HOCKEY.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17805, 2 September 1929, Page 3

HOCKEY.

WAIKATO MEET AUCKLAND FAST, EVEN GAME. RESULTS IN A DRAW. Waikato and Auckland representatives had their first encounter of the season at Steele Park on Saturday afternoon. The day was beautifully fine and the ground in excellent condition,. The game, which was fast and, very even, ended in a draw of one goal each. The visiting atlack was more vigorous than that of the home side, but the Waikato defence was very safe and much stronger Ihnn that of the visitors. The consequence was that play was mostly in the visiting territory, but after Waikato had scored their goal within a few minutes of opening, they were unable again lo find tiie net. Auckland netted their only goal about three-quarters way through the game, at a time when the spectators were beginning to think the blue and blacks would never get through. For tiie home team the Spiers brothers, Fletcher and Evven shone out most, and for the visitors Watts, Robertson and Gardner put up the best game. The teams lined out as follows: Waikato. Goal, G. Fletcher; fullbacks, L. Spiers and T. Ewan; halfbacks, J. Davies, R. Butler (capt.), M. Hume; forwards, B. Spiers, C. Hampton, R. Conradi, Rogers and L. Hobbs. Auckland. W. Rankin, B. Williams, W. Gar-' diner, W. Williams, J. S. Robertson, T. Clark, H. Watts, L. Monteith, S. Hunter, P. Anthony, W. Grace. The referees were Messrs W. .G. Fabling and J. Tail. Waikato attacked from bully, but Hobbs sent behind. The Waikato forwards gave the Auckland defence a pretty hot time until Williams cleared to midfield. A great run on the wing by 13. Spiers saw a chance missed. Hobbs sent lo Conradi next moment' and the latter netted. Waikato 1 Auckland 0 Auckland started an attack but the defence of Ewan and Fletcher held. | A breakaway by Anthony saw Fletcher | kick clear. Anthony shot wide from a j scramble in the circle and Waikato j cleared. Play was now mostly in the i Auckland twenty-five and the visitors 1 rarely got over the halfway line. From j a penalty corner to Auckland, AnI thony netted, but was penalised for 1 sticks. Waikato got down again and | were menacingly close to tiie Auckj land goal when Gardiner drove upj field after B. Spiers had failed to find j the opening from a wide angle. This | temporary advantage wag followed up by Watts, but Ewan cleared and play i once more went into the visiting 25. ■ Watts commenced a forward movei ment for the blue and whites in which | lie was supported by Grace, who shot ; behind. Waikato cleared from the bully and again surged over Ihe borI dcr, where a determined onslaught j was made lo penetrate the defence., I Play was held up for a lime owing to I Butler (Waikato) and Monteith (Auck- ! land) becoming temporarily incapaci- | taled. On resuming. Grace sent to ! Anthony, who shot. Fletcher ran out I and tried lo save with a kick, but for | once he missed. Fortunately for his i side the hall went wide. A corner

■ hit followed and Auckland’s attempt i was abortive. Half-time arrived with j the scores: Waikato 1 Auckland 0 ; Resuming, Walls made a swift run uptick!, hut. Ewan eiTeelively slopped i him. Hunter I hen made a good dribi bling run bui was forced behind.

Robertson set his forwards in motion, but a promising rush was hindered by off-side play. A 25 bully was given lo Waikato, and from a long corner Hobbs received and drove fiercely, but tiie ball was smothered and sent into tiie home territory where It. Walls put il oul. Play hovered amidfield for a time, but ihe greens again invaded, Gardiner once more saving tiie situation. Auckland attacked and Fletcher kicked to halfway. A few minutes later Fletcher was again tested severely, but lie was equal to tiie occasion, his hitting now being faultless. A penalty, corner lo Auckland produced no result. Passing over the centre line, the ball was taken by Davies who shot across the goal mouth. NY at Is made a spirited run and looked dangerous but Spiers made an excellent save with reversed slick. Spiers’ next movement secured and carried to the visiting area, where an exciting encounter occurred right in front of the goal. The sifnation was saved, however, and tiie position then became reversed. Auckland carrying play to ihe home goal mouth where, from a long corner, Anthony passed lo Watts, who sent io Monteith. The latter netted. Auckland 1 Waikato 1

A long corner to Waikato saw Gardiner save by conceding a penalty corner. Ewan stemmed a forward rush, and Butler sent to Spiers who was declared offside. A further advance Jed by Hampton saw the ball go to Spiers and on lo Hobbs, and things were beginning to look dangerous for Waikato again when the whistle sounded the end of the game with the scores unchanged. MATCHES ELSEWHERE. AUCKLAND, Saturday. Second Grade. —University B 2, drew with St. Luke’s 2; University A 3, beat University B 2. Fourth Grade. —-Mount Albert Grammar won from University by default; Mount Albert Grammar 9, beat St. Luke's 0. Gisborne. Ladies' Hockey.—Southland 2, beat Auckland A 1; Canterbury 14, beat Poverty Bay B 0; Eastern G, beat Auckland B I. A section : Poverty Bay A G, beat Bush 0; Rotorua 2, beat South Canterbury 1. B section: Wellington 4, beat Hawke's Bay 3. Wellington. Senior A.—University A 2, beat Wesley 0; Karori 10, beat University B 1; Diamond 3, beat Petone 1. Christchurch. Canterbuix 2«-ieat.Oiaga A*, - ;