SOMERVILLE AGAIN HOCKEY CHAMPIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 407, 16 July 1928, Page 7

SOMERVILLE AGAIN HOCKEY CHAMPIONS

final round finished MT. EDEN’S SURPRISE WIN The final matches of the second round , t h e club hockey competitions were concluded at Remuera on Saturday. ! laving secured a comfortable lead early in the season which was not seriously challenged by any other club, Somerville has again come out at the head of the championship. Although ,he club has yet to meet Varsity to play ofif'a postponed match, the issue cannot be affected. The following tables show the positions

MOUNT EDEN'S SURPRISE The defeat of Somerville by Mount Kden on Saturday came as a great surprise to followers of the game. Playing with rare abandon the Eden forwards employed vigorous hustling tactics from the first bully. The game ended 2—l. Somehow Somerville never .seem happy on No. 2 ground and on this occasion the forwards simply could not get going. The younger side thoroughly enjoyed itself and eventually won the game by “playing safe” during the last quarter. In a lifeless game, Varsity disposed «if Areta to the tune of 4—o. Lack of co-ordination has been Areta’s trouble right through the season. In a hard-fought battle, St. Luke’s triumphed over North Shore by 4—l. The game was not so one-sided as the >core-board indicates, although Luke’s forwards dominated the lirst half. There after up and down play took place. Shore played well, but the forward line was rather off colour for the day and unable to finish off. OTHER GAMES Two matches were decided in senior B section. Otahuhu had no difficulty with Somerville Colts, the final score being 6—o. Varsity Whippets were successful against Training College by the odd goal in five. Arawa A Girls just got there by 3 —2 in their fixture with Mount Eden. Wesley put down Somerville in a 4—l game. EDEN DOWNS SOMERVILLE Asked to account for their defeat by Mount Eden the Somerville boys said simply, “They played better hockey.” That sporting version of an eleventh-hour loss puts in a nutshell the unexpected failure of the champions to overcome the less experienced eleven. To the small “gallery,” which gathered on the side line on No. 2 ground the game was not of a very scientific order but was quite interesting. At half-time Eden had one goal in their bag and Somerville had been unable to score. Feeling very blue the Whites launched some heavy torpedoes after the resumption and pierced the Eden defence on many occasions. but could not finish off. After

about seven minutes play Eric Watts found a clear goal and beat the custodian much to his side’s relief. Jubilation was short-lived for Eden was not soing to let the match slip through their fingers with anything so unsatisfactory as a draw. Giving Somerville few breathers the persistent Brown forwards pegged away. Excitement "as intense when John Brown, centreforward. secured his second goal, giving Kden the lead which was never overtaken. Thereafter Eden playing only ! or safety killed every possible ball turning the leather out of bounds, he tactics were bad hockey but, in the circumstances, good policy. Hie champions were troubled in the half-fine. After the interval Cole and Lodgers changed places, but still Eden’s inside three forwards caused a lot of "ixiety. The right wing, Jones, was not in form and his centring was not "f the best. Promising movements on '•his side broke down for this reason, tail. Eden’s goalie, performed creditabl>’- Mainland, the small fullback, showed plenty of gameness and did not >eeiu to worry about Somerville’s big orwards. All three halves, Kelly. Knaplin and Hedges, were of great ■''mice and on the whole could not have none much better. ST. LUKE’S KNOCKS SHORE

M. Luke’s victory over North Shore oy 4 goals to 1 was the result of enterbnse on the part of the winner’s van- ~ The five showed plenty of dash .oughout same. They were particularly aggressive in the first half. . . a R inside left, was out for goals and although inclined to be a bit selfish, -ave an outstanding exhibition. Pie netted two shots.

Jack Giles, centreforward. did a big «nure of the work and deserved goals, tu his luck was out. Butler, inside jgnt, also accounted for a brace and * himself an opportunist. u>r the halves, Steele and Robertson ere Prominent, lending the necessary support. Williams also toiled hard, . ' va s not so glinting as his associates. as usual, both fullbacks, Wiland Burnett - were reliable. Highk*', sav ed when his presence was Datfiy needed. Shore’s attacking party was not in Y* best fighting trim. Reid did not ban €ar to get due supply of the T , Anthony registered the only goal. le otlier three were by no means ti °Undent in the circle and some direc- ' nless shooting was indulged in. fSiUK er ' . carrie <* the burden of the , ck division and wielded a timely hek. Anthony was not so conspicous. Rankin, wearing the pads, upped a good deal of the hot stuff Luke’s, but came to grief before trfeky ones. The brothers Frater. Thornton strove hard in the lialfay department, but the line was not of°T a^ a * ns * the open-order formation tha T>k e * s va -nguard. By short passing - Reds Sained important advantages p 1(1 employed short passing effectively, punching and carrying the ball too 1 ahead ruined Shore’s chances. OTAHUHU’S BIG WIN Hi® score of 6 to 0 in the Otahuhu Somerville Colts game rather flatters ••winners. At the beginning of the “latch Somerville played bright, clever

hockey, and they were only worn down. In the last quarter, by the superior weight and speed of the Otahuhu team. Somerville played like a team and displayed some excellent passing' rushes, breaking through the Otahuhu line and only being checked when right in the enemy’s circle. Hunter, for Somerville, played well during the earlier part of the game, but became very erratic toward the finish. For Otahuhu Mingins and Gardener were especially noticeable. Gardener, on the wing, did some clever line work and shot three goals while Mingins, at centre, played a good game. Flay in the Training College v. Varsity Whippets game was, on the whole, poor. Varsity lacked combination and there was far too much speculation. Passing was poor and too much was left to individual effort. On the Training College side combination was better, but there was much wild play and little attempt at careful shooting. It was noticeable, also, with Training College, that there was a wide gap between the forward and back lines, so that when the forwards got into the enemy’s twenty-five they had little or no support. TRAINING COLLEGE BEATS VARSITY For Training College Meiklejohn played a sound game, taking passes cleanly, and getting the ball away smartly. For Varsity, Linton, in goal, gave a good exhibition, doing some very clever kicking, and standing up well to sudden attacks. GOOD WIN TO VARSITY The dullest match of the day was the fixture between Varsity and Areta, played on No. 1 at 2 p.m. For the most part the match was devoid of incident and languid. Although the students won by 4 —o, they were not four times as good as Areta. Poor shooting and hesitancy nullified many scoring chances for the blacks. Varsity’s three inside forwards, Hamilton, Don and Seelen, the best account of the quintet. Both wing men, Philpotts, on the left, and Hay, right, were not in form. To begin with the former was not well on taking the field, and was starved by the halves when he merited more support. Hay’s centring was very weak and ill-timed. Scorers for Varsity were Hamilton (2) Don and Seelen. North and Sparling were both capable fullbacks, though the latter, after his long sojourn away from the game, was a bit "scratchy." Win, not long elevated to the senior goalship, acquitted himself with confidence, and has strengthened his side. Little need he said ».bout Areta’s forwards, jack Carter and Savage were most prominent, and had a lot of bad luck. Hughes again played well in the halves, and worried the opposition like a terrier. Sweeney and Ashley sparked up convincingly. ' On the whole tlie halves were the best part of the team. Both fullbacks were only middling.

(l t the teams in the senior competitions: SECTION A Goals. CJh. P. vv G. r>. f. a. pts — 27 10 14 •■it liiikt- s .. . 4 23 10 12 2 3 27 20 11 North Shore ■ .\rela s SECTION B Goals. Oh. p. w I I>. F. A. Pts 1 2!) |:*. 17 Upiphany •» Somerville . ■ . University ■ • ■ 0