HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18713, 20 May 1924, Page 4

HOCKEY.

NAVY GAME REVIEWED.

PLAYERS AND METHODS.

The representative match, .Fleet y. Auckland, last Friday, was «>• highly-interesting contest, full of quick action and exciting incidents. Though Auckland won. the team can* be recorded lucky, as the honours ot the game were with the _Navy. ■_ Failure to adapt themselves to local con-* ditious and tactics, in the first 20 minutes of play, was the Fleet's downfall. During this period the local vanguard overwhelmed the opposition, and scored four goals. Ihree other shots also went perilously near their ° These reverses stimulated the Navy men to immediate action, and they dominated play for the remainder of the first halt. Their initial goal was a spectacular effort, showing great cleverness in control of the ball, and wonderful flick shots by Midshipman Bowerman and Lieut. Atkinson. The Fleet had rather the better of matters in the second half, delighting the. spectators with magnificent combination in the forwards. Numerous offensives .were launched, and the manner in which the Navy men trapped the ball, and transferred from one to another was an eyeopener." The inside men of the Fleets vanguard played sterling games, Lieut-Com-mander Hill being mainly responsible for creating the openings. Lieut.-Commander Morgan at centre was high class, and had bad luck with a couple of shots. Lieut. Atkinson, the all-England International, displayed great elusiveness and resourcefulness. ... Of the wings. Midshipman Bowerman was much the cleverer, giving an almost faultless display of outside work. ... In the early stages the halves did not keep in touch with the vanguard, and played without much method, but later, especially in the second spell, no fault could bo found in this direction. Both the fullbacks played well, and showed cleverness in extricating the side from tight corners, and in placing the Auckland forwards offside. Major Hickson. the Fleet's goalkeeper. gave a oreditable display. Unfortunately for his side, he accidentally deflected a hard shot that was going wide, into the .goal. There were several weaknesses in the Auckland combination, noticeably- on - the flanks! of the forward line and in the centre-half position. The inside men of the vanguard played really well, infusing great dash in their attacking movements. The method of offensive was usually hard crosshitting and fast following up. These .taclies met with considerable success, in the first spoil, though they were nullified by sound defensive work in the second. E./Watts, C Watts, and M. Alexander were very conspicuous in the forwards: McLeod end Steele are worthy of mention in the half line, both nlaveTß making some grand reverse strokes. flio-ir hitting and placing was also good. Onlv on* of the fullbacks. plaved up to representative for" l .. Roberts' work right through bein" br'lliont. He saved his side' renentedlv with timely speculators and clever intercepting. Cooner. .in goal,, admitted himself well, one of his " saves" being a grand piece of work. <