HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 245, 9 July 1908, Page 10

HOCKEY.

The following description of the TaranakiAuckland match for tlio Shield will be of interest to Wellington players:—"The first note of importance was a good run by Brooke-Sm'ith along the left 1 wing int-o Taranaki's circle, but before he.could steady himself to shoot Curtis cleared. • Harris and Fagan were theii prominent in an attack on Auckland's goal, which Whitley succeeds! in repelling, ho returning tho ball to Mason, who sent it on to Jacobsen, to Brooke-Smith. .Tho latter centred, and Jacobsen tried to put tho leather into the net, but G. E. Anderson knocked it to the edgo ci tlio circle, BrookeSmith's shot going over the goal. Auckland attacked again, and Barry scored from a pass by Jacobsen, the ball hitting the opposing goalkeeper's boot, and glancing into tho net. "Sergeant got tho ball from tho bully, and sent on to Woodsy who centred at an opportune moment," only to see tho leather sent hard up tho field by Porter. Fagan made a great dash into the Auckland circle, and' Howell came out to meet him, conceding a corner. From the corner hit tho homo team cleared, Welharn taking play into the visitors' twenty-five. The amber and blacks wero not to be denied, and Harris bolted down the right wing, and centred to Fagan, who shot a splendid goal, thereby equalising tho points. ".Auckland came away again, and passing between Kavanagh and Brooke-Smith saw tho latter well into his opponents' twenty-; five, but R. B. Anderson stopped his ccntro in brilliant stylo, and tho ball went out at half-way. Half-timo sounded without any addition to the scores.

" On resuming, Taranaki dashed into Auckland's circle, and a desperato struggle took place. Barry then put iu a timely dash, and good play between him and ,Wolham enabled Mason to shoot at goal. Tho Taranaki goalkeeper was in the way, however, and-he turned tho ball over tha line. From the subsequent corner hit Mason shot a brilliant goal, putting Auckland ahead. . "It. was evident that the' Auckland torwards wero out to giyo tho opposing backs a warm time. Tho local halves roso to tha occasion, and fed their forwards admirably. Passing between Mason and 1 Porter saW-tho former whisk tho ball over tho Taranaki goal. Fagan, showing nioro dash, than any other player .on tho field, dribbled tho bail into his opponents' twenty-five, wliero Whitley saved. ICavanagh, Por.ter, Barry, Welham, and Mason were instrumental in shift-;; ing play back to Taranaki's quarters; wbero Mason's shot was resultless. Crawford, Serand Fagan tried hard to' work'tho ball _ back to Auckland's circle, their- long passing being much admired, but Shirriffs, the Auckland skipper, was always too sound. A brilliant- piece, of passing,- between the Auckland forwards then took place. Mason got tho ball in bis own twenty-five, and passed to Welham, who centred to Mason again. The'■ latter, sent the ball on'to : Bnrry, who returned beautifully, and Mason, catch-, ing tho leather on his stick, tossed it up, and drove it into tho not will a magnificent shot:—Auckland, 3; Taranaki, I. Thero was no further score, -and the whistle sounded with Auckland again .attacking. .' " Oii the day's play the better team won. Of the Auckland forwards Mason was tho pick, ho having moro opportunities than "tho others. Shirriffs • was the safest back, and Kavanagh was not far'behind-him.' Porter and Badham also played well, the former boing very, prominent in defensive work during the early portion of the second spell."