HOCKEY SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21263, 17 August 1932, Page 16

HOCKEY SEASON

AUCKLAND'S GOOD DISPLAY

DEFEAT OF POVERTY BAY

PLAYERS . RISE TO OCCASION

'Auckland experienced little difficulty in retaining the New Zealand Shield against Poverty Bay's challenge, on Saturday, and the trophy is likely to remain safe in Auckland's keeping until next season at least. The visitors did not prove to be as dangerous as they had been reported, but the Auckland team fully justified the confidence of the selector, Mr. W. Newsham, by the way in which all 'the members rose to the occasion. As the game developed it became apparent that only the fine work of the opposing goalkeeper, B. Moore, saved the score from being much greater. -

The type of game played by the visitors was similar to that adopted by the combined Country team on July 16, when •Town was fully extended to win by four goals to two. Conditions on Saturday, however, were very different, the ground being in good order and thus suiting the mor© scientific game of the local forward line. Poverty Bay was apparently more used to grounds which required hard hitting, and its tactics resulted in the ball being played almost invariably into the hands of its opponents. Two particularly pleasing features of the game, however, were the sporting spirit in which it was played, and the able manner in which it was controlled by the two local referees, Messrs. H. E. -Watts and E. J. Hewitt. Fullbacks Sound As goalkeeper for the defenders of the shield, Vaile fully justified his inclusion in the team. His stopping and clearing were greatly improved, and he could well be excused for missing the very tricky shot which got past him. F. Clark and Williams, the St. Luke's pair, were quite at home under the conditions as fullbacks. Williams impressed as being the more reliable and he played his usual energetic and sound game, but Clark, in his first senior representative match gave a very creditable exhibition indeed, especially in the later stages of the game. Halfback honours probably go to Roberteon, right, who played a capital game. H© was / far too good for the opposing left wing. McLeod, ce/itre, played the 9ieady game always expected of him and he was largely responsible for the fine positional play of the team generally. Radcliffe, On the left, started nervously, and it was not until nearly half-time that he revealed his true form. In the second Bpell, however, he showed splendid stick work and his accurate passing was in-* etrumental in giving numerous fine opportunities to the left trio of the forward line. Forward Line's Success Much uncertainty had existed as to the capabilities of the van, but through their maintaining position the newer members of the line "were giving E. Watts and C. Watts every possible scoring opportunity. The two brothers certainly proved a brilliant combination and, although well marked, were too tricky for the opposition, as their scoring indicates. The stick 'work of both was very clever and they probably gave their best exhibition of the season. W.. Burnett, on the right .wing, kept ; his position well and, although still showing hesitancy in his circle play, he was responsible for several fine centres, which put the inner forwards in good striking positions. N. Burnett, inside, rose to the occasion and catered unselfishly for C. Watts on his left. Ross, left wing, -in his first appearance in representative, fixtures', showed great promise in that position. He made several fine opportunities and although ragged circle play marred many of his attacks, he showed that further experience will make him a dangerous member of the van.

z Fine Goalkeeping Of the challengers honours in the de- * fence undoubtedly go to Moore, the goalkeeper, whoso stick work in clearing was a' notable feature of the game. Scholium, ,who bore the brunt of the fullback' ■work, played a strenuous and very effective game. The real weakness of Poverty Bay lay in ita halfback line, which seemed unable to cope with Auckland's attacks, or to feed its own forward line. Prentice,, right, probably gave the best display.' Honours in the forwards go to Swan> centre, and Pere, inside right, both of whom worked hard throughout the game. Jones, left wing, was disappointing, but he was faced by strong opposition in Robertson. On the right wing, Nicol did not get many opportunities and was < scarcely up to representative standard. The first game, in which an Auckland B representative team defeated Waihi Sub-Association by four goals to one, was ' an interesting exhibition of fast but rather ragged hockey. Waihi showed considerable improvement in its form. Of the Auckland forward team, Don and A. Anthony were the most effective players, although the whole line gave a fair account of themselves. The halves similarly played a sound game. Fleet, on the right, spoiled /his play by roaming too indiscriminately. Vipond, returning to his earlier position as fullback, was the better of the two on the day. New Zealand Team Australian papers' reports of the New Zealand team's tour to date, while short, speak in high terms of the standard of play set, by the visitors, who, after Saturday's sensational victory of 7 goals to 0 against the combined Australia team, established the fine record of having scored 105 goals to 11. Out of 14 matches New Zealand' won 13 and drawn one. Next Saturday the team has to meet Victoria, at Melbourne, on Monday the match against Australian universities will be played at Melbourne and next Wednesday the final game of the tour, against New South Wales, at Sydney, will be decided. The team is scheduled to leave Sydney on August 26, arriving back at Wellington on August 30, but some alterations may yet be made in these arrangements. If a match could be arranged between the team and Saturday's Auckland toain, it would be interesting to compare tt)6 score with the score against Australia o'n Saturday. It would be fairly safe to say that the margin of difference would not be so great as that by. which the all-Australia team was defeated. The record of the tour goes far to disprove that the standard in New Zealand has fallen back. UNIQUE RECORD BRITISH OLYMPIC RUNNERS Britain can claim a unique athletic record in the 800 metres event which it has won at the last four Olympiads. A. • G. Hill won in 1920, D. G. Lowe was successful in both 1924 and 1928, while this ' year T. Hampson won brilliantly in the .'-. J. :'! new, world's record time of lm 49.85. Tis- ; <WI, the ex-Cambridge Blue, gave the Americans a bad shock when he made hwdT"— figures for the 400 metres 4QQ4j|V^A n other surprise came in the final, when the muchfcw the Jiandlj kf^ a ' it,man su^ defeat at tiina^i|^ er Ameri ' c^n the -