HOCKEY HITS.

Observer, Volume XXXVI, Issue 49, 12 August 1916, Page 22

HOCKEY HITS.

[By Line-Out.]

NOTWITHSTANDING the inclement weather, Saturday afternoon saw more than a -fair number of enthusiasts make the trip to Remuera. Heavy showers fell in the early afternoon, making the conditions of play extremely wretched, particularly for the ladies. They, however, stuck well to their work, and the senior game, Training College versus Mount Eden, was keenly fought throughout, despite -the muddy ground. ■No. 1 ground was occupied by the Mount Eden-Areta match, around which centred the most interest, and, consequent on the strength of the teams being so nearly equal, that interest was maintained throughout the game. The play, considering the ground, was fast and full of incident, neither side showing much advantage over the other. Mount Eden probably had a lot of bad luck in the first spell, since they several times miss r ed goaling only by inches. Areta, on the other hand, had their opponents frequently penned down under their own goal, but in the first spell did not look like, scoring. With no score either way showing, with the change round both sides again opened strongly, the. ball travelling about freely. The tackling was fierce at times, and very often it appeared that the man, not the ball, were the main object of the tacklers. A succession of rushes by Eden culminated in Jansen netting a very fine goal from a difficult angle. Mount Eden 1, Areta 0. Of the forward line of the winners the two Alexanders were prominent in attack, while Malcolm did useful work on the wing. Woolford was -probably the weak link, and might with advantage be substituted. Jansen, outside left, did not get in such' fast work as usual ; owing to the heavy ground, but his goal was a good piece of work. Of the halves,, Hunt showed out .above all others, his cleverness with the stick quite nonplussing his opponents. Bishop played strongly, but seemed to have difficulty in getting going. The. full-backs., Jarman and McLeod, frequently had their hands •full, the latter player not showing his usual readiness to change defence into attack. Woolford, at goal, did his work well, and saved his side time and again. Whittaker, Fletcher and Thomas were the pick of Areta's forwards, the latter player being the more noticeable. Robinson, at. centre-half, played his usual sound game, while Nicholson was a menace to Eden at all times. Sloman and Baker,, the full-backs, -were a) tower of strength, to their side, Sloman.getting bis men--out of difficulties in good - style. Baker showed by his play the worth of experience. Baxter gave a good exhibition of goalie, the only one getting through being a hot one. On No. 2 ground, 'Varsity took the field against Training College, with three substitutes in place of •Coldham, Robinson and Player, the half-line. Speight lent his aid to the forwards, and Wilson kept West company in the full-back position.

'Varsity easily accounted for Training College, who, though willing, still lack knowledge of the finer points. 'Varsity 6, Training College 1.

The 'Varsity forwards worked well together, Menzies and Somers being generally to the fore.. Speight, besides scoring a goal, gave a clever - exposition of stick work. Mark (outside right) might have used bis pace to more advantage. Reynolds was nippy on the left wing. The half line, Mead, Slade and Goulding, was quite a new combination. Mead was about the best, getting the ball away nicely. Wilson and West did not let much go at full-back, the latter getting in some quick clearing and hitting. Fawcett was not overworked in goal, but came out rather unwisely at times. Training College forwards were inclined to bunch, but grafted solidly. Harper kept well on the. ball, though he sometimes over-ran it. He lost a penalty bully given against West for obstruction through overeagerness. McMillan and Perry did some good individual work, the former getting Training College's only goal from a rebound. On the left, W r orker took the ball nicely along the line, but lost chances at times. The halves, Baird, Barker and Boswell, were an improvement, and all Avorked hard, though they were sometimes slow in clearing. At full-back, Slane played a sound game, and was always in the thick of it. He broke up many of the 'Varsity rushes, and got in some mighty hits. Francis was weak, and did not seem to get into it. Rintoul, in goal, was only fair, ' and lacks experience.

Ladies' Senior Hockey. Mount Eden and Training College had a great, tussle in the rain, both teams playing up in fine style, and battling it out to the end. Mount Eden were successful by 4 to 3, though a draw would have been a better indication of the play, as Training College had bad luck in not scoring on several occasions. The Mount Eden goalie and fullbacks were in good form, the goalie stopping some hot. ones. The backs tackled and intercepted well, their hitting being strong and well directed. The forwards made the most of their opportunities, and laid the wood on in the circle. Miss Prothero in the centre, and Masses D. Norden and Hamlin on the wings were the pick. The Training College backs did not always tackle quickly enough, and let the Mount Eden forwards in a couple of times through hanging off. Mis® Campbell was the best, tackling and hitting coolly. Of the forwards,,,. Miss Baxter played a fine game on the left wing, opening up the attack repeatedly from that quarter. . She centred unselfishly, and shot a goal from a difficult angle. Miss Adams, in the centre, was not 60 prominent as usual, but had hard luck with a couple of good shots. The insides, Misses Wallis and Angland, played with a lot of dash, both their goals ,being clinkers. On the right wing, Miss Rowe made some nice line runs and centred well.