MEN’S MATCHES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6624, 14 September 1908, Page 2

MEN’S MATCHES

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY UNITED. Tho two men’s matches which followed cams rather in the nature of an auti-climax after tho oxciting struggle between tho girls and quite failed to excito anything like, the enthusiasm it did. They were important, too, for they resulted in United being firmly established at tho head of tho senior championship list, oven though tht team was unable to heat Victoria College. There are still a number of 11 nplayed games in the round, hut they cannot affect the result and may now be abandoned. United 2 Victoria College... 2 Vivian 2 Karorl 1 ■ UNITED v. VICTORIA OOULEGE. Somewhat contrary to expectation, tho match between United and Victoria College turned out to bo a very fast and interesting affair, ind this in spite of the fact that the former had their beet team in tho field while the latter wore minus a couple of their most reliable players. Tho pace was hot throughout and College certainly had tho advantage and really should bavo won. All the scoring ‘was done in the first spoil, when each side put on two, but it was not until after eomo very oven play that the defence was penetrated. Smith, for College, made tho start, scoring from a big tussle in front of tho goal, Elliott equalising immediately after as the result of a fine piece'of combined play, in which every one of tho United forwards took part. Oram got tho second goal for College within a few minutes and this was quickly followed by Smith shooting another fine one. But for some reason best known to himself—certainly it was not apparent to tho spectators—tho referee disallowed tho goal. A good effort on the part of United culminated in Hollis equalising from a fine pass by Smytho. Tho second spell, which was barren so far as scores went, was hotly contested. College had tho host of it on tho play, their opponents being kept busily defending practically all the time. But tho net could not be found and tho game ended with scores two all. Tho referee was Mr Porter. VIVIAN v. KAR.ORI.

In their match with Karori on No. 1 ground, Vivian had most of the advantage during tho first spell. Dunn was their first scorer the goal coming from a scramble, which was tho culminating point of a prolonged struggle. Collins shot another in much the same way before half-time came. Karori certainly made a few good rushes and it took Sanders, tho Vivian goalkeeper, and tho backs generally all their time to prevent scores. But they did it. Karori opened their scoring account after tho second spell had proceeded some way, the goal being the result of a fairly strong and veil sustained attack. Murphy found tho not from a rather difficult angle. Tho blacks had an undoubted advantage almost right through the spell, tho position in tho first half having been reversed completely. The play, was a good deal more interesting and tho pace at times was fairly fast. The ball was up tho Vivian end most of the time, but the attackers could not manage to get it into the not again. Though Vivian made several good attempts they also wore unable to score and tho game ended in their favour by two to one. On the play they were rather tho better team. Mr Hunter refereed. POSITION OF THE TEAMS.

The points now to the credit of the competing teams arc shown in the appended table. The only alteration in relative position is that Virian has moved from seventh up to fourth:—

THE CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD. PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, September 12. Auckland defeated Wanganui in a match for tho Now Zealand Hockey Association’s championship shield at Romuera to-day For tho first firo minutes Wanganui showed great dash and .Coo notched a goal. The Aucklanders then asserted themaelrea and tho Wanganui men were nerer again in tho hunt, Auckland orontually wining by 9 coals to 1. For the winners all tho forwards scored, Mason getting 3 goals, Barry 2, Brooko-Smith 2, and Mathor and Welham 1 each. Mr E.

E. Madden was referee. Auckland have withstood sovon challenges for the shield this season and will hold it until next year.

Won. Ptfl. United ... . 9 0 3 21 Karori . 8 2 18 Victoria College . 6 5 12 12 Vivian ... . 6 6 1 11 T.M.O.A. . 5 6 0 19 Wesicy . 5 6 0 Ifl Wellington ... . 5 6 0 1U Thomdon . 0 u 0 0