HOCKEY SHIELD LOST.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1861, 22 September 1913, Page 4

HOCKEY SHIELD LOST.

FIRST-CLASS GAME.

DECIDING SHOT IN EXTRA SPELL.

Two full spoils and somo seven minutes extra had fleeted by before there camo the fatal shot that wrested tho hockey shield from Wellington on Saturday. It was a great gamo, a game that at any time could have been anybody's. A mixture of bad luck and bad management was always with Wellington, and on at least two occasions a local forward got clear away into tho cirolo with tho ball, and had but to shoot to score. But as ho lifted his stick to hit, a bump in tho ground tripped him, and over he rolled. Tho visitors played a fine game, notably N. Jacobsen, to whom, although he did not scoro it, must be given consi#rable credit for Auckland's goal. Both goalkeepers played brilliantly. Hallam (Auckland) stopped everything that came his way, frequently saving tho gamo for his side. Wellington wero no woakor and no stronger than their opponents, but tho most of what little luck there was was with Auckland. Tlio battle ground was the Basin 'Reserve, there being abwt one thousand spectators. The First Spell. Wellington were first to attack. N. Jacobsen came to Auckland's relief, but almost immediately Wellington returned. A good chance was presented to Griffiths, but he was too slow and tlio Northerners changed tho venuo. Mainly by the efforts of Jacobsen (leftwing) Auckland kept play in the locals' end. A good shot by Mahoney went close to finding tho net, but Dwyer met it with his boot, and kicked it out to M'Gregor, who, with a great hit, sent tho ball away up tlio field. Tho visiting vanguard returned with tho ball, however, and after a littlo skirmishing in tlio circlo it again fell to M'Gregor to clear. Griffiths captured the ball noar mid-field, and galloped it off goalwards. He manoeuvred it into a good position, but in tlio act of shooting he over-balanced and fell. ' The opponents' backs had returned before he could pick himself up, and they soon shifted play. Robertshaw and Barry set off hurriedly for the local goal. Dwyer camo out of his goal to meet tho ball, but it beat him, and but for a fine save by M'Gregor a scoro must have resulted. For a brief whilo operations wore caN ried on in mid-field, and then, by combined effort, C. Strack and Robbie managed to push things a bit in the Auclclandors' circle, C. Strack dribbled it into a good position, but Hallam rushed out of his goal and kicked it away. Tho visiting backs sent on to their forwards, who surged about tho circlo in fine stylo. Dwyor stopped a hot ono from Robertshaw and tlio locals wero enabled to change tho order. Auothor shot from G. Strack was stopped by Hallam, who a moment later interrupted 0110 from Robbie. Things wero very brisk in Auckland's circle then, and a great hit by Boyd just missed the goal. Play shifted out to neutral ground for_ a littlo tinio, and half-time sounded without a scoro having been registered by either side. Second Half. Wellington were again first to attack in tho second spell. C. Strack rushed along with the ball and' looked liko a certain scorer, but 110 ovor-ran it. Robbie, who readied it next, swiped at it with great forco, but 110 didn't hit it, and then the Auckland backs wero upon them. Play continued in the circlo pnd G. Strack wied shooting. His shot was straight, but too high, tho ball going over tho goal. From tho "bully" in the twenty-five the, Auckland men took play ir.to Wellington's ond and but for the timely intervention of tho whistle for an infringement, would. doubtless liavo scored. There was somo brisk battling in Wellington's circlo for a while, but finally, after great defensive play, the backs managed to transfer play to tho enemy's base, and a very warm tinio ensued. C. Strack and Boyd fairly peppered tho Auckland 'keeper. Ono of Boyd's looked certain to find the not, but Hallam saved magnificently. Moore (Auckland's right-halt) brought temporary relief to nis sido, but Wellington soon had the leather back. G. Strack, from a scramble in the circlo, tapped the ball into a good position, but attempted to dribblo it too noar the goal and finally lost it behind. From tho "corner" Boyd tried a shot, but_ it went wide. Robbie, from the wing, centred to G. Strack, who missed it altogether, and it passed right out to Griffiths on the right wing. Griffiths sprung up to it and sent in a shot well nigh impossible to stop—but Hallam did stop it, amidst groat applause. The local front division lost the ball for a bit, but C. Strack, with somo clever stick work, soon had it back. Tho Auckland defenco was nothing short of brilliant, and tho local forwards were retreated. Mnhoney took the ball into a good clear space, and short hard, *but Dwyer stopped it, and immediately tho whistle went for time. Neither sido had scored, however, and it was decided, after a brief spell, to continue.

Auckland Score. Tho first few minutes of this spell wero remarkably quiet, and tho first real serious attack was Wellington's. M'Eldowney sent leather to Boyd, who cleverly tapped it over an opponent's head, but no was unable to score. C. Struck a moment later made a good attempt, but Hallam saved in great style. Then, with a sensational lone effort, C. Straek galloped into tho circle, and had but tho goalkeeper to beat. Ho lifted liis stick to hit, but stumbled and rolled over, and tho goalkeeper easily cleared. The Aucklantlers retaliated vigorously, and a moment later Wellington had lost tho Shield. N. Jacohsen secured on tho wing, banged it over to Mahoney, who in turn passed to Mopre. There was a scramble, and the ball rolled to a clcar spaco in front of the goal. Barry hopped up to it, and tapped it past Dwyer into the goal. Auckland this won tho Shield. Messrs. Cusack and Gendall wero the reforces. Visitors Entertained. The visitors wero entertained at a smoke concert in tho evening at Godber's Rooms, Courtenay Place, Mr. M. F. Luckio presiding. An apology for absence was received from the Hon. A. L. Herdman. In handing over tho Shield to Auckland, Mr. Luckio stated that there was no other team that Wellington would sooner lose tho Shield to than Auckland. "But, remember, continue! Mr. Luckio, "we have not given it to them—it is only a. loan, and it is a short-dated loan at that." Mr. Tattley (manager of the Auckland team)'said his team greatly appreciated Wellington's hospitality, and they looked forward to the timo when the Wellington men would to Auckland and j play for tho Shield.

LADIES CAME. CIIRISTCHURCH & WELLINGTON. The Christchurch and Wellington ladies' teams, which had just returned from the tournament at, Wanganui, where they. had scored equal points, settled anv argument once and for all before the Shield match. Tho Can-" terburv rtirls bail it much their own wnv iii the first half, and before the whistle sounded had scored two goals to Wellington's nil. Hiss T'earce. scored them both. In the second spell the local girls brightened up considerably, and had tho visitors worried quite a lot Tliov could score but once, however (Miiis M'Donnell), bofore time sounded, leaving the visitors the winners by one goal. Messrs. Gendoll and 31'Kouzie wore th® roforoca.