HOCKEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 392, 28 June 1928, Page 9

HOCKEY

SATURDAY’S PROSPECTS

WHITE HORSE TOURNEY By RAKAU NUI. On paper at least, the hockey matches set down for decision on Saturday in the senior grade should all be very evenly contested. Particular interest attaches to the meeting of Somerville and St. Luke’s, in view of the defeat of the former when the sides clashed in the first round. St. Luke’s then put up a splendid showing, and seemed unable to go wrong. Since then, however, the maroon jerseys have not been by any means consistent, and have never fulfilled expectations. Ljosses and draws have been suffered, and the eleven has not attained to the heights in the competition that followers of Auckland hockey had hoped. If, therefore, Luke’s succeeds on Saturday in again lowering Somerville’s flag, it will not be because the team merits a victory, but will go on record as astonishing and inexplicable. Although it is not good for the game that one club should continue year after year at the head of the competition, it must be admitted that the best team, and the most consistent team, has held championship honours. Somerville has its faults, but on the season’s form has shown itself on a higher plane than other sides in senior hockey. A willing and close battle will be staged by North Shore and University. A feature of the season’s operations has been tlie rise of Shore from mediocrity to the position of a serious opponent for the best teams in the grade. Varsity has been much in the position of the All Blacks, having taken some time to strike form. While the students were experimenting with themselves, they underwent a series of hardships, and dropped points with disquieting frequency. Latterly the blues have done better, and the meeting with Shore should produce one of the best games of the day. On past performances, Mount Eden should be successful against Areta. The match will be closely fought, but the staying powers of Eden’s front line should ultimately ensure victory for the younger side. IN OTHER GRADES In the second grade competition. Mount Eden is now leading with IK points, followed by St. Luke’s, 32, and Wesley, 11. Waitemata, with 15 points, heads the third grade competition, in which the Auckland Grammar School is runner-up two points behind. St. Luke’s is at the top of the fourth grade with 14 points, and University, with 13, is next. CANTERBURY’S JUNIORS Through the laxity of club secretaries in responding to the Canterbury Hockey Association’s request for the names of players available for the trip to Auckland, the selectors are not yet able to make the final selection of the junior representative team. The senior selector met with a poor response for players to travel to Auckland for the senior shield match, and there is a possibility of the trip falling through. An effort is being made to secure a team to play Wellington after the latter’s representative team returns from Auckland, and if the former team is successful in annexing the shield, then the match Canterbury v. Wellington could be a shield match, says a Southern writer. Following is the draw for the White Horse Cup tournament, which will commence in Auckland on Monday: Section A.—First round: Maniapoto v.

Rodney, Tauranga v. Piako, Waipa a bye. Second round: Maniapoto v. Tauranga, Waipa v. Piako, Rodney a bye. Third round: Maniapoto v. Waipa, Rodney v. Tauranga, Piako a bye. Fourth round: Maniapoto v. Piako, Rodney v. W aipa, Tauranga a bye. Fifth round: Rodney v. Piako, Tauranga v. Waipa, Maniapoto a bye. Section B.—First round: Whangarei v. Franklin, Whakatane v. Thames-Hauraki. Second round: Whangarei v. Whakatane, Franklin v. Tliames-Hauraki. Third round: Whangarei v. Thames-Hauraki. Franklin v. Whakatane. A total of nine teams lias entered for the tournament. This year two new teams, Thames-Haura * i and Maniapoto, will take part. Waipa is the holder of the cup and has retained possession for the last four years. Whangarei was runner-up last year. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY Following are the matches to be played on Saturday, all games to take place at Remuera unless otherwise stated: — Senior Grade.—North Shore v. University, No. 1, 1.50 p.m., Mr. A. Williams; Areta v. Mount Eden, No. 2, 3.5 p.m., Mr. G. Waddingham; Somerville v. St. Luke’s, No. 1, 3.5 p.m., Mr. A. Williams and Mr. R. Avery; Otahuhu v. University Colts, No. 3, 3.5 p.m., Mr. L. G. Crawshaw; Somerville Colts v. Epiphany, No. 3, 1.50 p.m., Mr. J. J. Ellison; Training College v. Rodney, No. 2, 1.50 p.m., Mr. F. Nicholson. Second Grade.—St. Luke's v. University, No. 5, 1.50 p.m., Mr. G. Waddinghafn; Areta v. Papatoetoe, Papatoetoe, 3.5 p.m., Mr. K. K. Mullins; Wesley v. Mount Eden, No. 5, 3.5 p.m., Mr. J. J. Ellison; Somerville v. Epiphany, No. 6, 1.50 p.m., Mr. D. Fraser. Third Grade. —Waitemata v. University A, Victoria Park, 3.5 p.m., Mr. 11. Donaldson; University B v. Wesley B, No. 7, 1.50 p.m., Mr. B. Cooper; W'esley A v. Mount Eden, No. 6, 3.5 p.m., Mr. N. J. Ellison; Training College v. Auckland Grammar, No. 8, 3.5 p.m., Mr. F. NicholFourth Grade.—University v. Otahuhu, No. 7, 3.5 p.m., Mr. E. J. Hewitt; Papatoetoe v. Auckland Grammar, Papatoetoe, 1.50 p.m., Mr. K. K. Mullins; Somerville v. St. Luke’s, No. S, 1.50 p.m., Mr. N. J. Ellison Fifth Grade. —Auckland Grammar A v. Auckland B, No. 9, 3.5 p.m., Mr. H. Rankin; Mount Albert Grammar C v. Mount Albert B, No. 9, 1.50 p.m., Mr. G. Surman; Mount Albert Grammar A v. Auckland Grammar C, No. 9, 10.30 a.m., Mr. R. Avery: Mount Eden, a bye. Ladies’ Matches. —Senior A and B Trial, No. 4. 1.50 p.m.. Mr. A. B. Burton; Auckland A v. Auckland B, No. 4, 3.5 p.m., Mr. C. Preston.