LIVELY SCENES AT REMUERA

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 87, 4 July 1927, Page 10

LIVELY SCENES AT REMUERA

PLAY AND BY-PLAY HARD HOCKEY SATURDAY was a day of sur* prises for hockeyites. The first one came when Wesley put up such an improved showing against Somerville in the first half. Then Varsity failed to come off victor in its contest with Eden. The regrettable feature of the day, however, was the unsportsmanlike play and lack of self-control displayed by at least two players in the St. Luke’s-Areta contest. Slippery grounds always prove a handicap to Somerville, and Saturday proved no exception to the rule. Hushing the Wesley territory right from the bully-off, it was soon apparent Somerville could not sustain an attack, and was easily routed by the really notable form. And realising that solid Wesley defence. Lucas is certainly good in goal, though inclined at times to be a little too rash, but with Nicholson, well supported by Frater, in the backs, Wesley have a worthwhile find and one whose hard and well-directed hitting proves a deadly factor to opponents’ forward’ movements. It was the Wesley forward line that surprised even its own supporters, however. Time after time in the early stages of the game it was seen in splendid forward movements displaying great combination and creditable stickwork. The same old tale can be told of this as of most other contests this season —scientific stickwork and superiority of combination told in the end and Wesley gradually succumbed to its more experienced opponents. The Somerville combination, once it got its bearings on the slippery grounds in the second half, kept Wesley on the defensive and twice from the stick of Seccombe and once each from that of C. Watts and E. Watts, the ball was sent into the net. Wesley failed to score. Thus Banjo Patterson wrote of the “Geebung Polo Club.” In similar strain though in milder terms he would have written up the Areta-St. Luke’s corntest. Areta started with two players short, but “ere half-time was gone” odds were even.” Two St. Luke's players had to retire—Hookham with a small bone in his leg broken, and H. A. Williams with severe injuries to the face. IRATE SIDE-LINERS Play was fast and furious, and interest was added to the proceedings by two or three fair barrackers on the side-line. Chanting a “hymn of hate,” they anathematised one player in particular. “Why doesn’t the referee order him off?” they muttered. “Look at him! Look at him! The huge brute!” Direct action appeared imminent till a player took time off to placate the irate ones. Still they muttered fiercely, however. Play in the second half was more subdued, but even then a spirit of misdirected playfulness prevailed. At one time it took all the persuasive powers of the St. Luke’s goalie to check one or two of his fellow-players from libelling the referee. That, however, was before he got the ball in his anatomy, driven at full force. Despite these lively interludes, several players exhibited quite good hockey. Hanna, St. Luke’s goalie, and Davis, in charge of Areta, both wielded very creditable sticks. Both forward lines showed spasms of creditable hockey. The final whistle found Areta in the lead, 2 to 1. J. Carter and Hayson found the net for the winners, while Bay was responsible for St. Luke’s score. VARSITY AND EDEN DRAW By bringing off a penalty bully just before the final whistle sounded Varsity saved itself from defeat at the sticks of Eden, which had a goal lead right up to the last minute. Varsity is now out of the running as far as championship honours are concerned. Saturday’s five-all draw with Eden has put the students three points behind. Somerville and the whites cannot now go wrong. To say the least, the match was a surprise. Ostensibly, Eden took the field a weakened eleven. Postles was absent with a strained knee and a last season’s player, Woolford, took his place. In spite of a re-arrangement of its forces Eden gave a splendid display of dashing hockey, and fought the students every inch of the way. Excellent defensive work by Surman and Anthony broke up many promising Varsity onslaughts and Vail in goal proved his worth time and again. But for his sp cndid clearing the result would have been one-sided. From the first bully the game was hotly contested with the issue always in doubt. It was Mount Eden's day out and by employing similar bustling tactics to those used by the students, the Brown Jerseys made the most of a enterprising front line. Penman was in good form on right wing, and sent across some pretty centres. Jansen on the extreme left was useful and was dangerous when in the circle. There were no duds in Eden’s van and the five were opportunists to a man. Cohen, left half, kept his share of the forwards well fed and in collaboration with Hedges proved sound in defence. Cohen is a bit inclined to rove and should refrain from playing too near the forward line while defending. Drought on right half is a hard worker and has improved considerably since the beginning of the season. Mount Eden is a fine sporting side and invariably plays a hard, clean game unspoiled by questionable tactics. On the general run of play the Edenites merited their draw. They gave Hume’s men a lot of hard thinking and their determined assaults astounded the students, who were counting upon a certain victory. The blues rely to a large extent upon lusty hitting and were obviously upset by the stodgy ground. The halves appeared to be uneasy but Radcliffe soon struck form and his cleverness in dealing with corner shots probably saved his side from defeat. Varsity’s attacking squad was good at times, but indulged in too much wild slogging in the circle —the result of a mild panic when prospects looked inauspicious. During the last 10 minutes play was carried on in heavy rain and under gloomy visibility conditions. Both teams were working at top pressure—the students endeavouring to equalise, and Eden striving to maintain the one goal lead. The game became a mud-fight, and Varsity can congratulate itself on averting defeat by its plucky young rivals. SOMERVILLE TOO GOOD FOR TRAINING COLLEGE This was a dashing exhibition of hard hockey with no “excuse me’s” about it, but it was cleanly fought. The struggle was packed with sensation, and at the conclusion of the first session College looked like getting away with the championship. The half time score showed a register of 3 —l in favour of the Collegians. This was the surprise of the Colts’ life. Then as the game progressed they roused themselves to action and Training College failed to hold them with the

result that the final whistle announced a score of 4—3 in favour of Somerville. This was the second surprise. Congratulations to “Col.” Preston and his men. Taking the game as a whole there was not a pin to choose between the contestants. In the first half College had the better of the attack and Colts were busy defending on and off, while during the second portion defenders became attackers and attackers defenders. Somerville is a side of good staying power and is generally seen at its best during the closing stages of an encounter. College made desperate efforts to equalise a few minutes before time was called and a few minutes longer might have seen honours even as the last whistle found the blues attacking vigorously. A FIERCE ENCOUNTER “When the Geebung boys got going it was time to clear the road; And the game was so terrific that ere half the time was gone A spectator’s leg was broken just from merely looking on; For they waddied one another till the plain was strewn with dead.” SECOND GRADE Varsity Colts 5 (Milne, Adams 2, Ellison, Storry), beat Epiphany 0. Mount Eden 3 (Cochran 3) beat Wesley 0. THIRD GRADE Wesley 4 (Slaney, E. Arnold, Stacey, Fleet) beat University A 2 (Cooper and Knight). Somerville 1 (McNab) beat Grammar 0. FOURTH GRADE St. Luke’s 7 (Ramsey 3, Harvey, Hogan, McQuarrie, King) beat Grammar 1 (Woolcoot). SECONDARY SCHOOLS Technical College 4 (Waters 2, Leach 2) beat Mount Albert 3 (Floyd 1, Ferguson 1). Grammar B 7 (Norton 4, Atkins 3) beat Grammar C 4 (Richards 2, Grant Spedding). Auckland Grammar A 7 (Brown Barchard 3, Martin 2, Pawling) beat Mount Albert 80. Otahuhu 4 (Jenkins 3, Gardner) beat University 1 (Blake). COUNTRY WEEK TOURNEY The girls’ team to represent Waipa in the country week tournament defeated a B team on Saturday afternoon by 3 goals to nil. MATCH AT FRANKLIN The Franklin Hockey Association’s nten s team scored a victory over St Luke’s, Auckland, at Waiuku on Saturday afternoon by 3 goals to 1. , played a sreat game for £r a " kli ”. scoring two of the goals. G Williams netter the other goal. Brown scored for St. Luke’s. In the ladies’ division Franklin West defeated Franklin East by 4 goa"s to 3 For Franklin West Miss G Masters scored three goals and Miss M. Brown