WAIKATO SUCCEEDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1059, 25 August 1930, Page 6

WAIKATO SUCCEEDS

AUCKLAND ELEVEN FAILS IN REP. HOCKEY VISITORS DESERVE WIN Even if the Waikato - Auckland hockey match played at Eden Park on Saturday will not go on record as an out-and-out thriller, it was undoubtedly hockey which measured up to representative standard. There was on abundance of incident to sustain interest. The first half was crowded with episodal happenings, but the teams naturally could not maintain the fast and exacting pace all through the game, with the result that toward the ilose of the third quarter the teams wt»re tiring, and the encounter eased up noticeably. When three goals came in the last quarter to the visitors and one to Auckland, play livened up and worked to a breezy climax. Waikato, which has had the pleasure of defeating the local men on their own ground, as it were, and has gained its first victory for many years, fully deserved its win, if only for the splendid defence which Ewen. of Hamilton, and Hinton put up. They had at their back a safe goalie in Jack, the Waipa custodian, who treated the gallery to some clever saves. The three Hamilton halves —Vincent, Munro (exSomerville, Auckland) and Davis —man lor man, were in better than the Auckland trio. Munro particularly was a delight to watch, and appears to have added to his abilities since he loft the city. Davis was a great worrier, but inclined to wander. W. Williams, Haggett, and T. Clark were not very happy, especially the outside men. Haggett has plenty of weight, and is not much bothered by a bustling policy. It seemed that the three were ldaying rather far back for a large portion of the game. DEFENCE OFF COLOUR Radcli/fe and Gardiner, who were entrusted with the fullback defence, were pitted against a fast and enterprising forward line which knew' a trick or tw'o. “Raddie” was not himself, and was a bit rattled by a series of “sticks” rulings about which Mr. G. Hunter, the Waikato referee, was sternly strict ■—a little too much so, it appeared to the sideline. The captain played too high upfleld, with the result that the speedy attack which exploited the hit-a-nd run- policy, had swooped well into the circle before he could fall back with Gardiner. Generally, the defence failed to infuse power into clearing shots, much of it being perfunctory, in comparison with the stickwork of the opposing backs. Crawley, the student goalkeeper, who was making his first appearance in representative hockey, fully earned his place, and, like his counterpart at the other end, effected a number of bright saves. All the goals on both sides were good ones, which gave the keepers next to no chance of stopping. Outstanding forward work was demonstrated by B. Spiers, the fleet centre-forward of the visiting eleven. Hfc was a great hustler, an opportunist, and a danger in the circle. His two goals were the result of making the most of opportunities when they came. G. Finch, Rogers, and Civil were the other scorers, the last-named putting in an astonishing shot. All five men were up to standard, though most of the attacking movements originated either in the centre or toward the left. Clive Watts and Anthony each brought off a brace for Auckland, all four goals being fine efforts. Anthony showed his liking for Eden Park by revelling in the thick of circle work. Clive was his old self on the corners. Wellborne, who was making his bow in representative hockey, was well worth his place, his speed and accurate centring being a strong point. Chaplin, centre-forward, was well marked, and did not “come off” in circle operations this time. Hay, on the right wing, did not see as much of the leather as the left winger, and seemed out of the picture. Combination was more in evidence in the Auckland line than in the corresponding division of the Waikatos. It was a good game, and should do much to encourage hockey in the south of Auckland. East year the meeting resulted in a draw.