HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17872, 29 August 1921, Page 7

HOCKEY.

AUCKLAND BEAT WELLINGTON.

ONE GOAL TO NIL.

IBY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. The Auckland representative team completed its North Island tour to-day when it met the Wellington representative team at the Basin Reserve. The weather was excellent and the ground in good order and a large crowd of spectators showed much interest in the play. Both associations were represented by their strongestelevens so that the game should serve as a good guide to the chances of the respective teams in ' the challenge shield match to be played at Auckland next month. The teams were :— Auckland.—Goalkeeper, Cooper; fullbacks, Speight and England; halfbacks, McLeod, Johns and Steele; forwards, Alexander, C. Watts, E. Watts, Somers and Grace. Wellington.—Goalkeeper, Moore; fullbacks, Sherwood and Harris; halfbacks, Martin, Twilfsfd and Thompson; forwards, Breed, Keaphy, Stratton, Hood and Smith. The referees were Messrs. Hatch and Edwards.

The game provided a first-class exhibition ot hockey, the pace being fast throughout and the stick work of a, very high order. The northerners carried too many guns and had all the best of the game, which they won by 1 goal to nil. thus maintaining the unbeaten record of their tour.

Auckland showed to advantage from the opening bully, and by quick, short passing rushes placed Wellington on the defensive, but the local men were quite equal to the occasion and the solid tackling and clean • hitting of their back division prevented a score until Clive Watts sent in a fast shot which Moore, the Wellington goalkeeper, stopped, but Eric Watts nipped in and snicked the ball into the net, thus recording the only goal of the match. The Wellington forwards made some fast runs and often looked dangerous but the visiting halves and backs, by wonderful stick play checked and placed their own forwards on the attack. Time after time throughout the second half the pace was a cracker, *he ball travelling from end to end in quick succession. The Wellington attack repeatedly broke upon the Auckland halves and backs, whereas the Auckland forwards carried play to then*

opponents' circle on numerous occasions, and only the' clever saving of the Wellington custodian and fullbacks kept down the score. Several shots narrowly missed, ■while other-? were beautifully tnrned aside by Moore in goal for Wellington. Although the visitors had many corners they were unable to add further to their score. The only mistakes apparent in the Auckland team was a tendency to hit too straight and a failure to work the wing t forwards sufficiently, otherwise every mar. rose to the occasion and gave a splendid account of himself.

It is difficult to individualise among the back division. Cooper had little to do. Speight intercepted beautifully and placed most advantageously. England stopped and hit splendidly, while the I halves played like a line of champions. Johns invariably won the ball, while M<I;eod and Steele used their sticks in a I most effective manner. Of the forwards | the Watts Brothers and Somers got the I bulk of the work and their short "passing. I kept the attack going nearly throughout I the game. Orice and Alexander might ; have been better catered for, but both j performed in good style. Had Grice been ! worked more the defence would probably have been drawn more often, for the Wellington goalkeeper. Moore, was almost uni beatable and was chaired off the ground on the conclusion of the game. The Atir-klandere, having now completed their tour, leave for home on Sundav night. The trip has been most successful and enjoyable, and the party a parl ticularly happy one.