HOCKEY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8735, 18 May 1914, Page 7

HOCKEY

SATURDAY’S GAMES IN POURING RAIN AND BITING AVIND. UNIVERSITY'S GOOD START. University 7 Karon , 3 United 9 M.Y.M.I. (J Metropolitan ... 2 Wellington ... 1 Insurance, a bye.

Karori Park at any time is not an inviting place. On Saturday, with tho rain coming down in torrents and the wind ricocheting from tho adjacent hills in insistent swirling blasts of icy coldness, it was, to say the least, dispiriting. Indeed, it needed a good deal of optimism on Saturday to face Karori, but hockeyites are nothing if not optimists, and if they did grumble, it was withal a growl with no bitterness behind it. The Jadies, too, also braved the elements, but were forced to beat a hasty retreat. AA T hy they should have been called upon to play on a day like Saturday is a mystery apparently only known to the postponement committee.

Taking into consideration the conditions under which the games were played, the contests were of a high order, open, spectacular work being by no means distinguished by its absence. Much interest was taken in the Uni-ted-Mymi match, as the former, having drawn a bye on the first Saturday, had. not previously been seen out. It was known that they were a particularly strong combination, and this was amply demonstrated, United simply having a holiday as far as hard work was concerned, winning by 9 to 0. Tho University-Karori seUto was evenly contested, although the former were the tetter. eleven, and were four points to the good when time was called. Metropolitan downed Wellington by tho narrow margin of a single goal. The following table shows the position of the teams in the competition:

METROPOLITAN v. WELLINGTON. Metropolitan and Wellington met on No. 7 ground, and a keen struggle was the result. Play was of the lively, spectacular order, and there was not a dull moment from start to finish. As both elevens had won their first match, each struggled hard to keep up the good record. “Mets.,” if anything, held a slight advantage, and, as already recorded, won with a goal to spare—a good indication of the respective merits of the two teams. The Wellington forwards put plenty of sting into their work, and it was mainly owing to the sound defensive work of Pullyn that Metropolitan pulled the gamo'out of the fire. The Wellington team wore black bands around their left arms as a mark of respect to their late member, Stephen Alderton, jvho was fatally injured in a lift accident on Thursday. , The opening stages of the game were characterised- by even play. Wellington attacked early, and Griffiths nearly scored, the ball just missing the net. Give-and-take play was the rule for some time. Eventually, from some indiscriminate work in the circle, Sheeran got on© past the goal-keeper, but was penalised. Hay was then removed to the other end of the field and Wellington nearly scored twice. “ Mets." rallied, but all efforts to score were unavailing, th© spell ending with the sheet clean.

In the second half Metropolitan started aggressive back forays, and it was only the sound defensive work of Haigh and PnUyn which kept them out. Haigh, by the way, was playing his last game, as he is leaving for Christchurch this week. After many attempts. Metropolitan scored, Taplin finding the net with a well-judged shot. Metropolitan, keeping up the pressure, came at it again, and from a scramble in the circle Keys scored. Welliligbon then livened up considerably, and play for the remainder of the half settled down in “ Mots.’ ” territory. There a big forward straggle raged, from which Fletcher, seizing an opportunity, sent in a stinging shot which gave the custodian no chance. Metropolitan then put in a final rush, which resulted in Leggo getting home with a good hit. This, however, was not allowed, the referee ruling him offside. The game ended without any further score.

Mr J. W- Gendall was referee, UNITED v. MYMI.

From the initial bully United pressed hard, hut the slippery ground made good concerted play almost impossible. A minute after the game had started Boyd sent in a hot shot, which, however, went wide. There were plenty of opportunities of scoring, bub the mud practically rendered them valueless. Stewart opened the scoring account, beating the goal-keeper beautifully. Mymi livened up considerably, but the United defence held good Lyons was next to score, putting the leather through from a scramble in the circle. After this United quickly put on three more points, Clarke (2) and Boyd being the scorers. Mymi played keenly upoh resumption, and for a time held their more experienced opponents in chock. Then United came away again, only to bt mot with some lively forward rnshesThe remaining goals were contributed by Boyd, Clarke, and Lyons. The game ended 9 —o, in favour of United. Sir C. S. Falconer controlled the game. UNIVERSITY v. KAROEI.

T3he commencement of this match was delayed somewhat through the nonappearance of tho appointed referee. From the initial bully the bah travelled regularly up and down, the field In the ’Varsity forward lino were the three Struck brothers, Salek was in-side-left, and Hcstick (who was making his first appearance in the team) was loft wing. The Karori forwards were tho same as when tho team last played. On tho right wing Brooke) did excellent work, and it was due to him that Karori opened their scoring account. Ho robbed McKillop of tho ball at about the half-way line, and when he reached tho circle he sent the leather to Lower, who sent in a stinging shot. The ball hit Cockerill’s boot, and bounced off into the not. University soon equalised. The Stracks initiated a clever passing rush, which ended with tho ball safely through the goal mouth. Karori replied well, Loader, Davis, and Lower being prominent, tho latter scoring. 'Varsity cam© at it again, and kept the blacks on the defensive. Several

comers were awarded against Karori, but nothing' came of them. The next goal was a beauty. The ball ■went bo hind, and from the resultant bully on the twenty-five lino, G. Straok broke away and scored on his own. A. in:a* ute or two later • ho repeated this effort, which made the score road 3—-2 j The scoring in the second half was. opened by Bostick, which put Univor-J sity two , tho good. Kaxorij then took a hand at tho attacking, Lower, Davies, and Loader being par-* ttcnlariy prominent. From' one of] their combined rushes G. Davies scored. • (4 —3). After that the greens; had matters very much as they liked.l Hostick and the Struck brothers play-j ed wonderful hockey, being practically) irxasigtiblo. Hostdck scored another point, and G. Strack two more, which brought the final tally dp to 7. Mr Langford was referee. JUNIOR. i United beat Metropolitan by id goals to nil. Tho scorers were Mel Lend (6), Richards (4), Warburtoa (4), Thompson, and Stuart. University B failed to put up anything like a docent showing against Karori, tho suburbanites winning by 10 goals to 2. Mr 0. P. McKenzie refereed.

Wellington defeated Kilbimie. Anglican by 4 goals to 2, Fitz-Jones, Gow, and Ashwin were the scorers for the winners. Out of respect te their late member, Mr Stephen Alderton, who. was accidentally killed last Thursday,; the: Wellington team, wore mourningbands on their arms.

U. W. iV DGoals Ch. for. asst- pts. Mxrfcropo litan 2 2 O' 0 7 2 4 U Diversity — 2 1 1 0 8 8 2 United ... 1 1 0 0 9 0 2 Karari 2 1 0 0 8 10 2 Wellington ... 2 : 1 0 2 2 2 M.Y-M.X. 3 )0 2 0 3 14 0 Insnranco 1 0 1 0 0 1 0