HOCKEY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 3, 15 July 1908, Page 14

HOCKEY.

Canterbury v. Taranaki. Taranaki and Canterbury met at New I’lymouth on July 9th. The ground was slippery, owing to the heavy rains of the past few days. The game ended: Canterbury, three goals; Taranaki, nil. Four-fifths of the play was in the neighbourhood of Taranaki’s circle, and Canterbury made at least 15 very close shots at goal, while only oncv <li<i Taranaki appear to have a good chance of scoring. Canterbury played with good combination, their forwards in particular outclassing Taranaki, who did not play as well as they did against Auckland last Saturday. Their fullbacks (Avery and Anderson), however, were very sure, and their efforts averted the higher score that must otherwise have been registered. Canterbury’s goals were scored by Jacobs and Hulbert in the first spell and one by Hulbert in the second. The visitors’ halfback line was very strong, Oram being the best, back on the field. Jones was the pick of the forwards.

Canterbury v. Auckland.

There was a record attendance at the Victoria Park on Saturday afternooa to witness the Inter-l’rovincial hockey match Canterbury and Auckland. The weather was gloriously fine, . and there was an attendance of over 4000. As could only be expected under such ideal conditions, the ground was in firstclass condition, and play was exceptionally fust and. exciting. The following were the teuiajl—ll ‘ ’ t • . AUCKLAND. Goal: C. 11. Howell (Auckland B). Full-barks: (T. 8, SjUbTlffs (capt., United), lI.'B. Speight (University). Halves: J. M. Biidliam (St. George’s), D. K. Porter (United), V. C. Kavanagh (Auckland A).

Furwards: H. Welham (United), R. Barry (United), F. K. Mason (Auckland A, bully), N. R. Jacobsen (University), W. Brooke--smith (Auckland A). CANTERBURY. Goal: C. Bellamy. Full-backs: <!. Bowden, J. Maher. Half-backs: N. Goldsbury, 11. Oram, aud 11. Thorp. Forwards: D. Joues, E. Hulbert, G. Ralston, J. 11. Jacobs (captain), aud R. Dyer, Mr F. 11. Robertson controlled the game. From the bully oft*, the visitors assumed the aggressive and soon had their opponents in difficulties. Speight saved well, and a determined rush took play to the other end of the field, where Brooke-Smith maue an unsuccessful shot at goal. I’lay for a time then became congested, when again the home team were hard pressed. “Off-side” gave Auckland a free hit, and from a fast ■ rush Mason had hard luck in not scoring. Play was soon after centred in mid-field, returning rapidly to the vicinity of the visitors’ circle, where Porter passed to Welham, to Barry, who narrowly escaped scoring. A determined rush by the visitors waa splendidly stopped by Speight, who saving cleverly, sent the ball to midfield. Barry centred and Brooke-Smith just missed, a corner resulting. Canterbury cleared with u free hit, Speight returning. Mason broke away, and Auckland almost scored, Bellamy relieving, Kavanagh hit out in Canterbury’s 25. Auckland at this stage were doing most of the attacking. Goldsbury starred a Canterbury attack. Shirriffs clearing nicely. Speight stemmed a Canterbury attack in good style, and sent to Mason, who missed with a fine effort. From a bully in Canterbury’s circle, Badham centred nicely, a 25 resulting, and Maher hit out Io half, and Shirrifts spoilt an onslaught by the visitors. Canterbury were attacking, with Dyer prominent, when Speight hit out. Canterbury again stormed the Auckland citadel, but Barry cleared nicely, and for some time play hung in midfield. Thorpe made a good stop, and hit out in Auckland’s territory, and Howell cleared a difficult shot, the first corner against Auckland resulting. Jacobson was prominent in carrying the ball half way. Mason. Brooke-Smith, and Jacobson were then prominent in an attack, but cievenfielding by Bowden saved the situation. Play was then carried to Canterbury’s 25. and an onslaught by Hulbert, Hulston, and Jacobs was well stopped by Speight. At half time neither side had scored. The second spell opened at a terrific pace, the home team -securing the ball. Bowdon spoilt a good shot by Mason. Porter then passed to Brooke-Smith, who just missed. Auckland pressed hard,, and Porter, scored a splendid goal with a tricky shot. Auckland 1 Canterbury nil Sticks against Auckland brought relief to. Canterbury. Bowden cleared again, and play was taken to midfield. Shirriffs badly beat Jones and Hulbert, and hit the length of the field. Oram hit out at half way. Jacobsen dribbled finely down the field, but Goldsbury was equal to the task, and, stoping a difficult shot cleverly, hit out. From a scramble round goal, Barry had a shot, but missed. A free hit- .brought relief to Canterbury. A grand rush by Jones, Jacobs, and Hulbert was magnificently returned by Shirriffs. A line passing rush, Jones and Hulston, and Jacobs in the lead, nearly resulted in a score, but Howell saved well, and a corner resulted in a lot of congested play round the home goal. Shirrift’s relieved by hitting the ball well to midfield. Canterbury bombarded Auckland’s goal, but failed to penetrate Auckland’s defence, Tliorpt putting in excellent work. Goldsbury, Dyer, and Jacobs were prominent in attack, Speight and Shirriffs being responsible for a good clearance. A little after Jones scored a splendid goal from an awkward angle:— Auckland .. 4 1 Canterbury 1 Auckland retaliated hotly, and took play to the visitors’ circle, where Maher cleared nicely, and a passing rush was 7 cleverly defeated by Speight. Following this, quite a number of good rushes were nullified by Speight and Shirriffs. Mason and Barry broke away, and Bellamy saved by kicking. A fine hit by Badham relieved a crucial position, and a desperate onslaught by Auckland was well saved by Maher. Brooke-Smith hit across the ground, but the ball wont over the line. Bowden and Thorp put in some fine defence work. From a corner shot. Mason hit and just failed to find the net. Another hot shot by Mason was well fielded by Bowden. Auckland con tinned to attack strongly. From a bully iu Auckland's 25, Canterbury succeeded in taking the ball to the en?my s territory, where a free hit was awarded to Canterbury for obstruction. Kavanagh saved a determined eft'ort in splendid sty»e, and once again the visitors were hard put to it to defend their goal Canterbury broke away, but off side spoi.t their chance, and play again centring round the visitors’ goat. Mason had an uiisiiccessful shot. A free hit against Auckland fo’\ “sticks’’ sent play to midfield. From a bully in Auckland’s 25 the visitors got the. ball, and, carrying well down the field, were stopped by Sheriff’s and Mason, who returned well. Canterbury’s vanguard got away again, Auckland’s backs stemming the onslaught. Jones had a shot, but the result was fruitless. Hulbert pu r t In some good footwork, hut was pulled up in the second attempt Wei liam and Barry broke away, and a score looked imminent when Maher saved. Auckland were penalised for obstruction. Dyer and Jacobs put in so ne go ) 1 work, carrying play to Auckland’s circle, but Howell cleared. Canterbury attacked strongly, and .on the call of till)#, . Auckland cunceded a corner, but Portei* cleared, aud whistle blew with uo alteration in the ’ «core. ' .. f. >

Under the rules for the challenge shield, the game has to be played to a finish, and nn extra spoil was played. This began at a terrific pace, and ninny strenuous rushes wore repulse.., and it looked at one time as if the visitors would be victors, when

Mason, In the nick of time darted in and secured the ball in his own 25, earned it down the field, and beating all opposition, scored a magnificent goal amidst a perfect storm of applause, Auckland securing the first goal in the extra spell, the game ended. and they were declared the victors with th* score— f 1 Auckland ...... .3 Canterbury .... L 1 t