HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 888, 6 August 1910, Page 12

HOCKEY.

(Bt "Btfiw-orr.")

To-day is ail important one for hockef enthusiasts in and out of Wellington. It is the occasion on which Canterbury will endeavour to wrest the shield from Wellington: There will also bo a ; ladies' match by way of a "curtain-raiser. The shield game will without doubt be ex--tremely fast and exciting, and a very hard 'matter it would bo for anyono to attempt to . forecast the result. Canterbury have brought their strongest eleven ti Wellington, and the captain and manager of the southern team have expressed their opinion that Canterbury are "after tho shield." , Canterbury people have boomed hockey a good deal of late, and with 600 players participating ■in the game, the southern association should be able to place a hot eleven on the'field. Th° manager, Mr. J. Burgess, has stated that Canterbury > forward and half line is an exceptionally good one—the best that was ever got tonether to represent Canterbury, while th« present team, now in Wellington, is tho strongest that ever left Canterbury. . Judging from these remark, it would appear that Wellington have a fairly warm proposition to face to-day. Luxton, in-goal, is a very sound man. He has been given preference over Bellamy; the latter' being considered Canterbury s best goalkeeper, until Luxton caught the selectors' eyes. Luxton has won hi 3 place in the representative team on very solid grounds. With tho exception■ of one man, who has a slight ,001 a,' the members of the Canterbury team are in good fettle. They journeyed across to th» Bay yesterday, and had a little exercise, just to keep themselves fit. Tbe writer, . however, has good hope, of WMngtoni chahco of success,- this hope being ba4d on the consideration that Canterbury will be playing on strange fc'-Oimd and in a strange place. This appears to be Wellington's sheet anchor. . A. word regarding last Saturday s trial match. Tliere are two opinions, as of course there must always be .m such matters, as to the.wisdom of putting. Leo Davies in-goal in place of Morpeth. Morpetlx has played so well nil through that it seems a little strange that he should be dropped at this stage, though, of course, it must ho w milted that Davies also is good : Ashbolt has proved his capabilities ■as a full-back, anu with tho assistance of his old partner Hickson should try tho strength of Canterbury 3 attack considerably. Both Ashbolt ana liarty are deserving of representative honours, but apparently (nnd quite right too), Ashbolt has been given preference owing to his past career as a representative full-back. ; G. Davies cannot play owing to his leg having been hurt recently, and C. Strack will take his place. The last-named made a splendid showing during the Wairarapa match. His- presence, and that of his brother George, should tend to make the Wellington forward line a very strong one. ' Regarding tho halves. It was anticipated that Dan-son, would justify his inclusion in the A team last. Saturday. As it was, Dawson seemed sluggish, and the selector decided to give Ihompson (United) a place in the shield eleven toboats leave for . Day's Bay at 1,15' p.m., and 2.30 p.m.