HOCKEY SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23358, 29 May 1939, Page 16

HOCKEY SEASON

GROUNDS OPENED Batches at hobson park DEFEAT OF ST. LUKE'S For the first time this season, the ttemuera Hockey Grounds were in use on Saturday, following extensive alterations and improvements. The ground is in future to be known as Hobson Park, the name bestowed at the opening ceremony on Saturday by the Venerable 'Archdeacon Mac Murray, chairman of the Dilworth Trust Board. After the heavy rain of Friday night, the grounds, which had not yet properly settled down from their renovations, ;were a little loose, but fast play was The best of the games was between St. Luke's and Training College, and after a keenly-contested match, the latter secured a well-merited win. Play •was fast and even, and good, combined movements were the order of the day. The main game between Somerville and United was, as the scoring indicates, very oven and hard, with little or no spectacular play. Neither team scored in the first spell, while both netted two goals each in the second half. Grammar Old Bovs had the advantage of superior combination and finish over its opponent, Mount Eden, which, although showing some good individual efforts, lost the game through lack of co-operation. The game between Afbertians and University was postponed, as the latter team was at the University Hockey Tournament at Christchurch. 'Following are the results of tho senior grade games:— Training College. 5; St. Luke's, 3. Somerville. 2; United, 2. Grammar Old Boys, 6; Mount Kden, 1. SURPRISE FOR ST.. LUKE'S TRAINING COLLEGE WINS The brightest game of the day resulted !n Training College securing a surprise, but well-merited, victory over St. Luke's by «i goals to 3. Play was even and some brilliant movements were seen. : The college team showed better finish and all-round form than it has in any of its previous matches, although improving fairly consistently this season. Training College opened the scoring after about 20 minutes of up-and-down play, when Eyalls completed a smart movement commenced by Sotting. A few minutes later, St. Luke's retaliated strongly, and G. Sell scored. At half-time the score still stood at 1 -all. Scoring in the second spell was fairly fast, and the two teams kept very even, in points until, shortly before time. Training College attacked repeatedly and scored two goals in quick succession to (rain the decision. The Training College half-line played a magnificent game both on defence and attack, Latham, centre, being particularly outstanding. His hard and fast work was a strong factor in the final result. The forwards were in their best form of the season, and Botting, left wing, gave a fine exhibition. The inside right, Coldham, was, perhaps, the most prominent player in circle work, and he succeeded in scoring three goals, the last of which was one of the deciding points of the match.'Hughes, centre-forward, had good support' from his other forwards and made good use ot it, although his work in the circle could be improved on. Yorke. left fullback, cave yet another display of the soundness of his play, and with Bedggood giving support, time and aeain stemmed St. Luke's combined attacks. Fisher, goalkeeper, also defended quite well. Clark, left fullback for St. Luke's, was again outstandingly sound, although the effective combination of the Training College forwards was often too strong for the defence. G Sell, centre-forward, was at the spearhead of St. Luke's attack, and put in some solid work, being well supported by both Carroll and Cullam. The half-line also made a good showing. Goals for Training College were scored by Coldham (3), Hughes and Ryalls. For St. Luke's G. Sell (2) and Carroll scored. Messrs.* W. Grace and A. Jackson were nmpires. HARD GAME DRAWN j SOMERVILLE AND UNITED A hard game, which resulted in a draw, Teas played between Somerville and United in the chief match on No. 1 ground. The teams were so evenly matched that no very spectacular movements resulted. There was no score at half-time. In the first spell, most of the play was in Somerville's half, but strong defence frustrated many of United's attacks. Marshall, Somerville's goalkeeper, played an outstanding game, repeatedly relieving the congestion in the goalmouth with strong kicks, and making some brilliant saves. Both Smith and • G". Brown, fullbacks, played good games, and turned as'de many pressing attacks with hard hits. The halfline also played well, with Boggs. left, outstanding. Stewart, on the right, put in some good defensive work, while Long, centre, plaved a hard game. M. Brown, centre-for-ward, lacked effective circle work. Wyatt, insid* left, and Elliott, left wing, combined r, well in some penetrating attacks and at times went very close to scoring, but Butler, goalkeeper for United, defended strongly. JMies was very safe at right fullback for United, and the* Somerville forwards found, in him, a serious stumbling-block to their attacks, \\ellbourne tfas a little off colour at left wing, although he made some good moves. Torbett plaved quite a good game at centre-forward, and was unlucky on several occasions not to score. Monteith, right wing.- found, as did the whole forward line, that the Somerville defence was too strong. Smith being particularly sound. Hedges, left halfback, was the best of the line, which,. in the main, lacked combined effort. . , Wyatt and Watts scored for Somerville, and Jone3 and Torbett netted for United. Messrs. H. Watts and G. Wells were the umpires.