HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 586, 14 August 1909, Page 12

HOCKEY.

(By Driveb.)

Auckland and Wellington | meet at Day's Bay this afternoon; and an interesting contest is certain to take-place.. 'Die Tttrannki representative football match will . probably interfere with the attendance, .but as the hockey engagement is "the" fixture: of theseason, with the exception of the shield match at Auckland, it is practically certain that tho nnjnj. her present will be much larger than usual. It.is a deplorable,fact;that very little interest is evinced in ' Wellington' as : regards hockey matches, probably owing to the distance of the grounds from the city. It. may bo argued that the- Kelburne Park' and' Dujpa Street, grounds are close at hand, but, their utter nselessness (owing- to the • action .of the City Council authorities in closing them whenever rain falls) ; needs no demonstration. - Matters in this respect, however, may improve next year.; Let us hope : so. • ~- . . Speaking.. ql the Aucldand-Taranaki shield match, a writer in', the "N.Z. Herald" says:-r-' The display of Auckland's representatives on Sattirday made one ;wisli that' the combination (true tc name) could be sent on the south-' ern tour.' The display, if repeated in . southern centres,'would show the-hockey.players in other places why Auckland has managed to hold the shield. Without exception; the. team played to each other, in: a : manner rarely wit- ■ nessed,! but the;, most, .unselfish', display - was :given by Jacobsen, whose centres, caused such havoc' to Taranaki. Every goal; scored. came from a centre from him.; The forward line, playing' so well together, could not be individualised, except for their different methods of play.' To the backs the same remark-applies. The players, 1 certainly have different styles, but as a combination.are very evon. If one back , is to be mentioned that' should bo Eavanagh, for his stick play. The Taranaki players who showed most prominence were the Anderson brothers, Avery, and Nixon in the backs, and Wolham and Wood in; the. forwards. Taranaki did- not consider they: were playing: at .full strength. .. ... - , ' "■ ' ' ; . Tho Auckland Hockey Association tendered a dinner to the members of both; teams in the evening. Mr. C. D.' Grey, Jlayor of Auckland, and vice-patron of the association,, presided. At a" convenient interval in the prqeeediurrs. H. Grey; on behalf of the : association, < presented Mr. Bees Georgo, the with a solid silver, rose bowl,) suitably, inscribed,in recognition of. the services rendered to Auckland hockey bv Mrs. Rees George and himself. Mr. F. S. Shirriffs has been unanimously erected* captain of the Auckland representative team for the third successivo season., :, ; .

, The "Caiitorbury. Times" contains 6oma: interesting remarks on the representative: match b6tv. : een Canterbury and; Wellington- last_ Saturday., Criticism of, ourselves, by an unbiased outsider, is,'of course, of value. '.'The.-.'writer says:—The visitors had excellent in tho forward line, being much supeHor: to the home team in that respeot; although there was no doubt that Smythe, on the left wing, was very weak. : Davies, playing inside right, was perhaps the pick of the forwards,,and,he. was noticeable for starting , n.-ilot of' tlio forwardrushes, in which he was' ably, helped Beere and .Organ,, the last-uauied -by'd-recoiVing-occasional rounds of applause by-their; tricky, stick play, and the m'anner.ih,which th6.v-man-. aged to take passes with-their; pticks.:. Loader; on the right, was undoubtedly ithe wing, forward on- the ground,, .Bpingvjery:keen.:and having the happy knack of centring'just at tho right time, .besides giving the. Canterbury', backs,.' especially Throp, '«i very, anxious time; ;IA tho. half line Dawson, on the left, was perhaps tho best, but there was very little to pick between him and King (centfe),; although neither ..was particularly brilliant, , both' putting- in a: lot, of solid work.- Christie, oii.the-right, played well at times, .but seemed ;tb be. out of :his place when particularly wanted;' Of/the backs; Kibble-; white 'was -easily: tho: most.:no.ticqabl^j.Chiefly, on aecoiint 'of Christie being'-out 'of .'his: place,' ho had a large amountjof. work: to do; especially - in .the: second/ spoll. ; '; ; ■ 'This:.player's, luck in taking .flying' was a source ;qf worider. to the - spectators, and. as a' consequence -at the end' of tho gamo tho Canterbury forwards- were [about run off their legs. ' Parton: gave a-veryifair disr: play during- thfe first spell; :but seemed rather fond of undercutting - this. ba11... ;In ■ the second spell he seemed -to'.fade aw a y> - and - was yery,orratic with'his hittingi.Dwycr, played a very safe; game', .'saving "several .h'ot shots,: althougli in'.'a tussle-he . appeared'.-to. get .rather excited and lose his heaa. 1 On September 7i-a matoh .will be 'played at Day's Bay between Wariganui and' Wellington. A meeting of delegates of the Now Zealand Ladies' .Hockey - Association 'was , called at Christcliurcli to. consider a : notice of. motion 'from' - four - North Island Provincial' Associations relative to' transferring' the headquarters from Christchurcli to Wellington. There was, however, no quorum present,' and the meeting lapsed on that account.