HOCKEY HITS.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 51, 28 August 1915, Page 22

HOCKEY HITS.

[By Line-Out.]

SPLENDID weather prevailed! for the Auckland Hockey Associatiioini Championslilitp notches last Saturday. The bright sunshine attracted quite a number of spectators! to the popular ground at Remuera, and tlhiey were well rewarded with an. interesting and exciting series of matches.

The Senior Championship series was completed, and resulted: Mt. Edbn ,4, v. University, 3; Auckland, 1, v. Areta 0.

The day's play in no way affected the championship, for, although beaten, University held too great a lead previously. It's hard to follow the Mount Eden team, for they are undoubtedly the most indifferent performers 1 in the competition.

Both teams were not at full strength, but that in no way detracts from Mount Eden's win against the champions. It was their first success for the season, and came as a fitting reward for sticking to their task after meeting reverse after reverse every week.

The game not call for a lot of comment, being of a fast, hard order with glimpses of incident.

The other senior match was not taken seriously. Auckland got a score in early, and it proved the only one. Some of both teams' attacks were bright, but they met solid defence and were turned away.

The examiners of the Referees' Association were very busy testing the abilities of a couple of candidates. At the time of writing the results had not been made known.

A correspondent writes asking if F. S. Shirriffs, who captained the Auckland! reps, for several seasons, ever played in any other position than full-back. Yes; in Auckland's first rep. game he played half back.

The Gisbome men's reps, have onlly met Auckland once, in 1904, and then the East Coast team was defeated by 9 goals to nil.

All club matches will be suspended next Saturday, and a carnival, consisting of tournament games and field sports held. An addition to the programme is a tug-of-war. This should! provide an interesting and exciting contest.

The schoolboys' championship was decided on Saturday, when Remuera and Stanley Bay met, a win going to the Remuera boys by 4 goals to nil. The winners had the best of the issue throughout. This grade championship was started in 1912, and the ■respective winneirs are:—l9l2, Ed'endiale; 1913, Edendale; 1914, Devonport; 1915, Remuera.

The Bernecker Cup was presented in 1914, and Devonport became the fiisst holders.

Areta and University second grade teams provided a good cur-taini-raiser on Saturday, and a win wemt to the former by the odd goal xhl five. It was a strenuously contested game, marked more by individual effort than concerted movements. Too much hard and sometimes erratic hitting was indulged' in. Areta's win assures them the championship, having now a lead of four points and one match to play. The issue of the competition has remained in much doubt until this game.

This is the second occasion upon which Areta have annexed the championship of this grade, which carries the Coleman Cup. The captain of the team, F. Knight, was

als<a a member of the team that won the Cup in 1912. College Rifles were the first holders of the trophy, then came Areta, Kaitere in 1913, and University 1914.

Many players of the junior grades take very great exception to the amount of whistle introduced into their games. The unfortunate part is that the average player seems to compile rules to> suit the situations as they arise. The; two most prevalent breaches are "obstruction" and "sticks." The infringements that come under obstruction occurring in the circle are altogether too numerous.

The "penalty bully" was freely inflicted in one of Saturday's games, and some of the players weire of the opinion that so many such penalties would tend to kill the game. It seems only too evident many teams are not out to play the game, but simply to secure wins at all costs. The action of players hurling, themselves at an opponent as he is in the act of shooting is too pirevaQent, and instead: of penalty bullies being meted out it would probably bring some players more in keeping with hockey to have a sojourn to the side-line.

V. C. Kavanagh, the weJli known representative player, who enlisted with the special infantry battalion, was in town on leave last week. He assisted his old* club, Auckland, in their match against Areta.

Dan Holland- who, during the past couple of seasons, has figured' in the University Rugby fifteen, came back to hockey"aboiit a month ago. He secured a place in Areta'a second grade team, winners l of the championship and Colemiain Cup. On Tuesday he left with the eighth rednforcemetnts for Trtenitjham!.

Two more members of the Referees'' Association, Messrs J. Henderson and E. Noonan, left on Tues- l--clay for Trentham with the eighth reinforcements. The former was with the New Zealand force® in Samoa.

The Provincial Cup tournament under the auspices of the Auckland Ladies' Hockey Association will be dlecided on September 4th, 6th and 7th.. Entrkis cfose fon Saturday next, August 18th.

The a.nnual tournament of the New Zealand Ladies' Hockey Association will open in Wellington' on September 4th, and continue until the 11th.

The proceeds of the tournament will be devoted to the Sick and Wounded Fund.

The Canterbury team has been selected, and includes: —Goal, Miss Langridge; full-backs, Misses R. Greig, H. Harrison; halves, Misses E. Nightingale, M. Sandman, 0. Smith; forwards, Misses J. Taylor, P. Pearce, G. Barr, M. Martin, I. Armstrong.

C. Snedden, the Auckland Club forward, was another prominent hockeyite who left for Trentham on Tuesday.