SPLENDID HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1205, 14 August 1911, Page 2

SPLENDID HOCKEY.

(, DRAW WITH AUCKLAND. WELLINGTON KEEPS SHIELD. ir.ii dcit game lo date, and real hockey, too. That is tho Wellington-Auckland Shield match in a nutshell. When the second spoil closed both teams wero lying level—ono goal cacb. They were put to it again for another fifteen minutes, but t'.io scores stood unchanged. Then for still another fifteen minutes, but , no result. Although the combatants wero at it for 110 minutes, but the defence of each was hard to gel through and that way it renamed to tho end. Tho shield stays with-Wellington, and after parrying the iierce onfall of the Aucldanders on Saturday no doubt they desarvo lo keep it. A very largo number of ncoplp went over.tu Day's Hay to soo the struggle, and tlipy wero not disappointed. It was the finest display of hockey ever seen here. Up till half-way through the second spell Auckland had rather the better of matters but, as usual, the Wellington side gradually combined better and better as tho game wore on. Salck, right-wing for Wellington, was unable to play owing to an injury to his foot, and Andrews (United) replaced him. Pointless First Spell. From the "buUy-o.il" the Auckland foiwards carried play to tho Wellington end, but M'Eldowney stopped their progress, and sent on to Loader who centred, tho ball going behind. From a free-hit to Auckland G. Danes assisted in removing play into tho visitors' twenty-five where lie passed t'o Leader, who sent tho ball across. The visitors presently conceded a "corner," and G. Strack sent in a shot, but the opposing backs were sound, and their forwards soon removed play to the local end, where lU'Eldowney relieved by hitting out to the line. Welham, the Auckland right-wing, then carried Hie ball over the Iwenty-iivo lino and centred, and a forward found the net, but was pejialised for ofr-sido play, and a. free-hit relieved the Wellington backs. Their forwards started a passing rush, but the visiting backs wore equal to keeping their twenty-five clear, and play returned to the centre of the lield. From a line-out Loader, tho Wellington left-wing, passed across lo G. Strack who sent the ball to his brother, tho last-named player's shot going wide. All this time the Wellington right and Iri't-halros were backing their forwards up well, and play remained for some time in the Aucklanders' twenty-five, but the attackers were unable to gain, tho circle owing to t'he strong defence set up by Speight and Baker. A free-hit at length brought relief to Auckland and, a little later, Wellington had to concede a "corner," but nothing resulted. So far as'i'hings had gone Porter, centrehalf for the visitors, was giving the best display in that position here, and ho kept his forwards on the attack until a frcohit was awarded against them, and this moved play to half-way. Loader presently put , in a good run for Wellington, and G. Strack carried the ball into tho circle, but' the opposing backs secured, and _sput it out to tho line. The Wellington forwards then started an. other rush, but, unfortunately, Loader penalised bis side by giving "sticks," and the Auckland front line—by, perhaps, tho best stick-work over seen here—rapidly shifted play to half-way. After a linoout, Hickson stopped a passing-rush in his twenty-live, and good work by tho Strack Bros;, saw G. Struck send in a shot that hit the post. Auckland now attacked for E3me v timo, Hickson. Campbell, and Parlon doing good work on the defence for Wellington, but, nevertheless, tho attacking forwards got in two or three shots. These, however, wont wide. I'arton evenhmlly cleared f«v Wellington, nnd the right-wing gained his opponent's twentyfive. Following on a "corner," a hot tussle ensued in the Auckland circle, but Ilia locnl forwards lost their chance by failing to bit hard enough, and Auckland again attacked. From half-way tho visitors' right-wing, Welham, carried the ball down lire line, aud sent it into the circle, where hvo shots that looked liko certain scores were jmt stopped in the nick of time by Campbell and Parton. Auckland., .however, continued to press, and the stickwork of their halve. l ; and forwards gave Hie Wellington- backs, plenty to do in keeping their circle clear. Tho spell end«d with Auckland in the Wellington twenty-five, neither sillo having scored. How the Scores Were Got. , From the outlet of the second hall ■TncobscTi carried the ball into the WelHimton circle, where he. over-ran it, and H'Eldowney cleared lo tho line. The local forwards now battled hard to reach their opponents' striking-area, but Speight nnd Baker effectually barred tlit-ir progross, and soon ■ afterwards the v isitors' forwards again sent in a shot that went wide. A centre by Leader was intercepted by Kavanagh, who sent the ball on to Welham, and thq tatter assisted his sido in gaining the Wellington circle, wlicr'o' tiling looked dangerous, for some tim?. Down the field again went the struggle, and Baker pulled up the Wellington forwards in his twenty-five, but, after tv.-o or three combined rushe.'. they eventually -reached the circle. Here Hallam, the Auckland gnalkr-opcr, stopped twa good shots, and then lbs reliable Speight securud. and sent (lie ball down field to Wolluim, who passed to Mason, this player carrying the ball behind. G. Davies iiow put in a good run for Wellington, but received no support, and onco more Auckland attacked, Welham sending the ball across to the circle. His other forwards, however, failed to finish off tho movement, their shots going wide. And now came Wellington's chance, nnd they took it. C. Strack secured in Hie centre of the field, and passed to Andrews, who took the ball down tho line, nnd centred. G. Strack shot, but Hallam, in stopping, failed (o dear the ball out. of tho circle, and lxmler, who was handy, sent Mi; ball into the uci,'amidst great, excitement. Wellington, 1; Auckland, 0. Auckland came at their opponents ct onct! in an effort lu equalise, but. tho WcUinston backs beat them back. A little later, however, Auckland w-sro awarded n "corner," nnd a tussle ensued m the'circle. Wellington cleared, but their forwards failed to- pass the visitors' backs, who were leaving nn locpf.ofes. Again the visitors gained the circle, and (he ball went between the post?, but. tho player who hit it was ruled off-side. Wellington took a turn now, and were given a free-hit outside the visitors' circle, but Jacobsen secured, and the local sido wctm again on tho defence. Loader was instrumental in shifting play, and sent thn ball into the circle, G. Davits's shot, however, being stopped by Hallam. At the twenty-live line, Porter secured for Auckland, aud sent on to his right-wim;, Welham, who beat the opposing backs and reached (he circle,-sending in a good shot from nn awkward angle. It was tho "equaliser," and it brought forth a round or applause from tho spectators.Again the visitors carried play to the Wellington goal, and wero given a" penalty hit, and the lecal men were fully extended in staving off the attack." The spell ended with- the score even and plaj on tho half-way line. As stated previously, two -extra spells of fifteen minutes each wero played, but thc-ro was uo further score. Messrs. C. S. Fr,lcon?r and J. W. Gendall controlled tho fame. Smoke Concert. Tho Auckland rf.presentatives were enlerloiueii at a smelie concert, held at the Hotel Windsor, on Saturday evening, Mr. A. L. Herdinan. .W.P., vice-president of tho Wellington Association, presiding. Tho following to.uts were honoured:— "Tho Clmirin.-in," proposed by Mr. W. J. Organ: "Auckland Kepresentalives," proposed by Mr. Herdinan, and rpsnomlsd to by Mr. Badham (manager) and Mr. F. 1!. Miisan (captain). The former speaker, in thanking tho loL'al association for l.lio efforts put forward in enterl.iiiiim; his team, also s-tatc.l that, should Wellindon decide to apply lo iho New Zealand Hockey Association to have, the txira spells in shield matches ('.one away with, they would have (ho strongest .support from his association. He also congratulated Iho referees, who, he stated, gave every satisfaction in controllini: the i;nmp. Mr. C. Hickson, captain of the loca'i side, slutf-1 that Saturday's match hnd been the hardest nnd cleanest game ever SEon in Wellington. Mr. M. T.uckip proposed tho "Canterbury and Taranaki Associations," to which Messrs. Throp and A very replied. Mr. W. ,T. Organ proposed "The Selector"," and Messrs. Be.dl'.am (Auckland) and H. V. Walton (Wellington), responded, "The Eefcrcu" jras proposed by Sir,

F. li. Mason, and Mr. J. W. Gcndall replied. Tho following contributed musical and other items during tho evening :—Messrs. Tinnoy, Dwycr, Shirley, Mason, Hunter, Baker, Bennett, M. Luckie, and Barry. LADIES' GAMES. ■ The Senior A nnd B trial game on Saturday ended in favour of the B team by 2 goals to nil. In the Junior trial match tho A tenm defeated the B team by 2 goals to 1. Mr. A. Geddis has sslected tho following fil'teen players, from whom tho Senior representatives will be chosen — Goalkeeper, Miss Jackson; full-backs. Misses Tinncy, ltoadlcy and K. Cnmeron; halves, Misses Turnei, A. Warren, Harris, and Braniley; forwards-. Misses F. M'Donnoll, Scrimshaw, Charlesworth, Dement", C. Cameron, Shearer,-and V. Warren. Tho following compose the .liniior representative team to play for Wellington at tho tournament next month:—Goalkeeper, Miss Murphy; full-backs, Mioses Harvey aud Speytr; halves. Misses Worboyse, Burr ,and M'Kenzie; forwards. Misses O'Neill, Lainq, Halley, Benge, and Mcllor; reserves, Missc-s llicks, Lcddy, OXcary, and Bennett. . OTHER MATCHES. The Christchurch Y.M.C.A. team succeeded in defeating the local institution's team at Day's Bay on Saturday by 4 goals—Throp (2), Mackenzie (2)— to nil. The visitors were a stronger sido, and had the best of Iho game all through, mainly by the assistance of Throp and Snell, Canterbury representatives, while the local team were minus Loader and R. Parton, who were playing against Auckland. The game commenced early so that tho players could see the Auckland-Wel-lington match. Tho visitors were entertained, al -tea a;. Hit T.M.C.A on Saturday evening, and returned to Christchurch the same evening. Mr. Southwick was referee.