HOCKEY SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22193, 21 August 1935, Page 18

HOCKEY SEASON

DAVIS CUP MATCHES POOR STANDARD OF PLAY i'he ninth series of matches in the Davis Cup competition decided at Reniuera on Saturday produced little good hockey. Tbe grounds were very wet, and, combined with the bitterly cold conditions, neither players nor spectators enjoyed the games as much as usual. The Somerville-University game was the most keenly contested but it was much below the standard expected of the sides. The match was characterised by much solid hitting in the circle, with the result that there were few bright and open passing movements. The match between St. Luke's and Wesley was little better, although St. Luke's forwards appeared to strike form. There were few redeeming features in the match between Grammar and Mount Eden. Decided on the bumpy and uneven No. 3 field it soon developed into a struggle of hard hitting and much body play. The Mount Eden players, with their shock and bustling tactics, may always be relied upon to upset the balance of a side such as Grammar, which adopts the orthodox, short passing methods, but when playing under heavy conditions like those on Saturday Mount Eden on several occasions has shown itself capable of fully extending the best club sides. Somerville, by beating University, still retains the lead in the competition. The games next Saturday should prove interesting, and St. Luke's, in order to maintain its position, will have to beat University.

GAME IN WAIKATO

HOOPER CUP CONTESTS Owing to the adverse weather conditions, little interest was taken in the first series of matches in the Hooper Cup competition. Old Boys, recent winners of the Killip Memorial Shield, went down to Kaipaki. It was somewhat of a surprise, although Old Boys played two short. However, it was a ragged game, in which the hockey never rose to a high standard. Old Technicals, with a depleted side, drew with Hinemoa after an uninteresting encounter. Weakness in front of the goal was shown by both forward lines. The selection of the Waikato hockey representatives to challenge Auckland's supremacy of the Dominion has been in the hands of Messrs.' Spiers, Gracie and Hunter for some time. The loss of three forwards, Houghton, La wry and Kelly, left a big gap in the Waikato vanguard. The line picked against the Indians did not play up to expectations, although it was just as sound as the majority in the Dominion. It is considered to be strengthened by Ewan and Spiers exchanging places.