HOCKEY,

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 13

HOCKEY,

(Br "Bully-off.")

As a result of last Saturday's matches Karori are on equal tfrms with Victoria College for Senior Cup 'honours. Neither ef these two teams can claim any marked difrcreuee in form. College have shown .their strength iii attack, hut are lacking an shooting power. Oil the other hand, Karori, who, at the. 'opening of the season, were in a rather backward state, have improved considerably,"and are, in the writer's'opinion, going to worry opponents seriously. United although only three points behind have, improved, and with Ihe assistance of Hickson and Ashbolt as full-backs should have a big chance of coming out on top again, this .season. The meeting of United and ,<[varrjri. in the pre.aent and final round should prove very 'interesting!'

. Y.JI.C.A. appear to have "something up their sleeves." Judging by last Saturday's perforniane? this team may yet rejrain lo.<t ground. They are only one point behind United. •

_The unexpected happened last week when United defeated Victoria College by four goals to one. In the first round College beat United by two goals to 011 c. It may .be said, however, that the two full-backs on UnitedV side last Saturday were in good form; and this meant much. Jones was severely hurt, so aiso was Mr. Brewer, the referee, and tho College goal-keeper. During tho second spell College kept their opponents back remarkably woll. United, however,, made an occasional, break away, and increased their tally by three points in the second half. ''.

Hickson was tho best back on tho day'-,, play last Saturday. • Thompson played well, in the half-line. G. Smythe, however, was off form. Burbidge, centrehalf for College, gave a creditable account of himself. Geo.- Struck was in better form than his brother. If Beere tackled his opponent more he would show to . better advantage. D. (Smith was In grand fettle, and put in somo it-ally good work. ■

Y.M.C.A., after holding their own with Karori, should feel more contented. Paul, ■ a new man in the -ranks of' the .Y.M.C.A. team and tines-Thames representative, will improve u> time goes on. At present he is slow. Holmes and A. Parton were solid. Collie played centre'liatf on Saturday, and it is understood that he played centre-half in county matches in England for ten years. 1

Tho two wing forwards, R. Parton and Txmdcr, wore excellent. The halves played a fairly good game. Carde scored off a good opening effected by It.' Parton just at the closo of tho game. .Y.M.C.A. held the upper hand for the first fifteen minuets, Karori failing to get a look in. At this stage the backs ■of the lat--ter team appeared _to bo taken by surprise, but the finish of the first spell was of an oven nature. The second half was fairly well contested, botli teams being about 011 a jmr. Loader's first and third goals, also It. Parton's goal, were the result of fine play. L. Parton appeared to be the best half 011 the Y.M.C.A. side. Brittain, in goal, was rather weak. Daw-' son was rather below pai, mis-hitting seeming to be his chief fault. Regarding the Karori team, Davies and Hunt were the pick of tho forward rank'. Spiers, full-back, was a safe man. Campbell, in goal, appeared out of form, while Putnam was decidedly weak. Pope played a fairly good game, su also did C. Davies, right full-buck. It can safely be said that C. Campbell is equal to aiiy half in New Zealand ou a muddy ground. He played well 011 Saturday, and was easily the best of the halved. He lias, however, still a tendency to obstruct.

Wesley triumphed over Wellington by G goals to 2, and judging by their .play were apparently "out' to win," as the saying is. Jacobsen, centre half, also Dixon, "bully," both played well.

To-day the sucond of the 'representative shield matches will take place at Day's Bay. The match commences at 1.30 p.m., and in order to allow the Horowhenua players to catch the afternoon train, a special'boat for the bay v.'tll leave Wellington at 12.30 p.m., returning from the bay soon al'tci 'A p.m.

The team chosen by Air. H. V. Walton to represent - Wellington against Horov,'henna, to-day is a strong one. Tho forward line should prove very fast. Mr. Walton has seen little or no cause for altering the half line, but it is understood, however, that one player's game will bo watched. There has been considerable r'omment about th'r. hull' lino. Until liurbidge (College) and Aitken (Karori), right halves, have nlayed extremely well this season, and if a right half' is wanted there is a couple to choose from.

Atkinson, the Hawke's Bay representative forward, reckoned Nathan Smythe was a warm opponent at half. The plav of the i back division, C. Hickson (captain of the representative cloven) and llarty need not: be commented upon except to say that a more solid pair of backs would be hard to find. Morpeth, in goal, _ has also justified his inclusion.

i\h\ Walton will make known his choice for the eleven to meet Wairarapa after to-day's shield match, fie will be absent from Wellington for a short while. Last year Horowhenua met Wellington and were defeated by i goals to nil. The of centre, forward lias caiis'Hl great, trouble in local circles. .1 ono:l luis not given entire satisfaction, and L'i>« selector has been to a great amount of trouble in porting a.••'•'bully."-

He is convinced tliat it would not be advisable to substitute Beere (College) for Jones (United) who played in the Hawke's Bay match. Finally lie decided upon Geo. Struck. It is only fair to Jones to nientiou that he has been unwell for several weeks. Notwithstanding this fact Jones stuck to tile guns and did his best in the Hawke's Bay shield match. Last Saturday lie _ was knocked out of time altogether—in 'fact lie never remembered how the second spell progressed at all. He states that he never even remembered scoring a goal. Nathan Smythe (half) has also .been off his form.

Next week the writer will deal with the off-side rule.

' Tile behaviour of one of United forwards, last Saturday, requires just aword of comment. The hubbub which this nlnyer made whilst engaged against College could not have been pleasant for the others on the field, and is certainly not pleasant to write about. But we want no more of -it.