HOCKEY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22149, 1 July 1935, Page 16

HOCKEY

AUCKLAND TEAMS WIN MATCHES AGAINST COUNTRY DEVONPORT SHIELD GAMES The Auckland Hockey Association's Country Week tournament was brought to a successful conclusion on Saturday by the two representative matches between Auckland and Country. Owing to the poor state of the grounds at Remucra these two games, in addition to the fifth round of the Devonport .Shield competition, were played at Papatoetoe, where the fields were all that could he desired. Both the senior nnd junior Auckland representative teams were successful and both matches produced a high standard of hockey. In the final of the ladies' competition for the Provincial Clip, Whangarei beat King Country after n close struggle, while Paerou defeated Rodney in the final for the Country Cup. These two games were decided lit Reinuera. , The Devonport Shield now beam a more open aspect. St. Luke's, which defeated Papatoetoe by a margin of five goals, is in the lead with seven points, and Somerville, which beat "Wesley, is next with si* points. Grammar Old Boys was fully extended to beat University by two goals to one and is now in third position with five points. Wesley follows with four points, while Mount Eden and Papatoetoe are bottom with two points and one point respectively. Following are the scores in the senior games:— Auckland A, 5: Country, 1. Auckland B, 4: Country B, 3. Somerville, 2; Wesley, 1. St. Luke's. 5: Papatoetoe, 0. Grammar Old Boys, 2; University, 1.

BRIGHT DISPLAY COUNTRY SOUNDLY BEATEN Some of the brightest hockey of the season was seen in the representative match between Auckland and Country. Played on the Papatoetoe ground, which is undoubtedly the best field in Auckland, the game was fast and open and very even until the concluding stages, when Auckland definitely had the upper hand. The teams were as follows: Auckland,—M. Wattam (St. Luke's), C. Smith (Somerville), F. Clark (St. Luke's), G, L. Hogben (University), S. Robertson (St. Luke's). T. Clark (St. Luke's), F. Chapman (Wesley), C. Floyd (University), G. Twigden (Grammar Old Boys); C. Watts (Somerville), N. Corin (St. Luke's). Country.—N. S. Franklin (Whangarei), T. Dunning (Rodney), R. Hinton (Waipa), E. Rogers (Rodney), A. Toovey (Rodney), X. Harvey (Piako), O. Civil (Rodney), O. Sloan (Whangarei), T. Grimmer (Rodney), J. Grimmer (Rodney), C. Matthews. (Rodney). Although Auckland won by the substantial margin of four goals the game was hard fought from start to finish. Country put up a stubborn defence and it was only lack of understanding among its forwards when in the circle that prevented it from registering more goals. The Auckland side was well up to-form, the forwards playing especially well. C. Watts, Floyd and Chapman were nil conspicuous in scoring movements, while Twigden" and Corin both performed a lot of strenuous work. Dunning, at right fullback for Country, was the outstanding man in the opposition. Never bustled, he cleared with powerful and well-directed hits and was instrumental in checking a number of likely scoring movements. He was soundly supported by Hinton, who had, however, a number of penalties given against him for "sticks." The half-lines of both teams were hard worked. T. Clark, for Auckland, revealed some of his old form, while Robertson and Hogben both played sound positional games nnd seldom failed in supporting their forwards. Toovey, at centre-half for Country, played well, but Franklin, in goal, was disappointing after his fine displays in the Country W«ek games. Wattam, in goal for Auckland, although not overworked, displayed sound judgment in coming out to kick clear and made several good saves. F. Clark and Smith formed a solid wall of defence and caused the Country forwards, a Jot of trouble, breaking up their combination and often converting defenca into attack. The fast initiating attack of Auckland immediately following the bully appeared to take Country by surprise and the forwards encountered little opposition in gaining the circle where Twigden sent the ball past Franklin, but the goal was disallowed. With hard, short passes swinging the attack out to the wing Corin sent the ball in for Floyd to score within about three miwites of the commencement of play. Country retaliated and forced play into Auckland's twenty-five. T. Grimmer successfully drew Wattam from his goal and Sloan with n hard drive to the centre of the net was fortunate in getting the ball past T. Clark, who made a good attempt to save. With the scores even Auckland rallied t> ar d and a shirt by Corin narrowly missed. Country then took up the offensive and after Auckland had conceded several corners a series of roll-ins eased the position. Varying the attack. Chapman took the ball down the right, swung it in to Floyd, who passed to C. Watts, who, with a nice push shot, put Auckland in the lend. Half-time was called with no further score. Soon after the resumption of play Hinton was too slow in clearing and Chapman, tackling fast, sent in a good centre to Floyd, who goaled with a shot to the corner of the net. With Auckland in the lead by two goals Country mnde a sortie hut was repulsed and Auckland was once more on the attack. Twigden, Watts and Chapman all took shots and then Watts, finding an opening near the edge of the circle, employed a fine scoop shot and scored. Auckland now had the upper hand and although Country made several rallies it could not stem the fast forward movements. Running close in Watts drew Franklin from his goal to push the hall info an open net. bringing Auckland's total to five. With the exception of one attack, when Auckland was forced to give a corner. Country never appeared likely to reduce the lead. Vhe final score wns:—Auckland, 5: Country, 1. Messrs. H. E. Watts and A. Williams were umpires.

JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES A BRIGHT DISPLAY Fast and bright hockey predominated' in the match between the Auckland junior representatives and Country B. In contrast to the same fixture last year the game was always full of incident and the issue wns in doubt until the final whistle. The Auckland team was n well-balanced combination and was opposed by n side which although comprising players of more experience, lacked the complete understanding necessary to carry movements to good account. ' Henderson, in gonl for Auckland, nnd Armstrong nnd Parker in the forward line, all played soundly, while Sharp was outstanding in the Country side. Country was first on the attack, but Auckland rallied well after Henderson had made a good clearing kick from the edge of tlie circle. The Auckland forwards, with short, snappy passes, forced the play, and Parker sent in a well-timed hit to register the first score. Country then made several promising attacks and from one of these the ball entered the net. but the gonl was disallowed for "sticks." The pressure was prolonged nnd Henderson made an excellent save in stopping a powerful hit from Logan. Halftime was called shortly after Herriott had netted from a loose forward rush, giving Auckland n lead of two goals. The Auckland forwards were seen in a nice passing movement soon after the resumption of piny nnd Hnrvey wns forced to save. Country, however, showed a fine fighting spirit and with an attack down the right Bright sent in n well-timed pass to K. Sharp, who gave Henderson little opportunity to save. Country sustained the attack and was unfortunate not to secure another goal, the bnll striking one of the posts. Taking the attack down the centre the Auckland forwards made a determined attack and, breaking away, Cochrane took the ball close in with a, fine run nnd flicked it past Harvey for a certain goal. Thoroughly roused Country swept down the field and Sharp drove a fast ball into the cornor of the net. From tlio following bully Sharp was again conspicuous in breaking nway and crashing the ball into the net head high._ Auckland was once more on the offensive and Parker sent in a slinging shot to secure tho dociding goal. Time was called soon after with Country pressing hard. The final score was:—Auckland Junior Representatives, 4; Country B, 3. Messrs. H. E. Watts and H. Skinner were umpires.

GRAMMAR BEATS UNIVERSITY The match between Grammar Old Boys and University was keenly contested and resulted in a win for Grammar by two goals to one. There was little between the teams and victory went to Grammar through its persistence in following up fast, after shots

Nt goo!. Both goals were scored in this manner, after Forrest Brown had stopped hard shots from Roughton. University's goal followed close work in the circle, a shot from close range leaving Anderson no chance to save. Both teams were disorganised, and considering this and the nature of the groilnd, which had been badly cut up by a previous game, the exhibition wns quite good. Ross and Pearce scored for Grammar Old Boys, and Bennett for University. Messrs. Skinner and Gubb were umpires. A FAST EXHIBITION A fast paco was maintained from start to finish in the game between Somerville und Wesley. The Wesley forwards were well supported by u vogorous half-line, in which Picktiiß, at centre, wns outstanding. The failure of Wesley's inside forwards to take advantage of the opportunities offering cost the team the game. The backs made a good defence, but Somerville's forwards played with grent dash. C. Watts was always dangerous, while Glanville gave good support. The scorers were Roughton and Glanville for Somerville, and Philpotts for Wesley. The final score was:—Somerville, 2; Wesley. L Messrs. Grimmer and Henderson were umpires. PAPATOETOE OVERWHELMED Papntoeloe, on its home ground, put up a stubborn resistance, but was not able to hold St. Luke's. The latter scored two goals in the first half and added three more before the final whistle, while Papatoetoe failed to net. This Bcore gives a fair indication of the play, as seldom did the Papa-toc-toe front line look impressive, and Wattarn had a quiet time in goal. F. Clark and King, (he two fullbacks, had little difficulty in repulsing the disjointed efforts of the opposing forwards. The St. Luke's forwards maintained a territorial advantage and goals were scored by Grace, Alexander and Robertson Messrs. S. C. Gubb and R. Smith were umpires. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Third Grade.—Somerville. 4, Grammar Old Boys, 2; Wesley, 9, Mount Eden. 0. CONTESTS IN PROVINCE [FROM HKRALD CORRESPONDENTS] Franklin.—The Franklin Ladies' Hockey Association matches resultedßuckland, 0. Bombay, 1; Tuakau, 3, Te Kohanga, 1; Whiri Whiri United, i, Pukekawa, 0. HAMILTON TEAM BEATEN [from OUR OWN correspondent] HAMILTON. Sunday Tho Waikato representative hockey team chosen to meet the Indians next Saturday had a practice game againßt a Hamilton team yesterday and won easily by four goals to one. In the junior division, Old Technicals, and Technical School A tied, two goals each: Technical School B, 4, beat Kaipaki, 3; Old Boys, 6, beat Hinemoa, 1.