HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 15

HOCKEY.

OPENING OF THE SEASON. SENIOR GRADE MATCHES. TWO DECISIVE VICTORIES. Tha men's hockey season opened on Saturday, most of the matches being plnyed on grounds at Remuera leased from the Girls' Athletic Association. The first round of games in the senior competition yielded no surprise results, except the closeness of the scores between University and Epiphany. The students .snatched a winning goal just on the call of time. The play in all cases showed the ragfiedness to be expected at this rluge, but quite a good standard was reached in Hie match between Somerville and Mount Eden, The champion team, although winning comfortably, was never allowed to hold the opposition cheaply. North Shore won easily from Otahuhu. St. Luke's had the bye. Following are the results of the senior games Somerville, 4 ; Mount Eden, 0. North Shore. 4; Otahuhu, 0. University, 3; Epiphany, 2. SOMERVILLE V. MOUNT EDEN. In the match between Somerville and Mount Eden C. and E. Watts quickly set up an attack, but. :• free-hit set Mount Eden attacking. Somerville broke away from a corner against it. but Mount Eden returned, and Chaplin lost wha* looked a certain goal by lifting the ball over the bar. H. Watts and Seccombe attacked repeatedly. | only to meet a sound defence in the Mount Eden circle. Surinn had to retire for a time owing to an injury to his eye. Ed- j wards had a shot that failed from a narrow angle. Jansen mad> a goc' solo run that 'had Somerville defending. Surman broke np an attack and set his forwards going again. The Somerville defence was again tested, but Smith came through and the Somerville forwards came away. Chaplin had another chance in his circle, but his stick was held uu at the critical moment,. Mount Eden was in difficulties when E. Watts gave sticks and a free-hit cleared the position. Anderson several times helped Mount Eden with timelv and powerful drives. A shot by E. Watts was turned aside arid Mount Eden had to give a corner. The first score came when E. Watts got possession about the Mount Eden twenty-five and took the ball through to find the net. A minute later the ball came to Seccombe in a good position in the circle and he made no mistake with the shot. The second spell opened with Mount Eden early in difficulties, but it survived a cor* □er and a. hot shot from C. Watts. Somerville kept up the pressure, but met yith a, determined defence. Hedges and Kelly were prominent in carrying play to the Sosierville end of the field. Cha.plin had an excellent chance in the circle, but his shot went wide. E. Watts bustled his way j through to the circle, but Vail was equal to the occasion and stopped the shot. Hedges put up a very solid defence and kept out several Somerville forwards. A pass from Seccombe came to E. Watts, who sent in a sudden shot that gave the goalkeeper no chance. A fourth goal was added by H. Watts at the end of a good run. Mount Eden was still to be reckoned with, and its forwards took part in some warm encounters in the Somerville circle. E. Watts passed all the opposition in a spectacular run. but lost possession m the end through delaying too long at the goalmouth. From the cornel that followed E. Watts drove in hard, but Vail stopped in good style. This was the last incident ot the game, which ended witli the scores. Somerville, 4; Mount Eden. 0 UNIVERSITY V. EPIPHANY. Against University the Epiphany forwards broke away from the opening bully but Brown drove them back. Hewitt led another rush to the students' circle and himself registered the opening score of 'faj season when play had not been more than three minutes in progress. Epiphany continued to press until Lamb and Ihompson took play well down the right wins, compelling Epiphany to concede a corner. Meiklejohn sent in a nice centre but a struggle in the circle ended m the ball going, over the line. The three inner forwards of the students' line took part in a nice piece of passing, but £j. Mills and Michel cleared. University continued to press, and a hot shot by Radcliffe from a corner was smartly m time. Judicious passing again put University in a scoring position, but it could not press home the advantage. C. Mills was Paying a fine defensive game and effectively checked mai^ P started with Epiphany still leading, but the immediately attacked, and from a corner hit Meiklejohn evened the score. The University machine was now getting into working order Thompson sent in a hot centre which Meiklejohn drove into the net. A free hit nut Epiphany Attacking but it cocld not hold the advantage. Dunn was conspicuous in a tricky run through the opposition that gained much ground, but Hay checked the movement, and play returned to i/piphnny territory. The University attacks, although numerous, lacked finish and seldom reached the circle. Winn in fending out s shot at goal with Ms hand incurred a penalty bully, and from tin. Hewitt scored. Play speeded up in the closing stages the ball travelling 'rapidly from end to end From an awkward angle Taylor had a shO that went past, but in the last moments of the game he had another chance and. following in. shot the winning goaL lha anal scores were University 3: Epiphan„. 2, NORTH SHORE V. OTAHUHU. In the North Shore and Otahuhu contest Reid was early seen in the van oi an attack which was checked by Rivers. A dangerous move by P Anthony was blocked bv Neild. North Shore's attacks were rewarded with success when A. prater .ook a pass from Lucas and sent the ball on to Reid. who'scored. Jenkins and >eild helped to move play to the korth Shore end. but Haggett, Reid and Lucas took ■it back again. Anthony looked like scoring from a nice pass by .Lucas, but Jveild was in time to block the shot. _ A few minutes later Anthony succeeded m adding a second goal to North Shore/s score. Otahuhu began the second spell with desperate attempts to score, but the hortli Shore back division had too much experience to let them through. TV hen Score attacked again a shot by Anthony went over the net. Jenkins had a shot at the .Norlh Shore goal, but Rankm saved well. Always prominent on attack. Anthony made his way through to score ngam. Lucas made a fine run that nut Otahuhu in danger for time, and Rivers got in some powerful and timely defensive drives, rvear the call of time A. Frater and Lucas got away and T.ucas ended a good run bv findins the net. The final scores were:—North Shore. 4: Otahuhu. 0.

LOWER CEADE RESULTS. Following are tppuHs of matches plnyed in the lower trades;— Second Grade.— Wesley. S. v. Mount "Eden, 1- Somerville. 3. v. University A. 1: Training College. 6. v. Epiphany. 2: St. Lukes, 3. v. Papntoetoe, 3 , „ Fourth Grade.—Mount Albert Grntnnwr A. 4, v. Auckland Grammar, 2: Papntoetoe, 5, v. Otaliuhu 2. . , , Fifth Grade-—Somerville. R. v. Anrkisrad Grammar B. 0: Mount "Eden. i. r. Mount -\lbert. Grammar A. Auckland Grammar A. 3. v. Mount Albert Grsmni»t D. 0.