VARSITY ON TOP

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1023, 14 July 1930, Page 7

VARSITY ON TOP

CLUB HOCKEY MAKES PROGRESS DEFEAT OF MT. EDEN For the first time in many seasons University looks like pulling off the club hockey championship of Auckland, for having defeated Mount Eden, on Saturday, the way should be clear, barring the unforeseen, for the students to go through to final honours. Varsity now has 16 points to Eden’s 12, but the latter has one match to play. St. Luke’s is making a strong bid and is only two points behind the leading team. North Shore made easy pickings of Somerville, the final score being 5-0. Both teams, however, are out of the running. St. Luke’s had no difficulty in downing Wesley decisively, although unable t.o score in the first half.

ST. LUKE’S TOO FAST St. Luke’s made the pace too hot for Wesley during the second half of the match on Saturday, winning bv five points to one, although at half-time the teams had been standing even without score. The opening session was not marked by any brilliant flashes of play, ar.d it came rather as a surprise to tin* spectators when St. Luke’s took the ; ball almost immediately on resuming* 1 and netted. The Reds had bad tin* advantage through the first half, bu' Donovan, in Wesley’s goal, had proved a sound defence. He saved several hot shots in the closing stages, but St. Luke’s kept too tight a pressure and forced the ball through repeatedly by sheer weight. The backs, Fleet and Michael, were both up to standard, but failed to stave off the Red forwards. Fleet was outstanding. White, who had been playing well, was unfortunate in being struck in the eye by a fast ball and had to retire, his place being taken by Squires, who carried honours well. Minor injuries were frequent and ambulance men were kept busy throughout the afternoon, this game claiming its fair share of casualties. This delayed play considerably, ami the light was failing fast when tlie final whistle blew a l(?w minutes before live o’clock. There was a new player in the St. Luke’s team, taking the place of Burnett. He was Stuart, a recent arrival from India, where he is said to have taken part in first-class contests. Possibly a different style of play puzzled him, for he did not show any special brilliance and will have to improve it be is to remain in the team. Torbet scored freely for the Reds, being well supported by Giles and Don. Williams was prominent in defensive play. A. B. Burton played a good forward game for Wesley, and Chappell was in better form than for some time recently. Simmonds netted the only goal for the Greens. NORTH SHORE TAKES POINTS North Shore, which put Somerville down by no fewer than five goals to nil, won by superiority on all points. Somerville has not been able to do anything since it lost five of its old hands early in the year. The halves are the very weak division, being able to offer only mediocre resistance to teams which know anything about forward play. Shore simply ran through and had it not been for Gardiner’s work at fullback, and to Smith’s assistance to a lesser extent, the final score would have been devastating. Splendid fullback play was given by Parker and Allen for Shore, the pair swooping down to intercept before Somerville could get within shooting distance, or if it missed quick fallingback by halves and fullbacks smothered Somerville’s shots. No passengers could be discerned among the ranks of the trans-harbour men, who s£ill seemed to bold some of the exultation they enjoyed on the previous Saturday.

UNIVERSITY WINS OUT In defeating Mount Eden by 2 —o, University is in a fair way to win the club hockey championship of Auckland. The students have done well throughout the season and played sound though hardly brilliant hockey. Always they have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship, and are held in esteem for that quality by every team in the grade. Their win was therefore a popular one; giving them opportunity, barring the unforseen, to take final honours in three or four weeks’ time. Although the Blues put down their rivals by two clear goals, a margin of one would have been a better indication of play. Eden as undoubtedly beaten by the magnificent defence the students’ rearguard offered, nothing like it having been seen for many a day. Brown and Ellison have never been seen to better advantage, both being deadly on the tackle, swift to intercept, safe in stopping and crisp in driving. Even when Eden’s van got past they were still a long way from goaling, Crawley being on the job with a safe boot. The fullbacks played to policy and had Laurie Fletcher, the Edel goal shooter, well and truly marked. M. Jones was outdone for the same reason, and was off colour in any case, too much one hand.

A contributing reason for Eden’s lack of goals was that the men left of the centre-forward were starved for a large part of the match, too much workbeing assigned to the right hand section. The Brown halves, Chaplin particularly, and Hedges, gave strong resistance, but fed the right too much. Wellborne was fast and dangerous when he saw the ball, but was poorly fed. He should watch bis habit of swerving in and overlapping the inside positions.

As for the students’ front line, it was enterprising and made progress by short passing. Bestic on the left dailied over much before centring, with the result that he was frequently robbed Hay was marked by the opposition and often smothered, but Was invariably dangerous when in possession. The halves pivoting on Radcliffe were tremendous workers. Storry gave a heady and safe exhibition, but Noakes has been seen to better effect. It was an interesting match heightened with plenty of incident The backs on both sides hit strongly and placed well. Anderson and Mainland played a shrewd game, being well up field to catch the Blue forwards off-side. Vail stopped several tough ones, the two which beat him being out of reach. Hockey could do with a few more matches of this calibre.

Championship points are: P. W. L. L>. Ft F. A. Ch. Pts University 10 7 12 31 12 16 St. Luke’s .. 10 5 14 12 14 Mt. Eden 9 19 12 North Shore 9 37 13 12 Somerville 10 3 4 3 17 20 Wesley 9 17 1 30 U. Whippets 9 — 9 — (5 54 —