HOCKEY SURPRISES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19391, 28 July 1926, Page 16

HOCKEY SURPRISES.

MATCHES ON UNIVERSITY'S FIRiST DEFEAT. COMMENTS ON (THE PLAY. Two surprises were prdduced by Saturday's senior hockey matches in Auckland. Tlio hitherto-unbeaten University team was defeated by 3 goals to 0 by Mount Eden. This result upset all calculations and leaves University with, little chance of winning championship honours, Somerville being in an almost unassailable position.

Somerville Colts were fully expected to defeat Stanley, but tho hitter showed superiority throughout and finished with a 3-goal lead. St. Luke's, through lack of finish, went down to Areta, by a margin of 2 goals. Wesley w>ero no match for the competition leaders, • Somerville, and were outclassed by 6 goa'Js to 0. The match. between Mount) Eden and University provided an excel T fent exposition of fast, open hockey, with occasional flashes of brilliancy. The science of the game was exploited to advantage upon occasions, and evidently the toxir of the Indian Army team has brought' quick results. Tho game of hockey as played by our recent visitors is undoubtedly highly spectacular, and it is to bo hoped the young players will endeavour to emulate them. If the desired result is. attained then the main object of the torn- will be achieved.

Why University Failed. University had, if anything, t?ie better of tho general play, arid their forwards attacked in excellent formation but were unable to score. This was brought about partly through the excellence of the Mount Eden defence and partly through impetuosity in the circle. Great credit is duo to O'Carroll, who kept Mount Eden's goal clear in the face of some hot attacks. The fullbacks, Brown and Ritchie, were seen to ,-advantage, their all round play . being very sound. The half line performed with great credit. They fed the forwards with well-directed passes and were very, solid in defence. Toovey in the centre- fully justified his inclusion and initiated many good movements. The vanguard were seen in well-executed offensives, the? combination and shooting being good. Fletcher, Kelly and Woolford wera the best.

The University forwards' midfield play was brilliant, but their circle work was poor. E. Burton, Hamilton and Clayton were most prominent. The halves pJayed creditably, Radcliffe and Brook sharing the honours. The fullbacks had a tendency to lose position. Otherwise they both played fair games.

Stanley's Good Display. Stanley were responsible for a good performance against Somerville _ Golts. Stanley monopolised the play in the opening stages and scored two goals. They successfully repulsed the Colts'* attacks and emerged from the first half with a two-goal lead. The second half was evenly contested, the Colts' play suffering through poor finish. Stanley added another goal to their tally, while the Colts failed to score.

The Stanley forwards gave a Wee, open game, notable more for individual than combined play. The best of the line were Penman and Miller. The halves played soundly, especially in defence. Anthony, at fullback, was splendid, his stopping, hitting, and placing being firstclass. Vaile 'in charge of his goal, let nothing pass him, using his feet well. The Somerville Colts played dashingly, and the forwards were m fair form. Their inability to finish , off movements spoiled an otherwise good exhibition. Players deserving of special mention were Preston and Gregson in the forwards, and Harris and,- Gutry in the backs.

Somemlle -in Fin® Form. Somerville - were in brilliant form against Wesley, the forwards giving a particularly fine display. The good combination, clever stickwork and ball control in offensive. movements gave them a distinct advantage. Somerville's defence was splendid throughout, and the Wesley forwards had great difficulty in breaking through. The Watts brothers and Seccombe, in the forward line, were at their best, while Baildon, Cole and E. Rogers played faultlessly in the backs. Wesley failed, to produce the form displayed by them against University, and Were placed continually on the defensive. The forwards used little method on attack and were seldom dangerous. Sparling was, the outstanding, player of the side. Talking Among Players.

Areta accounted for St. Luke's in a hard game full of -exciting incidents. Both forward lines gave fine exhibitions in the first spell, Areta scoring three goals against St. Luke's two. The second spell was strenuously- contested, Areta scoring early and then defending stubbornly, to prevent St. Luke's from adding to their score.

The game was marred somewhat by players playing the man, and talking was far too prevalent. Outstanding Areta players were Hayson, J. Carter and Davis, while prominent players for St. Luke's were Steele, Duncan and Potter.

COLLAPSE OF GOALPOST. NECESSITY FOR SAFEGUARDS. The necessity for having goalposts substantial enough to survive the pressure of a scrum was illustrated. at the Show Grounds on Saturday. The University pack, in defending their goal from the fierce onslaught of Ponsonby, became firmly wedgfed against one oi: the goalposts. It was a survival of the strongest and the unusually fragile timber was found wanting. It snapped off near the base, dragging the crossbar with it, and almost disappeared in a mass of struggling humanity. For the moment both teams forgot their purpose, and while one unfortunate who had been, struck by the post was receiving atttention, other footballers removed the new. obstruction from the playing area. The final stages of the match were fought out with only one post as a goal. Apart from the noveltv of the situation a real danger threatened the players, for where the pole snapped off there remained an ugly spike, capable of inflicting a serious injury. Furthermore, the bales of the posts were not padded. Football is a risky game at anv time and where danger exists it should be minimised as much as possible.

TWO STRINGS TO BOW. MAORI PLAYER'S HUMOUR. Football and swimming acquaintances of Dick Pelham, Auckland's only representative in the Maori Rugby team now en route for England and France, and the best Maori swimmer of all t tiine, realise his fund of ready humour. Hie following story is typical of the Aucklander:

-v" H °» V dic3 you mana 6® to be chosen, .Dick ? he was asked a couple of weeks ago at Eden Park.

Blessed if I know," was the reply. It wasn't on account of football ability, l'hey must be sending me Home to swim the Channel.'-