HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 544, 26 June 1909, Page 12

HOCKEY.

'...■''■#"• (Br Damn.)' •"■■.'■-.'

Victoria College riiowed themselves -a much-improved team when they played Karon last Saturday. Although Karori woro sound enough in the second spell, College had the- better of the early part of tho game. Karon showed need for "a right-full-back. C. Davies, although young and new to the gamo this season, is not up to senior standard, and, on Saturday, was found wanting on many occasions.' A full-back must tackle oho man who has the ball; if ho does not the attacker:will juet keep control until his forwards are in placo, and then pass in-field. I It is seldom, that a full-back manages to intercept ',th'ose passes, and so it is clear that a full-back must do his best to make: his opponent get rid of the hall. G. Daviea,' inside-left, is playing.at his best, and, to those who know his play, that. I meansi a great deal.; Ho, has secured tho majority of-Karori's goals this year,,and, on his form, should add many more to his total. • Bliaa, left-wing, is new to. tho game this season; hut is improving fast. ..One could not but admire his pluck, on Saturday.,. Two hard drives caught him at tho side of the knee, but still ho. played right through and charged his man time and again ae if ,not boon hurt. When coming off the boat in; Wellington it was seen that he had great difficulty in walking,,-but it is hoped that ho will' be able,to play to-day. "■■,'• ;', : ;, : ;. Murphy; gave a-,glimpse of his best; and the pass which ho gavo Willis (resulting in a goal) was a splendid effort. Later, he nad hard luck in missing the post, after some very neat play) in which ho carried tho. ball right into tho circle from near half-way., Willis,; right-wing, is at* present playing with great skill, and passes very accurately. His" goal on, Saturday was well shot, the angle being very, difficult.,': C. Campbell played for the second, time this season, and soon gave a good account of himself by sooring' a brilliant goal from a "corner." It ja< understood that he intends playing for Karori for the rest of the season; Victoria College are improving fast/ and played' a: far. better game than Karori, for tho.; first twenty : minutes, y Their forwards .seemed to' becomo . disorganised after this', .and, consequently, there was little attempt at judicious passing. Tho backs, particularly the 'full-backs (Griffiths' and Kibblewbite); are sound, and, unless their opponents ars quick,' thoy l will have "small chance" of got ting through. ; Macdougall,;in<goal,-'was very safe; and ''stopped'! splendidly on. Saturday, although one soft; easy shot found him want nig. * . ' : ;;-'.:-'.;/:j;:./ M,'."-::'' ■ ■'■ "•■ C■••■.:• ■' : . Kibblewhito' was thought to, have been a certainty . for: therepresentative team,'; but :llarty. was'given achanooinstoadi,'lt is not' often.one sees a full-back, playing:in. senior ranks'who atempts to speculate. Kibblewbite is noted for thin method, arid it is;surprising: •that' he gets'so' many hard drives in, the nail returning from'his stick as; if. shot from aguit. , '■•;.".. ,•.'"-.>■"•■•,.■'•■. '.;.'•.■. ,: .':■■-'•• -.'.

Burbidge' (riglit-half),' though i small of. stature, .was at times really clever, and took the ball, from'llia opponents'very; nicely.'. Ho was instrumental in .finding 'the (circle,and his defence was sound.i "'■ ;'. '! ' '/'.■ .:'' Beero, iriithe forwards, ployed with 'plenty of dash,, but';.ho should keep.;, his'■'■; place. Several times last' week -ho/confused his fellow forwards by geting out;of „ Vivian, put ;up . a good .fight against .Y.M.C.A,, ; but lost chances by faulty hitting. ;Y.M.G.'A.;raro.to lose the'services of U. H. I'arton; .who is -leaving Wellington! ,:', His place, will; be difficult to fill, as lo.is one of the best men. in the,'team)': using his" stick •well,, and hitting with'judgment. •' .: •'. ■■>' is,doing good;defensive'work for Vivian; and was, called upon 'frequently to keep! Y.M.OiA, : out -last week.' Thompson' brothcraV'-andyDonovan, • aro the mainstays of' Vivian's attack;../,'.,.'•: :■.''.:'/.'■:'' ; .' Loader; was conspionous '. among Y:M.C.A.'s and the rush from which ho scored was' a neat piece of play.' ,>:.".-■• i ~.;. -.'•; Thorndon defaulted-to United.'; Although ;they::lifivo' 'riit; ■ wbii;. a* inatoh' - this Bea'son;' It is, to be hoped that.'they will endeavour ■to'- finish ont.tho season .for .the 'gaino!s iake.' •;; -'Scrappy and uninteresting" are appropriito .epithets with which to describe the'con-' test between 'Wesley and Wellington on No. 3 ground, Day's: Bay.) Neither team showed any marked ;■ combination,'-' what little' there :was'being exhibited by^Wesley, ;althongh it ;is only .fair to say, that-.there'; wore -flashes nf .bright individual-play. 'TheWcjslev foam has .undergone a good \ deal of alteration. ■Birch has.be^n'moved,from the right to the left wing; Dison;;from left- wing to inside ;left; Curgenveri;to' inside'right, 'Smith' taking ;neht wing: Dr.-Brown iroini; fromgoal'to ■IsfMialf. -'; Jabbbsen;is still',absent, owing to •an.attack, of'influenza;' ; ln.all.Drobability; a decided improvement will be noticeable when itho.toam adjusts 'itselfto.tho changes: For the : losers,',Earty,: left; full-babk/' was tho pick of tho rear Imp./ The halves wore weak';'" ■and gave' the -Wesley forwards :no trouble, and the forwards were not fed sufficwmtlv by'the halves. : : The Wesley forwards played woU-together, arid the backs.acqnittod them-, selves fairly breditably'.' \ Curgcnvon, righthalf , would be well advised 1 to, tackle his, man with; greater promptness,';'instead of giving .him an'opportnnityto hit; ~'••,■! ~.i, :-.■:'■■