HOCKEY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 182, 4 May 1925, Page 3

HOCKEY

GOOD PLAY IN OPENING GAMES WAKATU IN FORM Dsspite the fierce rainstorm which swept over the field during the last quarter of an hour of the senior games, there was quite an interesting opening of the hockey season at Kaiori Park. As is always the case during the early gamees of the season, forwards were either a little slow in accepting their opportunities or frequently sent the ball wide of the mark, but there was certainly' nothing wrong with the players’ vigour and enthusiasm. Ony the keenest of enthusiasts could have survived that last quarter of an hour’s deluge undaunted; and not only carry on the game undeterred, but maintain a standard of pay which, under the circumstances, was wonderfully good. So hopelessly drenched did the men become that at least two of the number preferred to play without jersewsRESULTS AT A GLANCE SENIOR A. Hutt 3, Wellington 0. ’Varsity 1, Wakatu 5. Karori Weslev 1. SENIOR B. Karori 2, Training College 3. Huia 1, Wakatu 1. .LADIES’ SENIOR. Ramblers A 1, Training College A 2. Huia 5, ’Varsity 1. Ramblers B 0, Training College B 3. HUTT OUTCLASSES WELLINGTON. In the senior A game Hutt defeated Wellington by three goals to nil. From the outset Hutt assumed the aggressive and attacked with such vigour that Slater, iSmith, and Pringle all managed to break through before the interval. Following half-time, play was much more even, but although 'Wellington tried hard to reduce their opponents’ lead, all they could do was to prevent them from increasing it. Taken as a whole, the game was perhaps more even than the score suggests. Where Hutt had the advantage over their opponents was that when their opportunities came along they accepted them. Wellington plavod one player short. Guy, their goalkeeper, was possibly the most outstanding player on Saturday.

WAKATU’S DECISIVE WIN. Wakatu gained, a decisive victory over ’Varsity by five goals to one. Play was fairly even in the first half, and when the teams crossed over, Wakatu led only by the odd goal in three. In the second half, however, the AVakatu forwards got going in fine style and showed some delightful combination, in spite of the adverse conditions. The brothers Hood, on the left wing, were responsible for some particularly, fine work. Wakatu have several of thair old team playing- for them this year, notably Stratton and Hood. Simpson, Paul and Fraser, showed good form for ’Varsity. Early in the game, Waghorn, the ’Varsity goal-keeper sustained a nasty hit on the nose, but pluckily continued to piny to the end with his face swathed in bandages. A KEEN FIGHT. The most keenly fought game of all was that between Karori and Wesley, which resulted in a narrow win for the former by 2 goals to 1. The teams crossed over with a score of 1 goal each, but in the ding-dong struggle ‘■hat developed in the rain in the second spell Karori just managed to notch 1 goal ahead. GAMES IN SENIOR B. Another keenly contested game was that between Wakatu and Huia, in the Senior B grade, which resulted in a. draw of 1 goal each. Early .in the game O’Connor scored for Huia, and some time later a scramble in front of the Huia goal led to Wakatu pjaoin" themselves un equal terms. Try as they would, neither side could score in the second half. Hanson, the Wakatu goalkeeper, saved two particularly fine shots, while Flannery and Stevenson were also prominent. Among the Huia men, Butcher, O’Connor, Cottier and McAlister were perhaps the most outstanding. The other Senior B game, between Training College and Karori, also provided a strenuous tussle, Training CoL Ic’e gaining a narrow victory by 3 goals to 2. Jensen (2) and Irwin scored for the Training College, and King (2) for Karori. JUNIOR GRADE. Wesley 1, Huia 7. Wesley Rovers 9, Wakatu 0. Wellington 1, Karori 8. THIRD GRADE. y Wesley 0, Karori 6. INTERMEDIATE GRADE. Wesley 0, Karori 7. NELSON RESULTS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Nelson, May 2. The hockey games to-day resulted;— Senior: Kiwi, 0; Federal, 0. Stoke won from Nelson- by default. Junior: Kiwi, 10; Nelson, 0. Stoke, 1;. Federal, 1. GAMES IN AUCKLAND. By Tblbgkaph—Press Association Auckland, May 3. Saturday’s hockey matches resulted St. Luke’s, 3; Wesley, 1. Areta, 1; University, 1. Stanley, 4; Mount Eden, 4 Christchurch,' May 2. To-day’s hockey results ivere:—Sydenham, 2; Technical, 2. ’Varsity, 2; Selwyn B, 2. St. Albans, 2; Selwyn A, 2.

N.Z. ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT. The report of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Hockey Association, to be presented at the twentythird annual meeting at Christchurch on Thursday next, states that throughout New Zealand the game is still in th ascendancy, the majority of as:«'ciations reporting an increase in players. No matches with overseas teams were played during the 1924 season, but arrangements have been made for the visit, of an Australian representative team during the coming season, and the visit of a representative team from ilie British Army, India, in 1926. The Australian team will play nine matches in New Zealand (luring July and August, the tour finishing with a Test match, at which, it is hoped, the newly founded Manning Memorial Cup will be at stake. The cup is being donated by players throughout New Zealand and Australia in memory of fhe late Mr. A. W. Manning, who did so much for hockey in the Dominion.