HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 12

HOCKEY.

(Bt "BonT-OFr.")

.The shield event last Saturday was a notable one, in as miicli as tho de- , fenders (Wellington) met a surprise packet, so to speak. /Tho local team were no doubt over confident, as\rumour had gone the rounds that the visiting eleven would have little chance' of success. However, the Wanganui team's form as a whole, and the defence put up by tho visitors rather surprised the Wellington team. ■ ■ Tho gamo was not. so good as that against fl.awke's Bay. The Wellington forwards are a fast lot, but they did not combine so brilliantly as on former occasions, and they also had a tendency to-be selfish. In other words, individual distinction appeared to be tho chief object in'view. During tho second spell, however; there ■ were a few combined rashes. That tho work of Loaded (out-side-left) unil. G. and C. Strack (centre and insiUe-left respectively) is worthy of commendatory mention there is no doubt. Parton (outside-right) has played better games. Smith played a very fair game. . , • ,

The first spell was pah'hv for the first fifteen minutes. The Wellington half line was weak on tho wings,' but Campbell played ti splendid game. Thompson (left-half) played fairly well; a triflp too hard with iiis drive at limes, though. Hickson, right-full-back, was cheered time and again for his clever and prompt saving. It is a treat to watch Hicksonplay. Harty also gave an excellent account of himself. The full-backs oi< Wellington's side did .excellent work. L. Davies, in goal, cannot be blamed for tho goal secured by Wanganui, as in that instance it would have been almost an impossibility to check the flight of the ball into the net. Good back play on tho part of Wanganui prevented a heavier score. Cava was splendid as ' left-full-back, and tho local right-wing-forwards were unable, on many occasions, to pass him. Uu \*us a veritable "stone wall." Marshall (goal-kecpuij effected some wonderful saves, which earned the aijplause of the spectators. He has, however, a peculiar way of defending his goal. Squatting on tho ball; or lying down, and scraping his stick over the turf, seems a curious way of staving off an • attack. Tho practice is decidedly dangerous. . At times Wellington fairly swarmed around Marshall' in goal, and not in-' frequently did Cave effect'the necessary save. B. Basselt (right-half) and B. V. bpoar- (centre-half) played meritorious games. J. ho forwards appeared less experienced than Wellington. A. Andrews (right-wing) scored a neat goal from a iairly long shot. J. Solcr (contre-foi-ward) and H. Naylor (outside-left) were the best of tho AVnngamii forward line. On the whole, the,game was well eontested. Tho writer, however, is not very confident ns to Wellington's chanco against Auckland, as a number of our players are erratic. With five exceptions it is rather a gnmblo to place absolute confidence in • the team all round. If Mr. _Walton desires Wellington to defeat tho northern province he will have to keep a very close cyo on.the two team? which arc engaged in tho trial match today. .

Wollington will, however, havo one advantage—a ground like a billiard-table, and one which they are quite used tn playing mi. Tut them ouU'ho Basin or Duppa Street Park and the "game's up." (The two trial matches which will be played prior to meeting Auckland should materially benefit the fiiiallyselectcd team. What was tho matter with tho two centre-forwards last Saturday? Their "bullying-off" was something out of tho ordinary. The referee (Mr. Walton) acted moro as a "coach" than ns an arbiter during the game, for he was constantly whistling for ' infringements—breaches that surely were inexcusable among representative players. Every credit is due to Mr; Walton for the thoroughly prompt and impartial manner in which he carried out his duties. The writer desires to mention a fact which is occupying nearly every player's attention at present, and that is the somewhat peculiar policy adopted by tho Management Committee in stopping club fixtures because of representative matches. "Bully-Off" has it from quito a number that hockey players have Inst heart this season in consequence of tho many occasions upon which club matches have been cancelled.