HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1494, 17 July 1912, Page 5

HOCKEY.

WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND. .-. HOME TEAjM IN FEONT. Only about thirty or forty people'watched the', fortunes of the Wellington-Auck-land hockey match yostcrday. Tho game waspmyed. at Day's Bay. Blinding rain fell all the'time. It was, in fact, what some writer has termed "a regular Herbert Spencer of avday." The rival elevens were constituted thus:— Auckland.—Allen, E.. R. Jacobsen, Speight, Kavanagh, Porter, Robinson, 11-eynolds, N. B. Jacobson, Mason, Mahony, C.N. Jacobsen. Wellington—Dwyer, M'Eldowney, Baker, R. Thompson, Campbell, Aickin, Birch, Boyd, G. Strack, C.; Strack, Uoid., First Spell, Auckland won the "bully," bt.t Wei-' . lington soon ' rushed play into their twenty-five.. Porter centred finely, but Birch secured and carried well down the field. . Here Speight got • possession'"' and hit well up, but an Aucklander gave"sticks," and the pressure was relieved. • But the- northern-men came-at it again, and, from a scramble in tho, Wellington circle, Reynolds emerged from the ruck, and shot successfully. Auckland, 1 up. Wellington won the .ensuing "bully," and Boyd carried play .along ■ until Reynolds secured and streaked down tho field. Here, however, Aickin gave "sticks.". Then Porter' was conspicuous. Ho eelcd in and out amongst'thoplayers and transferred to Jacobson, on tho wing, who' rushed away with the ball.' This rush penetrated the cirole, but play was soon shifted towards the Auckland goal. Here Allen made a bizarre sort of centre, and Reid rushed in nnd goaled in fine style— one all. -From the ensuing "bully," Birch made a fine.run, but N. R; Jacobsen relieved him, and'sailed down'tho field, where his.career was finely stopped by Thompson. This player hit up-field, and Eeid, centring finely, enabled Birch to place the Yellow and Blacks in the lead. Wellington, 2 goals; Auckland, one. The northerners rushed away from the next "bully," and-entered the circle, but the shot went wide. "Half-time" was then Bounded. .. ' '

Second Spell, -■ .. On recommencing, Wellington 'bifsicdthemselves; ami rushed into the circle,' but Rett's shot hit the post. Then Porter made a strong run, but Campbell stopped his progress. Boyd secured, and' away ho went, right into the goal-mouth, but Allen saved by kicking. Then H. E. Jacobson secured, and made' a rush goalwards, but Baker intercepted, and tho Yellow and Blacks breathed for a moment. The home team camo. afc-.it. once again, but.Speight was'the'saviour of his side, and, time after time,'he got them out of difficulty. • Next, G. Strack secured tho ball, and set' off into the'circle. ■ A good attempt, at goal was made/'but the ball wc'nt wide. A - free-hit' to' Auckland for a. knock-on relieved the pressure, and Reynolds, asserting himself in solo possession of tho ball, carried play well up tho field. Ho eventually centred, but the 'slrot was"" staved off. Prom the "bully ,\G.'Strack, showing clever stick-work, sailed away, but Porter-set out in pursuit, and, catching, him, spoilt his chance.- Play : at this stage -was -very lively, clever . stick-work being,a feature of-tho game.':. The Wellingtonians were--now having the better of the play, and G; Strack shot, but Allah , camo to the rescue with a good save. Play then hovered around the goal-mouthy, and Beid, who' was on the outskirts of the circle, sejit in a wonderful shot, from a difficult-angle,-and'the score read. Wellington, 3; Auckland, 1. Then Auckland attacked strongly;. Speight set them in' motion, and. tho ball went right across: the field, Baker and, transferred the ball,'but-the'Northerners came at it again, and rushed the goal-mouth. Here they shot,'but Dwyer made a magnificent "safe." - From now..on, .Wellington held the upper hand, and Strack and Boyd shot, .but tlio efforts were fruitless. Time presently sounded, and Wellington left the field victors by 3 goals to' one. : Messrs. Gondall and Cockrell-.were thov Tefercesi .--.-.. .. , " The visitors-leave, to-night .-, by-...tbe.:j Mararna'.: for Chrjstchurch.v,-where they meet; Canterbury in -a shield engagement on Thursday.; \ '■':'■ ■ ..•-'■■'•: '■,■.'