HOCKEY SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22145, 26 June 1935, Page 20

HOCKEY SEASON

DAVIS CUP MATCHES ST. LUKE'S BEATS SOMERVILLE TOUR OF INDIAN TEAM After a lapse of some weeks, the Auckland Hookey Association's Davis Cup competition was resumed and the sixth round decided at Remuera last Saturday. The Devonport Shield competition was commenced earlier than usual this season in order to allow the Auckland representative team to practise together before its match with the Indians, but as members of tne Now Zealand team and the University bide were in Christchurch on Saturday it was decided to play a further round of the Davis Cup. The Devonport Shield competition will be continued next Saturday, in addition to the Town-Country match, which will mark the conclusion of the Country Week tournament. All grounds at Remuera last Saturday were in a very wet condition, but in order to preserve them as much as possible for Country Week, only the senior men's competition and a ladies' representative trial were played. The standard of play naturally suffered on the wet fields. However, the principal game, between St. Luke's and Somerville, two of the o'dest rivals in Auckland hockey, was always interesting and hard-fought from start to finish. With Wellbourne and E. Watts absent from.the forward line, Somerville lacked the penetration necessary to break through the solid defence, but, in spite of this, the well-balanced St. Luke's team was extended to win by a margin of two goals Outstanding Game Stewart, at fullback for Somerville, played an outstanding game. He broke up innumerable dangerous movements, and with powerful and well-directed clearing shots he repeatedly saved his side. With a definite shortage of sound backs in Auckland, and providing he maintains the form ho displayed on Saturday, Stewart's future appears very bright indeed. Both F. Clark and T. Clark played sound games for St. Luke's, while the forward line as a whole showed a good understanding. The Mount Eden team was seen to better advantage than usual in its match against Wesley on the No. 3 ground. In the first half the game was very even, but the superior combination of the Wesley forwards in the latter part of the match was the deciding factor.

After a bright display in the first half, Grammar Old Boys was fortunate to win against Papatoetoe on the latter's ground. Grammar has now eight points in the competition, equal with St. Luke's, which is the only team which has not yet drawn a bye. Somerville is next with seven points, and then come Wesley and University with six and five points respectively* The sterling defence of the New Zealand team against the All-India side at Christchurch on Saturday inspires confidence that with improved combination among the forwards the Dominion team will undoubtedly further extend the champions in the next two tests. The New Zealanders travelled to Ashburton prior to the test to see the Indians in action and study their tactics, and now with the additional experience of having played against them, they can be expected to give even a better account of themselves. Assistance Appreciated

Hockey enthusiasts in Christchurch are loud in their praise of the consideration received from football organisations, especially in connection with the Indian team's tour. There are fenplaces where assistance has been given so readily as in Canterbury. The fact that the Canterbury Hockey Association,has no ground of its own at which it can make a charge for admission has had the effect of making the football authorities even more charitably disposed toward it. In addition to the Canterbury Rugby Union giving every assistance, the Rugby League lafet week postponed all its matches, so that there would be fewer counter attractions when the test match was being played at Lancaster Park. At a recent meeting of the management committee of the New Zealand Hockey Association, Mr. Behran Doctor, manager of tho All-India team, announced he had received an invitation from the New South Wales Hockey Association to play a tost match in Melbourne. It was stated that the New Zealand Association would only agree to the request with the sanction of the Indians themselves. Mr. Doctor said he would agree to play the test with the consent of the New Zealand Association, as he fully appreciated the treatment the team had received while in the Dominion. It was agreed to defer the matter until full particulars regarding the proposed programme in Australia were received.

INDIAN HOCKEY TEAM AN OUTSTANDING RECORD An outstanding record has been put up by the all-India hockey team which is at present touring New Zealand. Tho team has played 16 matches to date and has won them all. Goals for the team total 217 and those against 10. Following are the detailed results: — Against Dannevirke.—Won, 21 —0. Against Hawke's Bay.—Won, 17—0. Against Poverty Bay.—Won, 1?—0. Against Wairoa.—Won, 18—1. Against Bush Union. —Won, 6—o. Against Wanganui.—Won, 18—0. Against Manawatu. —Won, 22—2. Against Horowhenua. —Won, 16—0. Against Wellington.—Won, 10—1. Against Canterbury.—Won, 5 —2. Against South Canterbury.—Won, 12—0. Against Otago.—Won, 17—0. Against North Otago.—Won, 16 —1. Against Southland. —Won, 13—1. Against Mid-Canterbury.—Won, 11 —0. Against New Zealand (first test). — Won, 4—2. Matches yet to be played, including two at Auckland, are as follows: June 26—v. West Coast, at Greymoutb. June 29—Second test, at Wellington. July 2 —v. Nelson, at Nelson. July 4—v. Taranaki, at Eltham. July 6 —v. Waikato, at Hamilton. July 10—v. Piako, at Te Aroha. July 11—v. Waipa, at Te Awamutu. July 13—v. Auckland, at Eden Park. July 17 —v. Rodney, at Warkworth. July 20—Third test, at Eden Park. July 22 —At Thames.

WEISSMULLER'S RECORDS Johnny Weissrnuller's world's records for 200 metres and 220 yds, 2m 8s and 2m ( Js, established eight years age, faded before tho present American champion, Jack Medica, who attacked them in official trials in tho course of the United States ladies' swimming championships at Chicago recently. Exceeding all his previous brilliance, Medica passed 200 metres in 2m 7 1-10s and completed the 220 yds in 2m 7 9-10s. The backstroke champion, Adolph Kiefer, did not fail in either of his efforts to set new world's records for 220 yds and 400 metres with this style, covering the former distance in 2m 25 l-10s and the latter in 5m 17 4-os.