HOCKEY HITS.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 46, 24 July 1915, Page 22

HOCKEY HITS.

[By Line-Out.]

THE championship matches under the auspices of the Auckland Hockey Association were continued on Saturday. The senior matches resulted-.—Mount Eden, 2, v Areta, 2; Auckland, 1, v. University, 0. It was a perfect day for the stick game, and the grounds were in splendid order. Two big .surprises were brought off by Mount Eden drawing with Areta and University tasting thek first defeat of the season by their old rivals Auckland. Areta was generally reckoned to be able to account for Mount Eden, but once again the uncertainties of hockey prevailed. The game was of the fist order but not marked by any high standard! of play : Individual dash was more conspicuous by both sets of pfeyers. Of course the respective supporters are apt to claim their team were unfortunate £Tot winning, but when a close summary of pfay is made a draw can be accepted as satisfactory . The individual efforts of players robbed play of concerted movements, Jndit is difficult to reali^how players of their experience will sacrifice the great essential of the game. The draw simply improves Mount Eden another po nt, and) leaves Areta ?hree points behind University, the leaders. One improvement with Areta over several previous was the inclination to send the ball out to the right a little more. In this re spect England deserves a word. Hie Tight full-back, hke his partner EliSon, has given many^better. gagjee. The two, however, stood to their task well. The halves were but a moderate trio. A change was made in the centre, Sims standing down our of Curtis. The latest addition, who hails from Taranaki, has strong stopping powers, but his hittmg is hardly what is to be expected from a senior player. Probably he Iβ somewhat out of training, so the next few games will be watched witn interest. Stainton and Richards show a disinclination to tackle once their man sets past. Failure to cover the fullbacks leaves a lot of unnecessary work upon the last line of defence. The real weakness of the team is forward, and this should be a strong point for the players all possess the qualifications. In the first place, both wings are crowdled out by the inner men, and this action kills all chance of the line working properly. The worst offenders aTe Mogmie and Thomas. The former hampers Preston, the latter White. Then Whittaker is by no means up to last year's form. One improvement noticeable mi hi® work is that he caters ja little more for the right. A change was made in Mount Eden's last line of defence, by McLeod going up forward, and the iunior Till taking bis place at fullhack. There was little to choose between Bang and Till. The half-line showed improvement. Hunt was up to his best form, and the conditions suited him better than the previous week. Johns and Garrett changed positions, and the former's showing in the centre is an improvement. No mention of the forwards would he complete without reference to McLeod for offside play. In this department he is a master.

Fletcher's experience stood by him, and it's a pity hie methods are not adopted by other members of the line. "Smiler" Smyth, the Wellington representative player, who will be remembered as a member of the 1909 team that the championship shield from Auckland, recently joined the ranks of the Benedicts. His future home will, be in Christchurch, and all hockeyites will join in wishing Mr and Mrs Smith the beet of good luck. The removal of the camp from Trentham has seriously interfered with Wellington hockey. The Trentham team has withdrawn, while University lose the services of Hostick and the brothers George and Karl Strack. Lieutenant McFarlane, who returned home with the invalids last week, is the well known College Rifles forward. He mentions that hockey was played aboard ship on the outward journey, and some fine games resulted. He has made wonderful progress, and 1 all hockeyites wish him a speedy recovery. W.Brooke-Smith, the ex-Auck-land Club and Auckland representative, and one of the finest left wing forwards the game has.seen, was among the interested spectators at Remuera, last week. Runaway victories were the order of the day among the school teams on Saturday- In the A grade, Remuera beat Edendale by 11 goals to nil, and Stanley Bay disposed of Shore to the tune of 9 to nil. In the B grade, Takapuna beat Remuera by 8 to nil, while Mount Eden secured a win from Stanley By by one goal to nil. Remuera and Stanley Bay teams each played good hockey, their big wins being the result of good combination. Given a fine day, when these teams meet the game will be well worth watching, andi the display on either side will be as spectacular as any given by some of our senior teams. Last time Takapuna met Remuera B the latter secured a win by 4 to 2, but this time the Lake boys had the game well in hand from the bully off. Mount Eden and Stanley Bay B played a very even game, the former team just managing to get home. The idea mooted of having a schoolboys' inter-provincial match should give the juveniles am incentive to take up the game, and I think that if the difficulty of financing the trip can be overcome, no one could object to the boys travelling at this time, especially if the gate receipts be donated to the Wounded Fund. Mount Eden third grade have protested against the referee's ruling in their ma.tch with Areta. The result affects the team's position in the championship. The dispute is over a goal allowed from a hit outside the circle. Undoubtedly the surprise of the was brought off last Saturday when Auckland defeated University by one goal. Seeing that the weather conditions were perfect and the grounds were in good playing order, the element of luck, as far as Auckland are concerned, cannot be considered in the least, although at times both sidfes were decidedly unfortunate in not registering goals. There were many flashes of good combined play on both sides, Auckland's goal being the result of good combination by the forwards. University's short passing was very much in evidence in the early part of the game, but later on it became a lost art, the forwards seeming to indulge in individual efforts. As regards the players, Auckland's last line of defence, Sloman and Baker, were impregnable. It is some time since such an understanding existed between two full-backs as that exsting between Sloman and Baker. SLoman at times saved brilliantly, taking the ball on the fly in an astounding manner. Baker played one of his besL games, and it is largely owing to his coolness and ability in getting out of tight

corners that Auckland owe their success. The half line worked hard, supporting their forwards well, Steele being the shining light. Osborn© wa© the pick of the forwards, and combined well with Snedden. Pegler played a much better game than is usiial with him, one effort almost adding to his side's total. University were without the services of Jacobsen, the left wing position being filled by Blake. West was the more reliable of the full-backsi. Speight at times missed badHy, and let the rede through now and again. 'Varsity's haJf line was very strong, all members playing with great dash. Rennie again proved a stumbling block to the opposing forwards, and seemed everywhere at once. Of the forwards, Grice was most consistent, his dashing runs down the side line causing the reds many anxious moments. Mathoney and Somens combined together well, and led! most of the onslaughts in the direction of the desired goal. A word of praise is due to the fine exhibition of goal-keeping given by both goalies. Their display was a treat to watch, and no doubt accounted for the small number of goals obtained) during the match.