HOCKEY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13983, 14 August 1909, Page 5

HOCKEY.

(By "Sport.")

Since last notes the season's two most important matches have been decided — the shield chiillengp match against Auckland and the club championship final. Auckl-ind retains possession of thii shield which was awarded it in 1907 by ' the New Zealand Association as being the premier combination of that year. The previous season an Auckland team toured New Zealand, losing one or two matches. The following year (the year the shield was awarded) many of the associations returned the visit. Auckland won all its matches in this year, but these were all home matches, and thus the northerners had a big adran- , tage over the visiting teams, which were not, as is invariably the case, the strongest that could' have been put in the field. It is not my object to underrate the standard of play in the northern city, nor to dispute the claims of Auckland as present-day champions; but it cannot be gainsaid that th«re was a large element of luck with it in having to oppose all travelling teams the year in which the trophy was p warded, and in not having to firit win it on neutral ground. Now that the shield is there, and the standard of hockey in Auckland is improving each year, it will take a strong team to "lift" the trophy. The following notes on tho TaranakiAuckland match are taken from rite Auckland Star: — "The match was the fourth occasion upon which the two provinces had net, and the amber and blacks were further away from rictory than ever; and it is clearly «>vi<J*r*t that the Taranski-ite*, in order tb <u>crre the trophy, ;nust be patient and bring along a team that lias had a thorough training and gained combination. The shield-hunters commence,! exceedingly well, but after the first ten" minutes the local team got going, and then the result was never in doubt It was only on a couple of occasions that it was in a criticil position. Their visitors' strength lay fn the back division, and the honours fell to R. B. Anderson and Avery. The former, an ex-Auckland representative, showed all his old dash and trickiness, proving repeatedly a stumbling block to the Auckland forwards. Avery's stopping was the main feature of his play, but in his clearing repeatedly found the sod. Tho half line did not play up to expectation , the only player snowing up prominently being Nicoll. The play of the visitors in the forwards was in marked contrast to the Aucklanders, for they stop to receive and give a pass, while the home team sweep along at top speed. On many occasions the Taranaki forwards were surprised to find the ball snapped away by the Auckland half line, and many grand openings wore lost. Welham was most conspicuous of the front line, but fetill indulged in his old failing of roaming, which hampered the play of his confreres.." Congratulations to the Hawera Club, who, by its win over New Plymouth West on Thursday, regained the provincial championship (which had always previous been held by them till last year (when the honour was annexed b.\ Inglewood) and the Clark Shield, donated to the Taranaki Hockey Association in 1906 by Mr. S. Clark. The match was played in the best of spirit. West was thought to have a gooil chance of bringing the trophy to NewPlymouth this year, but a strong side and "fate" were against it. When Hearing the final stages of the competition, and succesb looked brightest, 'late" began its work. The team firbt lost its best forward in H. E. Welham. The toss of the coin was also against it recently and tho team had to travel for the final in which match Turnbull was unable to play. Fagan tilled the vacancy at the last moment and his usual luck was again in evidence, receiving another injury to a leg and having to retire from the game. Changes of position were necessary in the forward and half lines and thes.e were not conducive to improved play. These facts, however, lo not detract from the fine showing of the Hawera team in which, on Thursday, there was not a weak spot. Cook, at full-back was brilliant. He has ah exceptionally long reach and his powerful drives were a feature of the match. Thomson (ca]>tain) and M 'Donald in the* back division and Sage and Renton, forwards, were more prominent than the others, but all did well. It would be invidious to individualise amongst the visitors. All grafted hard, but there were weak spots and many lost opportunities. To sum the match up, Hawera made the most of its opportunities and West did not. Hawera had a "life" near the end of the game when a draw looked imminent, but the shot was a "poster and the ball rolled out of play. For a match of the importance of a championship final a well-rolled and well-marked ground should have been prepared and was, with every reason, fully expected. Rolling weuld have made all the difference between a humpy and rather soft turf and a trueplayiiig surface. With the exception ol the boundary lines and striking circles the ground was not marked out. The oversight occasioned some surprise among the visitors. To-day Auckland plays Wellington at Wellington, and Otago and Southland meet at Dunedin. Strong representations, have been made to the Auckland Association to send a team to Taranaki this season, but the northern body could not d.>. better than promise a visit next season. No further representative fixlures have been arranged, and the .season promises to !>♦• n particularly quiet one in this respect.

' Players, both locally and down the line, Lave been awaiting information regarding the eeven-a-side tournament which it was proposed the rsaociatipo should hold at the Recreation Sports Ground on Thursday next. I understand, however, that unavoidable delay Las occurred in the arrangements and the proposal is likely to fill through. The secretary of the Eltbam Club informed me recently that his club intended holding a fire-a-side tourney on Thursday week, August 26. No doubt the inland club can expect two or three entries from New Plymouth. Such tournaments would be of undoubted educational vain* to the public so far as hockey got*, and they should eertainiy be encouraged by the association. The New Zealand ladies' tournament cpens at Napier on Friday next. 20th inst. All arrangements ire reported to be in a forward state, and th* tourney promisee to be a distinct mcceM. A final trial match is being played today at Stratford, and th 3 Taranaki team to compete* at Napier is to be chosen this evening.