HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 876, 23 July 1910, Page 12

HOCKEY.

(Bγ "Bully-off.")

The final stages of the cup fixtures will be interesting, as both Karori and Victoria College are running almost neck 10 neck for honours. United were disposed of last Saturday by Karon with a onepoint margin. The scoring was small, a tact which indicates that the game was strenuously {ought. During the early, part of the senond spell United were placed in an awkward position, which necessitated their conceding a couple of corners. I'ope secured a good goal lroui a pass by Davies, and this stimulated Karori, the second goal being notched by Davies. Davius, Hunt, mid Murphy were very successful with the short rreat passes. This point will assist the AVelliußtun teams as a wholf-. Karori deserved their win. They hav« fought Unite.l on many occasiuiis, and invariably the latter' have in the pust been l'uvonred with extraordinary luck; but on this last occasion the luck turned. Victoria Uollego made short work of Y.M.C.A. It was u groat pity that a College plttyer ill shooting Hie first goal guvo "sticks," thus preventing his point from being allowed. Bogle, for College, whs Hell rewarded during the second spell. Smith bus proved himsulf on tho field, and sußKccilcil in notching two puiin.s. Metropolitan have done remarkably well for a new i-i/niur teuin by drawing with Wellington in the second round. The second spell brought Metropolitan out of their shell, they having tccurwl two goals. At the end of the iirst spell Wellington had .secured a lead of two points to nil, and the finish of the game s;iw two goals piled on in favour of Metropolitan per medium of the handy work effected by hitching and Hall. Regarding to-day's representative matches. Given fine weather a large crowd will doubtless, journey to the bay to witness the events. It is a splendid idea on the jiart of those responsible iu have tho curtam-rulser between Waiinrapa aud Wellington junior teams. The local eleven for the big shield match today is strong, and being (with one exception) the same eleven as that which played against llorowheunc, on Saturday week last, it should give Wairarapa a hot run for the winning goals. Not much is known regarding , the possiblo strength of the visiting team, but it is too eerlous it mutter lor Wellington tu run any risk, and it is to be hoped that every man will be up to form. In view of the fact that Canterbury will be playing against the present shield holders on August (i, the local representatives must keep in constant training, as Canterbury uro right ulloithat shield. "Bully-off" has it from a good quarter that the Canterbury eleven will be a strong side. However," coming off the boat aud playing immediately afterwards on the same 1 , day, as Canterbury are ulraost certain to do, will not be in the southerners' favour. Thu Christchuroh grounds are not sn (ast as Day's Day grounds eithm. Obstruetiou has .unfortunately been adopted by certuin representative players m AVcllington ns part of their tactics, to a very large extent, and unless this bad breach, of the rules is not treated more seriously by referees it will have a detrimental effect on the gumn. Thero is nothing so glaring us obstruction, and yet it seems to be the least noticed of any breach. Why is it? What could be worse than for the shield holders to show such indifference of the laws and-spirit of the game, especially when representative matches are being played? . T1, m,!, n110 , wi ,', ,g is ari mtT nrt from Rule 12:— lho ball may be caught, but must lin immediately released to fall perpendicularly to the ground, or stopped .but may not he picked up, carried, kicked, thrown, or knocked on or back, ewrat with the stick. There shall be 'no play with tho rounded back of the stick, no charging, kicking, shoving, shinning tripping, personal handling, or hooking Hooking sticks is allowed only when the stick hooked is within striking distance of the ball. There shall be no slrikinsi at sticks." The next point is important—"A player may not obstruct by running in betweim hJs opponent and the ball noi cross his opponent's left, unless he touches the ball before, his opponent's person or stick, nor may h<! in anv wsj interpose himself as an olmfrmilton '' The last pltrase oovers many forma of obstruction. Players themselves know full well when they commit a breach by obstructing, but usually the player is so quick that, only capable referee* notice the breach. Nevertheless, there it is, and it behoves the local Referee;' Association to drum the obstruction rule and the possible consequences from obstructing into the ears of every referee in Wellington. The writer cannot resist the opinion that a referee is practically employed coaching during the progress of a gaiue Many players—including a large percentage of senior men—do not understand the game of hockey satisfactorily. In Hawkes Bay every referee is required to pass a test, und he must bo successful beforo • his namo is added to the list of capable referees. The question will •be raised that in Wellington the clubs arc umler an obligation to referees. Very well then, the clubs should set about and rectify the matter by assisting to raise moro referees. Let it not lip said that Wellington teams could not play because no referee was available, even though such is the eai-o with other field sports.