HOCKEY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 171, 10 July 1908, Page 4

HOCKEY.

CAXTEIUiIIiV (3, v. TAKAXAKI (U).J Canterbury and Taranaki representative hockey tennis nret vesterday afternoon upon the .New i'lymoutli club's ground. The natural outcome of the very moist weather experienced during the past week or two was a greasy j>laj" ing-iield, but it was not as had as it might have been, iiain fell during the early pari ol the afternoon, and «nlv about fifty people witnessed the gaim". The actual figure* scored. 3 goals to nil. are no criterion as to the comparative merits of tiie teams ( the local men being handsomely beaten. In the lirst speii Canterbury had things pretty well their own way, keeping up a hot attack and playing generally close to or within the "circle." They had about half a score of shots, but only two of them found the goal, though several of the others were dangerously close. Jacobs shot tiie first as the outcome of some good combined work. T. Anderson and E. Avery, the Taranaki wings, were the mainstay of the defence, and played hard, clever games, Avery being especially noticeable for the vigor lie put into his work. He tenaciously followed up after having checked the attack, but there was 110 support. The forwards played aimlessly, seeming uio're concerned with their good fortune in getting a smite at the ball than in directing it. On twenty-nine occasions out of thirty it was returned to the striker on the opposing side, 110 matter how good an opening had been left on the other tlauk. This made play somewhat monotonous. Woods, Fagan, and Barton each made a spasmodic rush which landed the ball close to the visitors' goal, but the shots were unavailing, lagan's effort ended in "sticks" argainst Taranaki, and the free hit was passed along cleverly to Jones, who narrowly missed a score. Three or four let-offs to Taranaki occurred in rapid succession. Halston centred from the corner, and Hulbert notched a fine goal just before half-time, the spell ending—Canterbury' 2, Taranaki 0. In the second .spell the home team, was rather more successful, and 011 several occasions had the ball in the visitors' territory. The defence, however, was very sou*d, and ■was not to b« caught napping. On several occasions Anderson or Avery sent the ball up among the forwards, but generally to Crawford or Woods, who failed to make the best use of the opportunity, principally on account of "speculating" instead of first making the hall dead. They frequently attempted shots from away up field, and starved Harris, who was waiting on the other wing. One j of the finest pieces of play by the'home team came from an opening made by ' Fagan. He passed to Weeds, and the latter passed across to Harris on the 1 other wing. His sift went across the mouth of the goal. Right through the game, and particularly at this stage, Canterbury wus beating the home team on the line and in nearly every "bully." They were playing in position, too, whilst ii was not at all uncommon to see tiro or three of the Yellows hustling eacl other for the ball. From a bully h Canterbury's circle, the visitors swept up the field. R. B. Anderson slipped and fell in his attempt to stop the bail, but cleverly recovered and Uok the ball from Hulbert, Woods spoiled a nice piece of play by leaving his place and interfering with Crawford, and almost immediately afterwards llulbert shot Canterbury's third goal. Taranaki had another let-off, Avery saving. Anderson, at goal, had some anxious moments, the Canterbury men pressing holly, l'agan and Avery were chiefly responsible for a change of scene, and Woods had a shot, the goalkeeper's head saving. Play was uneventful till call of time, and the game ended in Canterbury's favor by .1 to nil. For the winners. Oram. 111 centre-half, stood out as the best buck on the field. All the half-backs were good. Tlirop being quite brilliant at times, llellamy at goal saved well, and .lours was the best of the' forwards. Avery was the best of the home team, and his colleague Anderson (full-backl was,the only other player who could be relied upon, with the exception of Anderson, in goal. The forwards were completely outclassed, playing without the slightest semblance

of combination, and only the cleverness i and energy of the full-backs prevented a large score being registered against them.

The Canterbury team left for Xortli by the Takapuna last night.