HOCKEY SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20955, 19 August 1931, Page 15

HOCKEY SEASON.

J BETU RN GAME WITH WAIKATO

AUCKLAND'S GOOD SHOWING.

CHALLENGE SHIELD PROSPECTS

/Supporters of Auckland hockey have cverv reason, to bo pleased with Satnr,/s; return representative match, m the players were pealed by seyeu' g.-als to one after a ViewiiJ exhibition oi- fast, open hocKey. l';, g result of the previous came, three msals to one ;n Waikato's favour, had „„pvVi* d'.«amx-intinir. although in lieo, somcv.i.i- .... .. . /that game honours were more even than tile score indicate^ r<j our alterations were made by the solo •niMitor, M'- w - Newsham, in the Auckthat took the field on Satur-

• From the 'opening attack it was .iiojss that ths/ side had been much strengthened and after the first five mtnuloS of the game the issue was never m doubtThe chief interest in the match was the fn-wtliat it threw on Aaodand s chances for the proposed New Zealand Challenge Shield match igamst Cantenmrv. which has been tenativeiy set down for September'l2. Canterbury, the present holders of the shield, drew with Waikato ; ,„ a -ame played on July 11. aiaai.o v-vin* led until two minutes i-etore the 2 jr? tha to. when Canterbury - s ail indication ot Auckland s prospect, H mast- be remembered that B. Sp;ers centre-forward in the game against and / Civil was on the ngnt Spiers was unable to travel on Saturday and Civil haa to came in«o the centre, Powdnil replacing him on die / '* -Uthongh these .alterations undoubtedly Weakened the penetrating force of the team, Auckland's chances tor annexing the Challenge Shield of New Zea.ano seem xerr briaht, providing the majority o£ Satnrdav's team can travel. It is understood that there will be oitnculty m arranging this, and' some players will not know definitely whether they can nutil the end or the week. E. Watts' Fine Play.

■ Saturday's play showed that witnout E. Watts the team would be greatly weakened, and unfortunately there is still doubt whether he will be able to v.ra>ei. Although it was only his second game tiiis sea«on be seemed to have lost none of his speed or his ability to create opportunities in the /circle. Moreover, he got the best out of each member of the forward line, and- as a result, Auckland s / penetrance: power, always recognised to be dangerous, was even more enecuve tnan bad been expected. Right from the a first-class combination, was formed and Waikato's halves were forced to setue C Waits, inside left, was able to carry out* some particularly effective work m combination with his brother an a .so with Reid, on-the left wing. _ Reid was unfortunate in receding injuries to tne mouth iust beipre hali-time. PFiOi o this he had given one of the best exhibitions of left* wing play seen for some time in Auckland. _ In spite oi his in-mr-es he- plaVed a very useful game in the second half. Anthony, as inside right, shewed that he is always capable ot r.sing.'io representative standard and his 'goal was a good effort. His combination %nih Monteitli. on the right wing; was well carried out. Monteith maintained Lis position well and played a sound game. / . Well-balanced Halves.

The knives were tvsli oulnnccci and equally vmuabis m deicncs nnd at Honours probably ■went to Cole, nglu, who of his best; and played a. clever r-ame. In being opposed to Vt aikato s left 'wins, G. Finch, .be "was given a strenuous time, but stood up to it well. Boberison, centre, played an untiring and in many ways a brilliant, game. As in bis club • games he was inclined to ■wander, from his position overmuch anu. while be' often opened up splendid opportunities. he tended, by auvancing too far, to weaken .the derence unduiy. Nevertheless, for an attacking game such as Satnrdav's, bii play was on the whole just what was wanted. T. Uark. found conditions much more to his liking than be apparently did m the game at Hamilton. As a result be played a much improved game, and worked in partxeu- , larly well with his team-mate, Robertson. . - The fullback.?. Gardner and Wsusams. Tare quits at home in their position and ,f showed that they understood each other s play. Both played sound defensive jaases, Gardner, in particular, using his hitting to much advantage in giving opportunities io the van. In the goal- ■ month Vail was- a success. The one shot that beat him was tricky and while he /' Tas by no means' given a hard time, he made a number of good saves. Goalkeeper's Hard Time. On the other hand. Jack, the Wiikato goalkeener, had a very busy tune and his tafek in having to stop the onslaughts ot the inside Auckland forwards from close rangft was at) unenviable one. During fccroe oi th#» melees he saved numerous fast • shots in quick succession. Of the 'Waibato fallbacks L. Spiers was the better, .although even he did not seem to be at the top of bis form. Ewnn was sound but his hitting lacked direction and was sot therefore of much assistance m attack. The Waikato- halves bad to content themselves with a hard delenstve gaine. R. Muwo, centre, had a busy trio 'lO cope with' and he came through the day with credit. Both T. FinHi and Brough played sound, if not brilliant, zames. The Wasknro forward line was not nearly so effect ive as in the game at Hamilton, bheir efforts were of an indi- . nature and almost invariably broke dmsn in the earsv '-fages. Honours in this division go \ > Civil and G. I? inch, Goth of whoni wrecked hard. Rogers was espahle of. a bet'er game and showed a distinct tend" 1 .---.- r ■ . ulav. Powdlill and levies ''.viv? f.?oth energetic, the former showing no well for ' bis first representative gun;..*

IfKFEKEE ASSAULTED

l-EAGUS FOOTBALL INCIDENT

I n :-cciie is witnessed in a fourth i League f. otfcaii match between City I Newmarket, at West era Springs on | Saturday. Trie jame from the start had a distinct tendency toward roughness. •• in the second speil the referee had to order off a player from each «atn. A little' later the referee's attention was tfraA-n to the fact that the City player he had ordered off had re-entered field of play. The player in question,. I up by his team mates, refused to I ~ a - v the Sel ( { an ,; t j !e referee then deI «ared the game off. ■ the referee retired from the field a tUaber of the players followed him hcot- & and one finally assaulted fit, The pair rolled on the ground for a few minutes, the referee fitting his own until some spectators inr >Pu • aTK ' ?f 'P ara ted the combatants. " *** sitssuion remained very ugly for ' ? me ' t3rne : during which a City supporter ,^'. , 'A foc ' K a Newmarket player, knocking liini