TO-MORROW’S HOCKEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 85, 1 July 1927, Page 11

TO-MORROW’S HOCKEY

ST. LUKE’S MEETS EDEN HARD BATTLES EXPECTED Keen, hard-fought hockey can be expected in the senior men’s hockey contests at Remuera to-morrow. St. Luke’s is set down to meet Areta, Wesley meet Somerville, while the Varsity pack is to battle for pride of place with Mount Eden. With the issue in doubt till the end, the St. Luke’s-Areta contest should be a fight to the finish. In the first round of the competitions these teams drew. Both are now playing better hockey and to-morrow will undoubtedly see keen, fast play. Lack of combination will in all probability act to the detriment of St. Luke’s, though the team comprises some keen players who can be depended upon to display spasms of even brilliant play. Hookham appeared off colour last week, but working in with the others of the forward line, in which Bay and Giles are to be relied upon for support in a crisis, he should prove a thorn in the , side of the Areta pack. Hlghfield in goal for St. Luke’s is proving worthy of his place, while in the half line Steele is a prominent player who handles a clever stick. ARETA’S STRENGTH Areta’s main strength will be in its defence. Practically the same combination will turn out as last week. With Davis in the backs and Ashley in the halves, Areta will prove a tough proposition. SOMERVILLE MEET WESLEY Though to many the issue in the Somerville-Wesley contest is a foregone conclusion, it will be no easy win and there is even a possibility of Wesley coming off the winner. The latter team is a greatly improved combination to the one fielded at the beginning of the season. Lucas in goal is perhaps better fitted for that position than any other man in Auckland. Astley is also a powerful, heady half, whose hard hitting and well directed stick work can be depended upon to intercept many promising moves. The forward line, in which the Carter brothers are prominent, can also be depended on to put in some strenuous play. Smythe will be seen in the half line in place of Chappell. Harold Watts will not be available , for Somerville this week and his place will be filled by G. Baildon. The splendid combination and scientific stick work of the forward line will as usual be the main factor in • this team’s strength. VARSITY v. MOUNT EDEN A big battle is promised when Eden and Varsity meet on No. 2 ground at 3.15 p.m. to-morrow. Last time the students met the Edenites, they had a narrow escape from defeat. Since the previous meeting, Varsity has strengthened itself in the forward line by the inclusion of Phillpotts, who now resides permanently in Auckland. Hamilton is back among the attackers and will probably be much benefited by his rest last Saturday. “Eddie” Burton is missing from left wing this week and in consequence the van has been re-shuffled. Greenbank is back at right wing -where he is most at home. _ . , .. _ Leonard was out of action last time these rivals met, and his safe stick will add to the troubles of Eden’s van. Vail takes his old place as custodian for the brown jerseys, who have missed his services of late. If Surman and Anthony are in £° r ‘a Varsity will have to exercise all the skill it can muster to get into .Eden s Ci sirman has been giving particularly attractive exhibition during the last month or so. Eden s half line is sound and if tl.e forward department is kept well supplied with the learner the material is there for getting goals. This encounter will be a hard struggle but Varsity, being the older and more

experienced side, should again emerge victorious.