HOCKEY SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20985, 23 September 1931, Page 15

HOCKEY SEASON.

FOR AUCKLAND TEAM. (INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS' FORM. CFASON nearinc conclusion. / - After an absence of three years the Zealand Hockey Challengo Shield ias returned to .Auckland and those who BW the local representatives defeat the crack Christehurch team express' tl )e Opinion that the shield should stay here for some time*. The Auckland team was far superior to the holders on the day's • -p] aVt In stickwork and combination, parit surpassed the Southerners, v ho were too much inclined to push and fumble- I '{lie .Aueklaiulers undoubtedly played, o ,j, a s individuals and as a side, at the - Forwards and backs vct6 wpll balanced and .were a credit to tj ie sole •selector, Mr. W. Newsham. The f .3alk«P c ' r ' "Wat tain, was not given much work, hut he never failed. One of tlio two shots that got past him was almost unplayable and the other was exceptionjilv tricky. Altho/igh it was his first representative game, lie showed great projjjjje. Both Gardner, left fullback, and Jarker, right, played good carries. Parker was cool and reliable, although Gardner vas perhaps the better of the two. There jjras mor<? play his side of the field and lijis gave him a greater opportunity. / . The Auckland Forwards. In the half line, T. Clark, on the left, was outstanding. ' Ho was not only reliable, but also attacked effectively. Radcliffe, at- centre, played a good game. His enly fault appeared to be that he was sot timing quite accurately. Hedges, on the right, was solid and his stopping, especially toward the end, was really good. The forward line gave a great- display, its movements being carried out with precision D. Reid made some very fine juns down the right wing, which he finished with well-timed centres. Seccombe. right inside, worked well throughcut and, although not brilliant, played K useful game. E. "Watts, at centre, thowed that he is still the best .centrefenvard in New Zealand hockey. The way in which he worked his line was delightful to watch. He made a particularly fine opening for Auckland's third goal, racing well over to the wing and then seuding the ball right across to Wellbourne. who netted. C. Watts, left inside, played perhaps iha best forward game on the field. All his old tricks were_ manifest and he made many openings for the rest of the line. His work was all the more commendable is he arrived A day later thau the remainder of the team. Wellbourne, left wing, played up to his best form. He fcept his "place well, made several fast inns and sent in good centres at the right time. He and C. Watts made a particularly fine combination. Season Almost Ended. Tot most of the senior grade teams ivA sfewal of the lower grades, the 1931 season is now over. As University defeated St. Luke's last Saturday, however, the students will now meet Somerville for the Devonport Shield. The concluding dub match of the season will be between the winners of this game and North Shore, holders of the Davis Cup, for the Kent Cup. The season is now a month more advanced this year than last and an early finish can be expected. St. Luke's was unlucky in not winning Saturday's match. The team maintained the territorial " advantage through most of the game and the one goal scored against it should not have been allowed to pass. The University defence did good work in holding back the many strong attacks, led chiefy, by Grace and Burnett. The rest of the forwards did not combine satisfactorily- Robertson was the outstanding half. The other backs did not show up particularly. Bay and Bestic were the only useful University forwards. Taylor, on the left, f-as good in patches, but Lamb did not draw his men enough before hitting. Leonard, a second-grade player, was sound st left half., X. Broun, centre, carried out some good stopping and hitting, but more attention should have been paid by Fraser, right half, to Grace. Both fullbacks, Brown, right, and Robinson, another second grade player, were solid, while the goalkeeper. Green, also a promoted member of the side, made some excellent saves and was largely responsible for the team's win. North Shore made a remarkable recovery in the second spell of the match in which it beat Somerville by 6 goals 3 and secured its first points in the Devonpoi t Shield contest. The game was generally scrappy and few decisive movements were carried out. Somerville fallowed how greatly it depends on the two Watts brothers for penetrating power and although Schneideniari and Glanville worked hard together, they were unable to break through the North Shore defence.