HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 225, 23 September 1929, Page 16

HOCKEY.

FATE OF ST. LUKE'S. SOMERVIIXE TO MEET MT. EDEN. EXTRA TIME PLAYED. For the first time in the history of Auckland hockey it has been necessary for a play-off in order to decide who has the right to meet the Devonport Shield winners in the struggle for the Kent Cup. So it happened that Somerville and St. Luke's, two of the greatest rivals since the passing of Auckland and United, famous in the earliest days of local hockey, divided championship honours. As both failed in the Devonport Shield, competition it was necessary to decide who should meet Mount Eden, winners of the shield, in the Kent Cup contest. With the struggle for supremacy and the climax in the senior championship fresh in the memory of the supporters of the two clubs, for it will be remembered that twice an effort was made to get a verdict, but each time a draw was the result, the encounter last Saturday was looked upon with considerable interest. The outcome in no way affected the sharing of the senior championship honours, and the dual possession of the Davis Cup; that was finally settled on July 29, when S'omerville and St. Luke's figured m a scoreless draw, and the rival captains tossed the coin for the first six months' tenure of the trophy.

Moderate Play. Although the weather was perfect and the ground looked in excellent condition, the contest did not reach that high standard of excellence usually associated with the Somerville and St. Luke's games. Certainly the ground was much faster than usual, and bumping slightly may have upset the calculations of the players to some extent, but from, the sideline it.looked perfect, and most suitable idr such an encounter. : A Close Finish. On the whole the exhibition of hockey was rather disappointing, although it livened up to some extent in the second spell, and with the end in sight both sides struggled hard to gain the lead. To finish again with the scores level was unique, and it seemed as if the two teams were so evenly matched that a decision was well nigh impossible. The extra spell demonstrated thp ability of Somerville who scored a couple of goals in true Somervillian style, and thereby have the right to play for the Kent Cup.

Both teams turned out in full strength, Somerville being reinforced by the return of E. : Watts, who has been unable to play since the match against ►the Australians at Eden Park. St. Luke's lost T. Giles in the early stages, and after the interval an alteration was made, Burnett going into the forwards, while T. Clark, who replaced T. Giles, played at full-back. ' While making allowance for the fast ground which had a tendency to bump, it was difficult to realise in the early stages of the game that two great teams ■were in action. True, the Somerville forwards gave fleeting glimpses of their ■ability to break through, but it was St. Luke's who were first to score. ,The goal came , twelve ' minutes after the game had been in progress, and they were acrpss the Somerville goal line three times in the first five minute's. For a time play consisted of hard hitting and solo runs. -

The first piece .of combination was furnished by St. Luke's forwards/ and it was a similar piece of "work that gave St. Luke a footing in the Somerville circle, when T. Giles "reversed" the ball into the net. Somerville gradually consolidated their attack and frequently had St. Luke's in' trouble. E. Watts almost beating Highfield. Territorially, Somerville had the better of the play in the first epell, and played more convincingly than their . opponents 1 . St. Luke's, at times, appeari<l to be playing a losing gaifie. ; Their halves were all astray, and flank movements invariably came to grief.

In the second spell St. Luke's performed ■with" more determination, still there was a tendency to overrun the ball, but the' centring was better, yet it cannot >be stated that they made the most of their opportunities iu the circle, and hardly a decent shot wae sent in. They failed badly in corner hits, and frequently allowed . the 'ball to go through. ■to ■ the sideline -without being trapped. Still, their efforts leading' up to 'the three goals scored outmanoeuvred the opposing defence, although one shot seemed a very simple affair. No doubt there was- invariably rabre danger in the Somerville ' attack than that of St. Luke's, yet from a flanking point of view Somerville were in much the same fix, and trapping- of the ball travelling at any great speejd. was invariably - difficult. It was from central attack that' Somerville- carved their way through the St. Luke's defence, and it was a sudden buret that saw Somerville almost through from the opening bully. Burnett "put up liis stick and incurred a penalty In stopping the ball in the air.

Defence Tested, Midway through the second spell a determined struggle for goals enlued and five corners eventuated. For a time the Somerville backs were in trou'ble, 'but the ym-ade a good recovery. Still they did not play up to the standard revealed in the first spell. At full-back Smith did best work in the firet spell, and made some fine clearances. Li the second half; Gardiner was seen rfco greater advantage and held up St. Luke's attack in good style. He had a tendency to lift: the" ball in clearing. Of the 'halves. Cole, was the more consistent, and featured in catering for the centre of--the forward .line.. , Hunter allowed J. Giles too much liberty in the first spell. Of the forwards E. Watts stood out beyond compare, but found it necessary'to slow down during a portion in the second spell. C. Watts worked hard and was content to feed Eric. He redeemed his shooting 'by scoring from a corner in the extra epejl. Highfield was the better of the two goalies, although five goals were scored against St. Luke's. Williams was the better of the two full-backs, although F. Clark shaped well in the second spell. The halves were extremely patchy. Robertson had a tough proposition in the Somerville centre forward. Clark was fairly steady in the second spell. J. Giles was easily the pick of the St. Luke's forwards. Grace showed up in t/he second half.

OLD BOYS' GAME. HAMILTON AXD GRAMMAR DRAW. A game was played at Remuera between Hamilton High School Old Boys and Auckland Grammar School Old Boys. The home team, headed by Don, opened the attack, and play was shifted by the rearguard of the visitors. Play travelled between the two circles without advantage to either side, although Meiklejohn found the net, but the score was disallowed owing to sticks. In the second spell Auckland had the better of the argument, but poor shooting lost several chances of scoring. Hamilton livened up at times, but the Auckland defence held, although on several occasions Crawley was com pelled to concede penalty corners. Auckland Grammar 0.8 0 Hamilton High School 0.8. .. 0 Mr. R. Avery refereed. KING COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES The following have been selected to represent King Country against Waipa ladies at Te Awamutu on Wednesday, September 25: Goal, Miss F. Watkins; backs, Misses N. Morris, and D. McKee; halves, Misses T. Siswick, T. Henderson and J. Tompkins; forwards, Misses W. Stevenson, J. Jones, E. McGill, A. Aitken and B. Cambie. JUNIOR RESULTS. SECOND GRADE. Training College 3, beat Wesley 2. THIRD GRADE. Auckland Grammar 4, beat University A 2. FOURTH GRADE. Auckland Grammar 2, beat Mount Albert Grammar (holders) 1. FIFTH GRADE. Auckland Grammar 3, beat Somervillc 0. SENIOR LADIES. Y..W.C.A. 3, beat Wesley 1. JUNIOR LADIES. Papatoetoe 1, beat Mount Eden 0. Papaluu-a 8, beat Y.W.C.A. 0. Wesley A 4, beat Technical B 1. h'omerville 3, beat Wesley B 0.