HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 811, 7 May 1910, Page 10

HOCKEY.

(Br "Bollt-off.") Judging from present indications at least one team requires; to exert itself to obtain a position amongst the leaders —I refer to Karori. They were badly beate non Saturday, their combination being non-existent, and their shooting marred by want of cool-headedness when within striking distance. It •ia to'be feared thatitheir senior players did not have sufficient practice before the matches commenced, or, is it that, being old players, they were over-confident? Karori's skipper, Godfrey Davies, worked hard,; and did his share of the batting against Victoria College's solid defence— but his sturdy followers—that once, were —seemed just scramblers, and could not hove been.greatly, feared by the College goal-keeper./!-,. ■• •■•■' SAV.Not' ':tha't': '.the College ...keeper was per--feci—he •requires'a good deal more training', yet—but, although,'he allowed' one'-Kar6ri_,gdal.-,to pass 'through his.legs, .he piayed a saf % 'gariieiv: Karori'. did not ■ work happily .'-at: all;,;why,;l cannot say. It certainly :strikes',;'one. that the main fault is " over '.eagernessi..r'to do all the work individually instead, .of.' equalising matters by good and combined play. Another point—obstruction is too freely indulged in. by them. Godfrey Davies had some brilliant lushes down the wing only to find the defence of" College sound and "goal-defying." Murphy can improve. Leo. Davies' made a poor showing. Ho was not in his usual place on Saturday, and Gendall was also placed in a strange position on the field. Karori men worked hard, but without effect. T. Campbell, in goal for Karori, was apparently a figure-head. When. Godfrey Davies had a splendid opportunity on one occasion of scoring after having run down two-thirds of the field he was obstructed by Kibblewhite, and a peualty-bully was.given by Referee Walton, the result of which was a clean start for College—Godfrey Davies having proved the weaker of the two men. - He should have scored off the penalty-bully. Spiers sav-ed sorao dangerous attacks *of the College' forwards, so also did Putnam, but Pope is more fitted for a junior team at present. The remainder of Karori's followers were fair from an individual standpoint. .„. . Boero (College) played splendidly—in fact-all the College boys "put their sticks and feet to it"—and taught their 'opponents a lesson in hockey. Strack Bros.,' on present form, deserve places in a : representative team this season.' It's a pity more "brothers" could not be got together such as Stracks and Partous, (Y.M.C.A.). There's an instance of combined play with Stracks; on few occasions did Geo. Strack let his opponent beat him; he is a "flyer"—nothing (ess, and I was more than pleased with him on Saturday. .Smith also proved the right, man in the right place. At times Karori rushed thoir opponents, but w-ere not systematic. Towards the end of the game College added three goals in quick succession—finely—because Karori's backs got played out; their halves were lacking combination, whilst on the other hand the College defence was sound. It was a lively game, with many exciting happenings. Karori must work more in uuisoh before they get back to their old form.

United had, their usual 'luck," and not being content with a win over Wesley by four goals one of their men shot a goal for their opponents—the only one Wesley were credited with. How it happened is worth noting. A Wesley for-: ward, whilst in. a lively scramblo presumably inside the circle, struck the ball, (it might have been a United man), tho ball hit the post, rebounded back, and a, United man placed tho leather between his ow'u' goal-posts. Referee' Turner. states that as far as,ho could see the goal should go tn Wesley's favour, ami rightly awarded it them.

Wesley had the best of the first spell, nnil tho ■"•on does not indicate anything in their favour, yet it is a fact that, on tlie day's play tlicy played better than United did. The defence of tho former was sound, except during, tho last fifteen minutes of play, whilst tho left-wings wore very : good also. Their shooting was poor when in the circle, being especially noticeable in Dixon's case. King (United) saved frequently those blind erratic shots of .the Wesley forwards. It was hard to direct the ball, because of the hard surface of the ground. Jones (United), the new man, seems to be getting on fairly well, and scored a splendid goal. So also did Organ. Cameron (light-half) was good—a new man too. flickson played a safe game, but Owens seemed reluctant to tacklo his man. Whilst Organ was in good form on Saturday, Smythewns a bit "ofi" as against tho previous Saturday. The score at half-time read: United 1, Wesley 0, Wesley having by far the advantage, except in score, and play was exceedingly fast and open. Metropolitan, for a new senior team, have done well, but lack combination; still, with good blood nmongst their ranks, they should not be last on the list at the close of tho present season. Their individual play is good, specially mentioning Gayford (right full-bnckl. Tho forward lino is slow, and combined rushes are not considered, at least, not indulged in. Another point—in taking a free-hit when close on the opponents' twenty-five, It is unwise to bang hard, as the ball is certain to go over the goalline, thus causing delay by bullying

from the twenty-five yard line. Pass the ball to your partner, or across to the extreme 'wing is tho correct way of doing things.

Tho game was disappointing from a hpectator's point of view,. a great number of glaring faults being noticeable, such as obstruction, and roll in, and otftido play.

It will never do for Wellington roprepresentativo players to commence and practise the game with a visiting challenge team, and I suggest that A and B learns be picked right away, then those weak points can be rectified. The game is not played so well in Wellington just now, and with as few mistakes as in other places in New Zealand.

lMerrin gto the Wellington-Metropoli-ton match again, it must lie said that on Wellington's side Smythe (centre-half) played the game of his life. Caldow is to bo replaced by another man, I believe; lie did not assist his side: much. Wellington men are keen enough, but lack combination at times. r~am afraid they don't pull together very well, and it is doubtful if they are' as good as they wero last season. Reviewing, their last two performances, they started off with a spurt by drawing with College, and succumbed, you might say, to Metropolitan, for their score was a one goal draw, and they ohould have done better with a now team.

The Y.JI.C.A. team had a spell last Saturday—a pity too—for men only get off their game by having a bye. E! Card is away for. two weeks, and his place must bo filled.

One of the finest junior games played was between United and St. Patrick's, and Referee Sonthwick states that it was tho best exposition of hockey ever displayed here by a junior team. It speaks well for tho nevf association secretary, and also skipper of the United .team, Bennett. By the way, that player is getting nicely into the swing of hockey management, and,will doubtless he glad to see the ten representative matches off his hands, unless Wellington are defeated at the first onslaught, which, I truly believe, they will be,, unless matters assume a more scientific form; because, from present indications, we are simply asking a challenging team to kindly come and take the 6hield away, as Wellington feels too tired to bother with it. Another thoughtElliott, Dwyer, Ashbolt, and Monaghan, 1 ■ believe, now lost for future representative matches, will make a big difference to our team. !

_ It 19 to be hoped the Hockey Association issue tickets shortly for the first representative match, so that: a fair number may be sold, for it is unwise to wait until the match day. I understand that Ike Wellington Association received an official letter from Christclrarch (N.Z.H.A.) stating that they (Wellington) can make what arrangements they think fit regarding in what order the Horowhenua match is to be played. The order of representative matches to be played' was published in this column recently, and the W.H.A. are given power to arrange dates to suit themselves with challenging teams. Anyway no representative shield matches will be played until after June 3, the day set down, for a match with Manawatu at Palmerston North.

i The.,W.H.A. wrote, to Christchurch, stating that they did not propose to playany shield matches until after completion of the first round of cup matches. A reply was'received approving of. this course being .adopted. Wairarapa wrote asking for &' date, but nothing will be done until the Management Committee meets next week. -.',■■

. Approximately one round and a half will be played in the senior grade cup matches, one round in the junior, and two. rounds in the third-class .teams. Looking down the list of fixtures for the season so far arranged for. senior teams, I find that a match which should prove exciting will be Y.M.C.A. v. Victoria College to-day; and as for the other two matches—well—Karori should easily win from Wellington, Jikewise Wesley should defeat . Metropolitan. The match set down for May 21, namely, Ka'rorl v. Y.M.C.A, should be worth seeing, saying nothing.for Karori v. United on May 14. ■ . '

' Auckland and Manawatu recently opened their respective seasons by holding-., tournament—the opening day's . results . proving teat ■ hockey can be' played in .New .'Zealand—a record attendance' being the' one at Eemuera Park, Auckland, last Saturday. This park is not the best obtainable in Auckland; and; when I-last saw it, I could not imagine' hockeyites preferring 'it to the Victoria Park. However, the public turned up in thousands, a band btins'in attendance,.'and prominent citizens, also.

! I should like .to suggest* to Wellington hockeyites and enthusiasts that they move heart and soul to get the public' aroused; and show them that hockey is a first-class game to watch. It rests with the management to induce the public to' pay an entrance fee; in fact, to go the lourney to Day's Bay means another shilling, so that I hope the Basin Reserve oan bo had for representative shield matches;

I find on looking through English files Hint 4000 spectators, witnessed the eighth annual match between England and Scotlaud, played at Aberdeen early in March, the Tesult being a win for England by three goals to nil. When the paper left London, which I have just read, an English team was on the point of playing Prance, an annual match, Navy v. Army, played in England, having resulted in a win for the Navy by five goals to - one. I learn with regret the unfavourablereport in connection with the expected visit from a British team, and hope that we may yet receive another cable announcing that a team will tour New Zealand.