HOCKEY SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 21

HOCKEY SEASON

DAVIS CUP COMPETITION SOMERVILLE TEAM'S DEFEAT FAST GROUNDS EXPERIENCED With the completion of the tenth series of games in the Auckland Hockey Association's Davis Cup competition the contest bears a more open aspect than for some seasons past. 7 rhere are now three teams, St. Luke's, Somerville and Grammar Old Boys, in the running. The principal game last Saturday between Somerville and Grammar was a vital one. Grammar's win has now given it a definite claim to the trophy and it is likely that the final result will depend on a game between Grammar and St. Luke's. Hockey enthusiasts, generally, will acknowledge that Somerville's defeat was perhaps the best possible thing for infusing more spirit into a competition, tho result of which in recent years became almost a foregone conclusion. With a young and promising combination like Grammar contesting the honours the competition will assume an entirely new aspect and there is little doubt that Auckland hockey as a whole will benefit. The fields on Saturday were tho fastest yet experienced this season and the only drawback was that the No. 2 ground, where the main games were played, had dried with a very uneven surface. The ball was travelling very fast, but the bumps made accurate trapping almost an impossibility and the combination of most of the sides suffered as a result.

EXCITING CONTEST ROUGH TACTICS USED Although the main game between Grammar and Somerville was one of the fastest and most exciting seen in club fixtures for several years it could hardly be called a good exhibition. Tactics were over-vigorous from the start and the latter part of tho match fully substantiated the remark made recently by Mr. Behram Doctor, manager of the All-India team, that hockey in New Zealand was largely a matter of brute force. The number of occasions on which the game was delayed through injuries was sufficient in itself to ruin the spirit and atmosphere of the contest. Here again, New Zealand hockey might benefit by following the custom observed in overseas countries regarding injuries. In both Great Britain and India no match is delayed because a player receives an injury. The player is removed to tho sideline and treated there and tho game continues. There is no denying; that a series of delays seriously affects the result of any game and on Saturday it appeared that Grammar would be at a great disadvantage, when after displaying great dash and completely - bustling Somerville's defence, the match was spoiled by a series of accidents. Tho most regrettable aspect of the match, however, was the persistent and open manner in which several players accused their opponents of bre&ches of the rules. It was obvious that when hard pressed a number of players were resorting to obstructional methods of defence and although heavily penalised these tactics marred an otherwise excellent game GAME IN THE WAIKATO REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURE Tho delayed representative match between King Country and Hamilton was played at Hamilton last Saturday at the conclusion of the week-end round. The game did not create much , enthusiasm and ended in a draw, each side scoring one goal. King Country made a good showing against its more formidable opponents and held the lead until the second spell, when the local team equalised the score after manv attempts. The somewhat unorthodox nature of the visitors' play caused surprise at times to the Hamilton players. They plaved a bustling type of game with tho" ability of being able to hit from some awkward positions. Little success attended their efforts to combine as the passing was too slow, square and mostly in one direction, yet the forwards were quick to profit by the mistakes of their opponents. At fullback Tanthorpe had a tendency to find the line too often. Curtis speculated and recovered with a certain amount of sucicess, while Raynor, at centre-half, was active and a good spoiler. Kellv invariably led the irregular sorties of the vanguard. Smillie, the Hamilton custodian, in kicking strongly made one costly mistake. Pountney proved a safe fullback and Ewan frequently repelled attacks. Storry and Clough did most of the work in the middle division. The forward play lacked finish, Powdrill being the best, although he delayed his centres.