whit taker setting a (rood shot pa it Dwver, amid considerable excitement. Con tin nine to pre«s the local forwards put. much vigour into their work, and pome clever piny by Mahoney and C. Jacobsen mater*«ll v improved Auckland's prospects. Whit-taker made an opening and passed out to Woraley. who went on and beat the opposition and turned the ball into the circle, cnabline Mahoney to flash in and score Auckland's second sroal. At this staire the shield seemed safe, the local men havine made a wonderfnl_ recovery, but the p»rn« was not over Brilliant runs by the Wellington forwards swept all before them, and Sneicht.. Baker, and jFTalla™ were kept busy repelling the invasion The southern forwards swept down in a lino, and Geo Strack sent in a splendid shot, which was beautifully taken by Haliftrri The local forwards retaliated. C Jacobnen beine most prominent in several fine runs, but the anxiously awaited coal did not come, and swecm'nt? down field with only two minutes to bo the black and vellow forwards beat the opposition, and Bovd shot, and the ball found its wav into the net. triviug Wellington the lead. Fast play followed until the call of time, the game ending: —

WeTlinirt-on 3 Auckland 2 Messrs. L. C. Kent and H. V. Walton controlled the game.

THE VISITORS ENTERTAINED. The Wellington team was entertained to dinner by the Auckland Hockey Association ?r Wayerley Hotel on Saturday evening, Mr Eliot #R. Dftvia presiding. The toast of the visiting team was enthusiastically drunk, and many complimentary references were made to the fine feeling existing between th'e two associations. During a happy speech the chairman handed over the New Zealand Challenge Shield to the victors. j iA" ® replied ably, and expressed his team's appreciation of the way they had been received, and of the spirit in which the game was played. Many other toasts- were honoured, and several musical and elocutionary items given.

THAMES V. AUCKLAND JUNIORS. A match between TbaSies and Auckland jumors was played as a curtain-raiser to the shield match, and resulted in a win for the Auckland team by 4 goals to 1 Mogndge scored twice and Blake and Cronin once each for Auckland., and Rickard for Thames. Mr. R. H. Kiiiip was referee. THAMES JUNIORS V. AUCKLAND COLTS. A local team of " colts" easily defeated the 1 names juniors by 9 goals to 3. Mr. W. L. Mlncher was referee. INTER-UNIVERSITY MATCH. The inter-university match to be played this morning between Victoria College, Wellington, and the local university ib arousing considerable interest among enthusiasts. The colleges met previously on one occasion at Wellington in 1912 when Auckland won by 3 goals to 1 and to-day's match is by way of a leturn game. As both clubs are very strong, their senior elevens containing several players well known in representative and inter-island hockey, a keen struggle is assured. The match will commence at 10 a.m. Tin teams are as follows: — Victoria. College Colours, green and gold: |R. Dwyer, E. ft. Jocobsen, F- Gaze, R. Thompson, J. McDowell, E. Rowntree, K. I Strack, C. Strack, G. Strack, captain. A. . East, C. Purdie. Emergency, A. A. BenE< Auckland University—Colours, light blue: F. Wilis, E S. West, H. B. Speight, captain. A. M. Goulding, L. G. Robinson, J. C. Rennie, H. W. King, E. J. Cronin. J. Mahoney, C. N. Jacobsen. E. V, Blaie, Emergency, D. Clayton. Mr. L. H. Norton will act as referee.

ENGLISH LADIES' TOUR.

THE DOMINION REPRESENTATIVES.

[by telegraph.—

Dttotdin, Sunday. . The English ladies' hockey team met a representative Otago side at on Saturday afternoon, and secured a victory by 6 goals to 0. The local team made a good ahowins, but the excellent combination of the visitors' forward line, aided oy the good nil-round play of the backs, never left th» issue in doubt. The effectiveness of the Fnelioh ladies' short passes as opposed 10 the lons hits of the Otaflo team was strikingly demonstrated, and the accuracy of the visitors' shooting also presented a sinking contrast to that of the local players. Aft«r the match. Mr. A. W Manning mewled the team to represent New Zealand against England at Wellington on September 30 as follows: — m on'keener: Miss M. Arthur. Taranaki. Fullbacks: Misses E. Birchley, Manawatu.; i D T : rmey, 'Wellington. I Halfbacks: Misses M. Malcolm. Poverty [Bay: D Rabbidge, Southland. M. Swain, Hawke's Bay. . , r -rs Forwards: Misses M McDonnell, Wellington: S Krase, Canterbury: R Malcolm, Poverty Bay: M Pearce, Canterbury; R. Neil con, Wairarapa Three further players have yet to be selected.