HIGH STANDARD OF CLUB HOCKEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 39, 9 May 1927, Page 10

HIGH STANDARD OF CLUB HOCKEY

AUCKLAND ASSN. MATCHES WOMEN’S SEASON OPENS Ideal weather and grounds in splendid order favoured play at Remuera on Saturday afternoon, when the second series of the men’s hockey competitions, held under the auspices of the Auckland Hockey Association, was played off. The ladies’ contests also opened for the season. Play, considering the fact that the season has just opened, was of a fairly high standard for club contests. The men’s exhibitions were willing and there were few idlers, though combination and a knowledge of the finer points of the game was noticeably lacking. Good clean hockey was exhibited in the senior ladies’ matches and on Saturday’s play it appears as if the end of the season should see several clever players with a sound knowledge of the science of the game.

SENIOR MEN ST. LUKE’S AND VARSITY DRAW There was little to choose between the sides in this match. The game was played at a dashing pace throughout, the students having rather the better of matters as a result of their persistent bustling tactics for which they have become, famous. Bunching in the circle frequently negatived .possible goals for the blues, and infringements were too common, although allowance must be made in this respect by reason of the remarkable pace at which the engagement was fought. St. Luke’s performance was particularly creditable as it is understood the side was more or less a “scratch” eleven. Steele at centre-half was an ever-worrying thorn in the side of the blue attack. The veteran has the uncanny habit of continually turning up at the vital spot in the rival offensive just when a safe stick is sorely needed. On Saturday he was undoubtedly the backbone of the reds’ defence and without his assistance the history of the game would certainly have been written differently. The accident to Carston deprived St. Luke’s of a consistent goal-getter and his absence for the major portion of the game was responsible for the disorganisation of his front line. ITookham as left winger played his usual bright hockey though it appeared he got fewer opportunities than generally come his way. St. Luke’s goal was registered by Tom Giles, who banged home a rebound from the post. Steen is not often caught napping, but on this occasion he was taken completely by surprise with the inevitable result. For the Varsity combination Radcliffe, centre-half, outshone the rest of «f:e side and was perhaps the outstanding man on the field. At all times his stick-work was as safe as it was pretty, and “Raddie” is a glutton for work. He has a big future. The blues’ can were hustlers to a man, Seelen, Hamilton and Craig doing most of the toil. Hume, left full-back, captained his men with judgment, and by his sturdy hitting and sound stopping made a first-rate barricade against hostile pressure in his sector. SOMERVILLE A BEATS MT. EDEN. For the first few minutes it appeared as if the teams were evenly matched, and Eden assumed the offensive. Against the superior combination and knowledge of tactics displayed by Somerville, however, play gradually moved to the Edenites’ territory, where it centred for the greater part of the game. Somerville’s forward line displayed a creditable knowledge of the finer points of the game—good combination, the work of the Watt brothers in particular being outstanding. Cole was Somerville’s prominent half. The backs were seldom seen in action. Eden’s play was erratic, confined almost completely to the defensive, and the strong combination of their opponents allowed their forwards little opportunity for action. They displayed too much wild hitting, and were weak in tactics. Hedges, proved a keen toiler, and Fletcher at times displayed heavy stick work and creditable initiative. Vaile, Eden’s goalie, proved worthy of his place, and made several good saves. ARETA TROUNCES WESLEY

A most disappointing game, and a pathetic exhibition of hockey by Wesley (green), who suffered a memorable thrashing at the sticks of Areta’s (black) dashing forwards, sums up the Areta-Wesley encounter.

The game was a scramble during the greater nart of the first spell, but opened up better after the changeround. From the outset the blacks forced the pace, and their pushful van, with Anthony always to the fore, inevitably slid through a virtually nonexistent green half-line, and made merry spore in the Wesley circle. The fault with the green jerseys lay in the fact that their halves were playing too far back from their vanguard, which saw very little of the leather. Instead of feeding the starved forwards, the second line was located among the fullbacks, and was playing merely a defensive game. When they did get the ball, the halves confined passing movements to the inner forwards, instead of giving the wing men a chance, thereby falling foul of a shock-proof Areta defence. Davis was a stormproof battlement in himself, and he broke up many a Wesley sortie without assistance. Fitt, placing centre forward for the greens, caused the black backs some hard thinking on the rare occasions when he got a share of the ball. His goal as the result of a corner against Areta was a f.:.e job, and was one of the few redeeming episodes of the match. A new goalie had appeared for the losers. Whether or not this had anvthing to do with the disaster will be learned from subsequent engagements. The absence of Sparlin frnr~ fullback was unfortunate, but that does not account for the lamentable lack of combination which characterised the team Wesley fielded on Saturday.

COLLEGE OVER RUNS EPIPHANY Training College had improved so much in form that they over-ran Epiphany from beginning to end, and won eventually by 7 goals to nil. Ep'uhany broke down completely under the terrific College onslaughts. Except on one or two occasions, the yellow and blacks displayed no combination at all. They possess several players of fair merit, but lack of understanding brought about their downfall. .1. Mills played right up to form, and was a tower of strength to the losers. For College. "Wotherspoon was outstanding. He scored four goals in all, and went near to securing more. Tizard was hardly less brilliant. He was responsible for the winners' other three goals. Hewitt, in the Epipham’ front line, gave his men good openings, but they were powerless to strike. Unless the yellow and blacks can work up some semblance of combination, there are easy games ahead of the other teams. SOMERVILLE COLTS WHIP VARSITY COLTS Practically the only exhibition of creditable solo work in this contest was given by Hay almost at the start when he got right through, allowing

Taylor to score. Both sides displayed little knowledge of team work and, except for tlie Somerville forward line in which Preston and Lee were the outstanding players, combination was practically non-existent. Play was willing enough, but too much blind hitting was evidenced, and neither side displayed much knowledge of tactics. Coaches for both teams have good material to work on, but at present the finer points of the game are lacking. The final scores registered a good indication as to the relative powers of the teams, but the win did not reflect much credit on Somerville.