HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 846, 18 June 1910, Page 12

HOCKEY.

1 (Bt "BnxLT-OFrl")

Now that the first round of -fixtures has been completed, it is interesting to turn attention to the shield matches. The first of the'. shield work will be shown to-day in the match A versus B team at Day's Bay, and doubtless a number will make the trip to see this fixture. Mr. Walton, as selector, has chosen a roally good team for the A side, and, with a couple of exceptions, his selection cannot be seriously criticised. In regard to Frank Ashbolt (B team), this player only returned from across the water a week ago, and played last Saturday for tho first time this season. In view of the very fair exhibition of hockey given then, it was thought advisable to include him in to-day's B team. It will be a' hard matter- to get a better left full-back .in Wellington than Ashbolt,' Ho is rather on file big side at prewnt, but, with a little practice, will soon lose the surplus weight. The position of goalkeeper is causing a little concern. Morpeth (Wellington) held this position at Palmerston North on lung's Birthday in the representative match against llauawatu. Yet the selector has soen fit to put Leo Davies, of the Karori Club, into Morpeth's .place. It is true that Morpeth. was never called upon to hit the ball once at Palnierston, but, if ho was picked for the Maiiawatu match why is he not even included in, say, the B team to-day? Referring to the B team as chosen for to-day, it will.be noticed.that seven of the players selected are Victoria College men. This say 9 a good deal for the club one would- imagine. The selector's idea evidently was to have good combination, and the forward lino should prove strong with such men. a,s the Strack Bros, included therein. It is quite certain that every player caunot bo given a place in tho team for next Saturday. It is suggested from ono quarter (Victoria College) should be given tho position of centro-half, and that C. Camphell (Karori) should be transferred from centre to left-half. The latter is suited for either position. It is stated on good authority that Campbell would bo more roliable and would feed the forwards better than N. Smyth*.' Lodder (Y.M.C.A.) left-wing has cvidentlv failed to catch tho selector's eye. He is' not chosen for either to-day s A or B team, still it would never do to separate the two Slrackj, iiuil it is questionable whether Lodder is a better man than G. Smythe on the left-wing. Howover probably the selector will make certain changes from lime to. time as the shield matches fall due and all the good representative men will then be given a It is'reported that the secretary of the Ladies' Hockey Association is making arrangements for a curtain-raiser to tlio Hawke's Bay shield match next Saturday. It is proposed that a team repre■■eiitin" Wellington ladies' senior teams should play thu Wairarapa girls. Miss Kellaway, who is very enthusiastic and energetic, is to be congratulated on .this effort. The match will be interesting, and should attract a number of spectators to the bay. Regarding the "roll in" ruin, "Bullyoff" has had brought under his notice the following question :~"Can a player, after rolling in the ball, run in and place his stick motionless a few feet away from the ball in order to stop tlio op. poiicnts shot?" The ball, it may bo mentioned, is only rolled in a few feet, and it does not cross over tho 5-yard line; that is..to say, the ball goes, eay, half

way in between the outer chalk line and the inside line. Tho player who rolls in finds that his men aro too far off to take the roll in, and therefore the "rol-ler-in," after taking the roll in,' immediately rushes in and places his stick afoot or two from tho ball. The' answer is as follows:—The rule does not contain anything expressly prohibiting this sort of quick and cunning play. It simply states that a player must not cross tho line until the ball has passed over tho side line; nor can .that player touch tho ball again until another player has struck tho ball. Therefore, no infringement would be madeif tho rollei-iii did n 9 abov, stated. Last Saturday's matches provided some interesting finishes. United are fourth" down in order of points, and have only got themselves to thank for their present position. One of their old players, Bay, was put aside for a new man, various other disastrous mistakes have been made by the method adopted in continually changing the men and the team Roiisrally. Ouo would believe that the United skipper had lost confidence ia some of tho men that played in the first game or two this season. It is curious to note tho following: Hollis and Owens were tried for a while and dropped. Cameron and Brotherton have been installed, ifi < jF°PP <!d asi <io last Saturday, and Asliholt is-reinstated. Weybourne.- ia wisted from full-bnck to goal. Jones was tried as centre-forward, and, last Saturday, i&irkett (ex-United player two years igo) was tried in his* place. Brotherton ! m< i o ™ e , up from the junior ranks. ExIcy, left-halt was reinstated this season alter having had a spell up north. Thus it is readily seen that a considerable' amonnt of changing has been adopted, andl very posaiblj this alone has caused 1 United s luck to turn. Had the eleven men which commenced tho season been allowed to continue right through, more • goals would have been, scored in UnitedV favour. '"■•cue Weybonrne, in goal, was somewhat off c ?s°¥ ast Satnr day, and Wellington, should have secured, several more-goals It seems a pity that, after penetratine tho opposing baoks, a team should lose opportunities through bad shooting. To. wards the end of tho game last Sateday Organ mado a few hot sprints; so also did tho Wellington forwards; but, either . through bad light or lack . of dash, many-chances were simply thrown, away. Weybourne made openings which were not taken up seriously. Wellington played a good defensive game. The improvement in this club's senior, team is very creditable. ■ • I S aro i i i, who are running neck to neck with College for first place, had a bya last. Saturday. No donot this team will give College a strenuous- match, in the second round. ■ Y.M.C.A. have at last put on a spurt, and are happily third on the list according to actual wins. United and Y.M.C.A, each have six points, hut the latter have had anestra win, as against TJnited's two drawn games. . One of the Wesley players was warned last Saturday for disputing the referee's decision. The player in question feels harshly dealt with;-but there can only bo one in charge "of. a game,, and ho the referee. If a player has a grievance let him bring it properly before the association. Keniarks on the field are simply fatuous. Last Saturday in the United v. Wellington match a great deal of noise and; coaching were indulged in towards tha finish of this/game. Referring ' back to ' the Wesley r. Y.M.C.A. match. Keall, for Wseley, was very good. Keys'got in a rather . quick and decisive shot also. . Carde and Lodder showed some fast work, especially the former. They are, indeed, a lightning pair, Vut Carde is still weak in the circle. On the whole, however, he is perhaps the most sudden forward in Wellington now, and but for weakness ia the circle would have caught the selectors' eye. - Victoria College were head and shoulders better than their opponents Metropolitan as regards combination. There is plenty of dash amongst the Metro' politan forwards, but the whole team strike one as being very inexperienced. M'Kenzie/left wing, should keep further up field in readiness for a long pass. The back division ou the- Metropolitan side impressed "Bully-off" most. Gayfordand Wrigley played a good eame, and likewise Etching and Hall. The two Stracks and Beere were frequently "held up"' by Gayford and his partner.- Bwro seemed slightly off form, hut G«o. Strack and his brother, also Burbidge, seemed, up to their usual form. ' ■ , It is hoped the match on Saturday next will be witnessed by the Prime Minister, the Mayor, and other prominent personages, as it is understood that the hockey managers are endeavouring to arrange for their patronage. It is understood that the Basin Reserve will be available for the match' against Auckland on , September 3, bul that most of the other matches :will have to be.decided at Day's Bay.