ON THE HOCKEY FIELD

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1759, 26 May 1913, Page 3

ON THE HOCKEY FIELD

SATURDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES,

SOME SENIOR SURPRISES.

Karori Recreation Ground is tho Mecca towards which the greater body of hockey devotees turn their thoughts and steps these days, and the change of venue for the principal games is gaining steadily in public appreciation as the goodly band of spectators on Saturday boro testimony. Much improvement has been effected in the grounds, and for S-atunlav s play the total conditions wore little short of ideal. In the senior championship, Karon 9 defeat bv Insurance was altogether unexpected'by the team and followers alike, f.iul much tho same remark applies to Wellington's downfall before Metropolitan. Details:— j SENIOR GRADE. SYNOPSIS. Insurance 3 Karori 2 Metropolitan ... 3 Wellington 1 Vic. College ... 8 United 4 INSURANCE AND ICAROHI. It was generally thought that their stinging defeat ot the previous Saturday would serve to stimulate Karon's latent ability and that Government Life Insurance would find a differently-disposi-tioned team to tackle than that which Victoria College so thoroughly scattered. But the cognoscenti were astray in their calculations, and Government Insurance— an improving team certainly, but one that ha<l so far not tasted tho sweets of victory—defeated the old-time champions in all departments of tho game, and finally won by 3 goals to 2. Campbell, the representative half, was in his place in tho Karori team for the first time this season, and, despite a recent illness, played a really good game. Insurance had to picket their goal in the opening play, a Karori attack being led by Brooker, Davis, and M'Killop. Tho last-named sent in some smart centres, but G. Daviesrs shots at goal invariably met ready Insurance sticks, notably Cleave's. Playing concertedly—in fact their 1 only piece of combined work in the game— Karori irresistibly besieged the Insurance end, and Brooker finished up the sally by notching a goal. Insurance quickly evened the score though, and sweeping up from half-way, M'Clintock's concluding shot of the movement was a scoring one. The Policy men now played with a good deal of improvement after this. What attacking the Blacks-, did was met with stubborn defence, tho Insurance men playing solidly. It looked as though tho spell would ?ee the even tally stand, but just before time Insurance outwitted the Karori defences, audMusset found the net". Insurance, 2; Karori, 1. Karori attacked on resuming, and Hunter (Insurance 'keeper) had to stop many shots. One of these bounced back on to Henderson, a Karori back, and then through tho posts. A goal was allowed. Afterwards Insurance were always in winning vein, a humour greatly aided by the succession of mistakes made bv the ICaTori backs, and just on time Coldicutt shot the winning , goal.' Insurance, Karori, 2. . Mr. W. Organ was referee.

COLLEGE And united. ' Victoria College is the present favourite selection for this year's championship, and the victory over United on. Saturday was not unexpected. Smythe, Hicksou, and Dwycr ar„« still absentees from the United ranks. Hovrcvcr, the team from Saturday's showing gives promise of settling down into a very creditable combination. College "was first to score, after a rollicking dash by the forwards, from which Cloghorn put oil a goal, binular tactics by the students mot a surprising rally by their opponents, whose forwards whipped the ball through to tho centre, and tho scores were evened by Liddlo s shot. Well-organised play by tho United men had College defending lor a considerable "time, till G. Strack brought relief. College took advantage of the opening-up of play, and Griffiths mado a couple of attempts at goal, tho second of which found the net. United- wore even again shortly afterwards by a goal, from Boyd s stick, but before the spell ended G. Stock and Ci'eghom each shot goals for Victoria College, which made tho score 4—2 against United. • , , Tho second spell was remarkable £or some splendid forward play by the United men,-and their total was added to by a good drive by Xticliards. College, 4; United, 3. College came again, and 0. btrack, although handicapped by falling, registered their fifth gcal, and his brother ' Con brought th® total up to six in the next few minutes. College were penned down for a while until good dribbling by the forwards reversed matters, and ' Con Strack and Cleghorn each added a goal. N earing tho end, United put in a Inst effort, and Boyd sent in a scoring shot, and tho game thus ended—College, b goals; United, Mr. Cockrell was referee.

METROPOLITAN AND WELLINGTON. Metropolitan showed sufficient improvement in their play on Saturday to enable the team to defeat Wellington—a result which came* as a surprise to many. The game had not been Ions; started before ji'Gregor registered a goal for Metropolitan. Wellington's defence was continually tested during the first half, but Morpeth (in-goal) was keen to the situation, and only failed among many warm posers to stop another shot from M'Grego-r. Metropolitan, 2; Wellington, 0. The second spell saw.Wellington set the pace after a neriod of defence, and Reed was able to score. It was only a spasmodic superiority, however, and Metropolitan's tactics gradually overbore the Wellington men. Noaring the call of time Keys, from a corner hit, sent in a clinking shot, aud the game ended with Metropolitan winners by 3 goals to 1. Mr. C. W. Austin was the referee. JUNIOR GRADE. at ICnrori, defeated Wellingoon bv 5 goals to 1. Victoria College B were defeated by Greggs at*Wakefield Park by 7 goals to a. Karori scored a win bt. Augustine's at'Newtown Park by 3 goals to 1. The game United v. Hutt Valley, which was to have been played at Hutt, went to the Ilutt team by (isi'ault. Victoria College A beat St. Mark 3 at Karori by 2 goals (scored by Salek) to nil. THIRD GRADE. At Karori, Wellington B defeated United by 6. goals t'i'urlon 3, Cudehy 1, aud M'Pherson '2) to 1 goal, scored by Batten. Kilbirnio Anglican beat St. Augustine at Kilbirnie by 11 games to nil.' TUo scorers were Wethernll to), Atkinson (4) and Taylor (2). Mr. C. liickson was refercu. At the Hutt, the home team suffered defeat by Wellington—3 goals to 1. LADIES' GAMES. SENIOR. Th« gams bitwsen Vieteria, Calltg* and Sirens, played at Karen, was very evenly contested, the scores at the call of tima wading one all. The goal-getters were liiis Dement for Sirens, and Miss Evans for Victoria College, 'l'ho first spell saw Sirens with ona goal ahead, but College rallied in the second half ot-tho play, and jrctty passing by thoir Icrwards Glided in Aliss Bvans bringing tho scores even. Miss Brown, centre-half lor Sirens, played remarkably well and saved her side nvany times in critical situations. Mr. AustiD rel'eiHed.

College Old Girls won by default from Grejgs. Ramblers A were five goals abend in thoi? game against Girl*' College. The Missc-s Lang (3) and N. Harris (i) scored ths goals. Air. Cockrell was the referee. JUNIOR.. In the game Technical College v. Kiwi (9 the latter won by a goal (scored by Miss Harrison) to ml. Hiitt Valley High .School defaulted to College Old Girls.