HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 234, 3 October 1928, Page 16

HOCKEY.

THE DEVON PORT SHIELD.

SOMERVILLE EXPECTANT. THREE CLOSE CONTESTS. The defeat of St. Luke's last Saturday afternoon has enabled Somerville to obtain the lead in the Devonport Shield competition, after the two teams had been on level terms through six series of matches. The matches were played under excellent weather conditions, although the grounds were a triu bumpy, the residue of operations in the mud on the previous Saturday. After a rather crude exhibition of hockey, Epiphany came to light once more, and succeeded in making a Scoreless draw with Otahuhu. During the game two players were ordered off. Mount Eden just managed to obtain a victory over Somerville Colts, winning by the odd goal, in five. Whippets defaulted to University, while Training College took two points from North Shore. Somerville v. St. Luke's. The meeting of Somerville and St. Luke's usually rouses considerable enthusiasm, and for years the two teams furnished the principal attractions at Remuera, Of late, Somerville have been in the ascendancy, but the fall to St. Luke's in the* Cup competition somewhat restored the confidence of the latter, so with both Qn level terms in the Devonport Shield competition, something out of the ordinary was anticipated. The match was put on a week earlier than scheduled, to enable St. Luke's to field their strongest eleven. Still, they were without the services of Hookham,'and a recruit for his position was found In Brown of junior representative fame. St. Luke's were beaten by. only the narrowest of margins, but at no time'during the proceedings was the play of the forwards convincing. It was not'a brilliant game, though there was plenty . of incident, but throughout Somerville were the superior side, and the bulk of the play veered in arid around St. Luke's territory. Had St. Luke's possessed the good fortune' to have scored from a couple of loose sorties during the first spell it is possible that the second spell would have been full of thrills. There was no back on the Somerville side quite as good as Gardiner, who nipped in repeatedly on the St. Luke's attack. Smith made a good impression. Of the middle division, Cole was the best. Munro filled the position at centre half and with a little judgment concerning atack and defence should prove useful. The forwards were all anxious o do- their best, but the . burden of the attack fell to E. Watts, while he was well supported and at times well catered for by Seccombe. Hanna made some extraordinary saves and an element of luck was attached to his speculating, • which had just a suspicion of "blindness." Both full-backs, Burnett and Williams, ren-

dered yeoman service in stemming the persistent attacks of the Soverrflla van, the former giving the safer display. At half-back, Robertson had an unenviable task and he performed well. Steele, after getting the measure of the attack, was seldom at fault and his great run deserved some reward. Boiler and Bay were the best of a moderate forward line. Somerville Colts Do WelL Somerville Colts put up a good fight against Mount Eden, and in the opening stages had their more experienced opponents in trouble. With few exceptions the Colts have proved no mean performers against the higher grade teams in the competition since settling down to a reasonable formation. The Mount Eden team underwent some change, Chaplen taking up his old position at centre forward, while Kelly played in the half line. In the second spell. Mount Eden had slightly the better of the argument, although the Colts kept them extremely busy and they did not establish a lead until the closing stages despite strenuous efforts to break down the defence of the opposition. For Moynt Eden, Mainland was the better of the two full-backs. Kelly and Hedges did the bulk of the work in the half line. Fletcher, Penman and Chaplen showed out amongst the forwards, the first-named playing a great game in the second spell. Chaplen did most of the goal-getting. Cooper, the exrepresentative goalkeeper, has settled down as custodian for the Colts since his accident and gave a glimpse of his ability between the sticks. Hunter shaped well at full-back and Heard was the best of the halves.. Amongst the forwards, Edwards and Maxwell did good work at times, while Preston initiated movements frequently.