HOCKEY SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19699, 27 July 1927, Page 16

HOCKEY SEASON.

NEW ZEALAND SHIELD.

TOURNEY OPENS ON MONDAY

THE PROSPECTS REVIEWED.

The New Zealand Shield tournament, which will commence at Remuera next Monday, has drawn an entry of five teams. The results of the matches will be awaited with keen interest.

Taking the teams individually, those with tho brightest prospects appear to be the two Auckland sides and Wellington. Canterbury is fielding a team comprised mainly of young players new to representative hockey. Five of the province's strongest players are in tho New Zealand team which is visiting Austi-alia, and this has considerably lessened its chances of success. Waikato generally makes a keen fight in opposition to Auckland, and its team is expected to play well during tho tournament. Fletcher will bo missing from Waikato's ranks, and his absence undoubtedly will weaken its defence. Wellington is entering a very strong all-i'ound side, and its prospects are considered bright. The Auckland Country team will be making its initial entry in this class of hockey, and judging by the remarkable improvement in this year's country standard, the team must have a good chance of success. The Auckland representatives are an experienced set of players, and recently defeated the country representatives, although the game was played under most unfavourable weather conditions. Because of its greater experience and as it will be playing on its home ground, the Auckland team is expected to bo victorious. The Senior Championship. Tho senior club championship has not reached finality, but present appearances favour Somerville again winning the senior A grade title. Training College, winners of the B section, has yet to meet Wesley, the bottom team in the A section, and in the event of winning, will then play off with Somerville. The A section matches have in the main provided close struggles. Somerville won eight games out of nine played, losing to University in tho first match of the season. The team scored in all 38 goals, whilo only four were registered against it. University, runners-up in the A section, lost only one game, but figured in three drawn matches. Areta won five of its engagements, lost four, and drew one. Mount Eden won three games, lost four, and drew three. St. Luke's only succeeded in securing two wins, while itdrew fo&r games and was deefated four times. Wesley did not win a single game, and secured its solitary point in a drawn game with Mount Eden. The B section winners, Training College, have been fortunate to secure the honours, as Somerville Colts was undoubtedly the strongest and most efficient team in the section. Through protest and misfortune, Somerville, after holding a commanding lead, lost its position and occupies the place of runner-up. The Ladies' Competitions. Tho display of hockey in the ladiea' competition matches played on Saturday was of a fairly high standard, the beat contest being provided by Mount Eden and Training College. It was a high scoring game, in which tho attack mastered the defence. Both forward lines hit the ball about freely and the play was very open. Many of tho passing movements were pretty to watch, tho positional play being good. Mount Eden was more often dangerous, its forwards revealing slightly superior combination and better finish when near the circle. Miss Lowe played admirably throughout, her shooting being excellent. In defensive play neither back division was convincing. There was far too much speculating even when a player had plenty of time to first stop tho ball. Arawa, in opposition to St. Cuthbert's, gave a pleasing performance. Good combination, ability to make the most of openings and very fair defence, were factors that paved tho way to victory. Miss Bestic was in good form for the winners, and accounted for three of the goals. St. Cuthbert's was unconvincing, the only forward to show up prominently being Miss Dodds. The defence was weak, the fullbacks repeatedly losing position in tho faco of hot attacks by the opposing forwards. The Training College and Y.W.C.A. game was closely contested, with the former showing better all-round form. The College forwards displayed great dash, Miss McMicken and Miss Jurd being conspicuous for fine concerted play. The Y.W.C.A. vanguard failed to make the most of openings and the circle work was ill-directea. Miss MoLaughlan, who secured all the Y.W.C.A. goals, was easily the most conspicuous player-. The Jfew Zealand Team. The New Zealand team will open its Australian tour on Saturday next when it plays Victoria at Melbourne. This will be tho first appearance of a New Zealand hockey team m the Victorian capital, and tho game is sure to attract keen interest. The standard of play in Melbourne is stated to be fairly high. The match against New South Wales will be played in Sydney on August 13. On the . previous tour of a New Zealand team, New South Wales was the only Australian side to defeat it. Throe matches will bo played in Brisbane, the New Zealanders will meet Queensland on August 20, South Australia on August 24 and Australia, in tho test match, on August 27. The present standard of Australian hockey cannot be judged by tho performances of the 1925 team, which won only two matches. That team encountered very unfavourable weather, and the treacherous playing conditions undoubtedly hampered its members. In the. match with Auckland, on a dry ground in perfect condition, tho team gave a high-class display, the crisp, short passing and excellent combination showing that the Australians were clever exponents of the game. Provided the game has made the progress reported, tho present New Zealand team is likely to encounter strong opposition, especially in the matches with New South Wales and Australia.