For the second time this season the United Hockey Club XI gave the in vincible Loyal Regiment an anxious First Division match at the Race Course yesterday afternoon when the crack army team ran out winners by exactly the same score of 2-1 recorded in their previous meeting on January The Loyals found the civilians completely ready, with nothing to lose and everything to gain, There were no redoubtable achievements behind these Club representatives who have only won once in half a dozen starts, Nevertheless, the soldiers had to conquer as game a team as they ever faced.
The fact that the reigning champions failed to notch more than two goals.during the long course of seventy-five minutes of play is no reflection on their offensive prowess. Rather it is a tribute to the defence or the Club side. Tony Fonseca was centrally involved in giving the army captain and his colleague, Hancock, very little freedom. In the whole match these Service players did not handle more than five or shots, Only opportunism on the part of Cole won the day for the Loyals as the regimental leader tallied both counts, The civilians had the fortune of seeing at least three {ror their grasp as "Carrots" fla, the centre, failed to convert from point-blank range in short melees during both sessions, McDonald, Smith, Cronin, Paque, Pyett, Grant, ' Col alcock.
UNITED
mor Oliveira, Ellis, Kam la, P. Bojesen, ana H. Bojesen Civilians Rule at First Although minus the services of their star forward, F, Kermani, the United: Olub shot cub from the" opening bully and carried the play. Fine support of the halves enabled the forwards to become fairly active and the game was decidedly the civilians in the first ten minutes.
Shortly afterwards, Pyett drew away from Collaco, The winger cros sed over a fine centre which Cole failed to make for a shot. The ball traveled to the other flank where Wilcock relayed it in but CoNaco brought off a clever save with a back-handed flip, A moment later the latter cleared a second threatening situation, Tu the 20th minute Wilcock streaked up the field with the ball ana outpaced Fonseca. The army wingman made a sending for Cole to tally with a shot which gaya Pate no chance, Undeterred by the loss, the Club team staged a great rally. For the rest of the half the soldiers were constantly kept back in their own areas and looked like yielding Karanjia played a great game as he thrice came within striking distance of converting. On one occasion he had the sad experience of watching his shot miss the post by a scant foot or two and another time he had to fall into the net in an attempt to bundle the ball across the goal line from a melee.
Second Half After the recess, the United players sprang at their rivals immediately after the bully-of and continued to press. Before the half was five minutes old, H. Bojesen swooped past McDonald a rising shot to tie the count at one-all. Oliveira made the play. The centre-half worked the ball up and handed to Vi drove across for the left wi r to pull the trick.
Following the equalize: civilians resumed with high p Too much attention to the offensive, however, offered loop-holes in the rear. At the ten-minute mark Cole broke away single-handed. He soloed in and before he was driven to an unfavourable position, the versatile army leader pivoted and took a slamming shot which completely deceived Pate, to nil. The losers put up strong half when eleven of the points The match provided the Club with the opportunity of giving their newly formed youthful team a better rounding off as a result of playing a weaker team, and it is hoped they will confirm expectations when they meet their next stepping stone in this competition.
Yesterday's match showed however that there is still a lot of room for improvement, especially among the outsides who are too often caught in two minds, and do not get right off the mark both individually and with regard to initiating movements. There was also a slight tendency in the centre to hold on to the ball too long, attempting too often to cut through when it would have been better to get out to the wings rapidly. White, Read and Aucott were all guilty of this, although some of their cuts through were commendable, and undoubtedly the gradual bette: understanding will, see quicker handling. All three players have good "hands" and should soon develop into, a formidable trio,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.