HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 12

HOCKEY.

(Bγ "Bri.LY-0n , .") Although club championship matches have proceeded but a short way, nevertheless a glance at positions is interesting. At present Karori lead with i points; then follow Victoria College 3, United i, and the remaining teams each have 1 point. Karori meet. Wesley to-day on the Karori ground, and should win by a comfortable margin. They meet College—apparently the nest strongest team—on May 27 at Bay's Bay. The writer rather fancies Karori when all is summed up. United will certainly need to give serious consideration to tho question of training. Some of the team are sadly in need of more staying power. This was proved beyond doubt when they suffered defeat at the hands of Karori on Karori ground last week. From tho outset it was a toss up, and really a chance which side would win. The 'Blacks were game follows-, and deserve credit for the way in which they met their opponents. The majority of tho United eleven are taller, and no doubt have had longer experience than Karori, but even this did not help them to the extent that one -vvoulcl have imagined. The fact seems to be that United met rnoro than their match, and, in addition to this, they were taken by surprise. It was just such a game as old players would enjoy—except for the immense amount of obstruction and "bawling Out at tho I Teferee." Why is it that old players in the Karori team persist in appealin" against and discrediting tho referee's rulings? It is also well known in Wellington hockey circles that United Seniors also I obstruct a neat deal at times. In fact

certain old members of that team hav< a very neat and quick way of causing a breach with a view to gaining a "point." Coming to tho play, certain players deservo special mention. Lower, centre-for-ward, Murphy, insido-right, Godfrey Davies, inside-left, K. Spiers, and C. Davies, right-half and full-back respectively, all played a sound game for Karori. Lewer has tremendous "go." The Knrori halves were not so good as those of United, but nevertheless they played a fair game, talcing them all through. Putnam, loft wing-forward, was very weak at times, however. Hall, right wing, hus still a tendency to get off side. The team as a whole should come out with fair honours at the close of the round, provid. ing Clitudo Campbell returns toon to assist thc;n. Jones, inside left, tired very perceptibly, and G. Smythe seemed to ding nlso towards the finish. Andrews, right-wing, is •i last and determined player with a purpose m view, and he did not lire like his confederates. Milldowney, left-full-back, Played n splendid game. Ho has, however, a weakness of turning on the ball— a conspicuous case and clear breach of the obstruction rule-but unfortunately seldom noticed by our referees. Hieksoa v»? h i l?St P "f, cci U was " ll ' cat to lii lm , cooll y an<l cleanly clear his goal-keepers , risks. Uo is (one is indined to think) a sure member for this reason s representative i-Ibvou. M'l liloVr--7' °" P"»nt lorn,, can hardly be pasl s on Jt hw, , D^' cr found Jiffioultv in irJtttu °' ho A Played a carefu auo 1 for L gan,e ' . A 'Y>™-s deserves credit ",,, ' Ua(l the desired eflect. ties 'of rof??nn C " Ver <*?,"* out «» duto examine, referees whS are a tally act m S,»f r J'""or match referees before pio win, acted in u nmnbei of byoouo senior games are entitled to senior rWlwithout submitting to the examination tst. j. his is a good move on the part of the association. Tho course lias been adopted in many centres in Now Zealand f u ''.«-ork S wo . Another matter whcll received attention was the drawing of referees for the first round. By sodSinr al reeroes receive equal consideration: her* W, rtc d that t>o prominent, memIS \ n" 1C Y m f Association hnve oftored themselves for examination, and it is hoped that others will follow suit Our northern friencfc-Auckland-iu-ariably open the season with a tournan?l ii)i a l?' ,cal ' s n °' to appeal to the local body. Aro we unprogreSMve in this city of ours or is it that success '"pin", l } undertaking is not assured? rho Collegc-Wcllington and Y.M.C.A.Wesley games last week resulted in a draw in each case. 'Hie former match ended one all and tho last-named three all. Iho first-mentioned result came as a disduct surprise. Either Wellington have 'jnilled to" considerably since playing Karori on April 29, or elso College aro falling away. Let us hope tho latter is not correct. Can a team substitute a player from amongst the spectators in the second spell? Ihis question was put to the writer by a Metropolitan player at Karon last Saturday. Certainly not, without the permission of the 'Management Committee. The two captains havo not the power to decide—that is providing the person, \yho ~is intended to replace , another- man is' not a registered member of the loam. ■ If, however, that person happened to bo a duly qualified member, ho could play in tho second spell, pnv riding both captains agreed.