HOCKEY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 2, 8 July 1908, Page 12

HOCKEY.

Auckland Taranaki. The first match for the New Zealand Hockey Challenge Shield, which was awarded to Auckland lasfc year, eventuated at the Remuera polo ground on Saturday, when Taranaki, the challengers, met the Auckland reps, before a large attendance of spectators. Mr E. E. Madden, of the local Referees’ Association, was in control. The teams were as follows: — TARANAKI (Amber and Black). Goal: G. E. Anderson (Stratford). Full-backs: J. E. Avery (New Plymouth), R. B. Anderson (Stratford). Half-backs: L-. Curtis (Stratford), W. D. Anderson (Stratford), Thompson (Hawera). Forwards: W. Wood (New Plymouth), W. Crawford (New Plymouth), E. Sargent (Hawera), F. \V. Fagan (New Plymouth), Jas. Harris (Inglewood). AUCKLAND (Blue and White). Goal: C. Howell (Auckland). Full-backs: F. S. Shirriffs (United), E. G. Whitley (Auckland). Half-backs: Badham (St. George’s), D. K. Porter (United), V. C. Kavanagh (Auckland). Forwards: O. Welham (United), R. W. Barry (United), F. R. Mason (Auckland), Jacobsen (University), and Wi Brooke-Smith (Auckland?. The teams took the field with a cold wind blowing across the ground from the South, Auckland defending the railway end goal. Play throughout was somewhat handicapped by the Slippery state underfoot, and time after time the players inconveniently sat down when attempting to make a hit. From the bully-off Auckland attacked, Brooke-Smith taking play into the circle. Crawford cleared for Taranaki, and play was removed to Auckland’s territory. Barry, Mason, and Jacobsen gained possession, and took the ball up to the visiting goalkeeper, who saved nicely, and shortly after BrookeSmith shot one outside. Sergeant and Harris took play to midfield; Jacobsen centred, and Barry taking drew first blood for Auckland, after ten minutes’ play. Auckland ?- Taranaki nll Play now returned to the local 25, and a dangerous situation was cleared by Mason. Again the visitors attacked, passing, splendidly, and Howell cleared. Taranaki continued ou the aggressive, and repeatedly had the blue and whites in difficulties. Pressure was temporarily relieved by Mason, who took play up field, and threatened Taranaki’s goal. Avery saved in good time. A good bit of play now took the ball into Auckland's quarters, and a fine pass by Fagan, Crawford, and back again to Fagan, resulted in the last player registering a goal for the black and golds. Auckland 1 Taranaki 1 The local team took another turn in attacking, but a fine piece of play by Crawford reversed matters,, until Porter got in a hit that centred just in front of goal. G. Anderson stopped a certain score in goal. Brooke-Smith quickly followed up by skying it over the post. Auckland continued to attack strongly, and Anderson repeatedly saved. Taranaki then obtained an opportunity, and a beautiful passing rush, Woods to Fagan to Harris to Sergeant, looked like scoring, when a free hit relieved the local goal. Again the visitors attacked, Thomson and Curtis putting in some good work, but Shirriffs saved. Give and take play carried the ball from one of the field to the other, the whistle sounding half-time with play in Taranaki’s quarters. SECOND SPELL. Auckland was first away in the second spell. Avery stopped with a fine hit, and a good centre by Harris shortly after almost resulted in a score. A little later Berry, and Mason just failing through an turned to local territory. Porter cleared in front of goal, and the blue and blacks made a great onslaught, a fine pass by Welham, Bary, and Mason just failing through an overshoot. But not to be denied, the locals returned hotly to the attack, and from a corner hit Mason notched their second goal. Auckland 2 Taranaki 1 Play now became exciting, the visitors making desperate efforts to retrieve. In turn a good break away was made by Fagan, Woods and Sergeant, but each time the Aucklanders made no mistake. The visitors showed signs of tiring, and play now settled into their 25, their goalkeeper and fullbacks saving time after time. Too eagerly tho homesters pressed, and overshooting was more the order than the exception. BrookeSmith pased to Barry, who repeated previous too zealous efforts, sending it across the line. Anderson stemmed an Auckland onslaught, and Taranaki now rallied once more to the attack, and fiercely essayed to even up the score. Thomson, Wood, and Fagan were all prominent, but the locals are too solid, and the composition returned to the other end. After a fine rush by Welham, Mason, and Barry, the last hitter sends it too high, clearing the net. Then Fagan and Wood broke away, but Whitley cleared, and from Welham, to Barry, to Mason, the hard little sphere flew, the last-named player taking It in the air and scoring an exciting goal amid enthusiasm. Auckland 3 Taranaki 1 Auckland kopt up the pressure, but lost repeated chances by their over zealous efforts to score. Anderson, the visiting goal keeper, remained cool throughout, and fiaved his side again and again. Tern-

porarlly the black ami golds took charge, but Kavanagh was handy, and as the final whistle sonnded, the ball was again speeding dangerously within Taranaki’s quarters, with the score at Auckland 3, Taranaki 1.