HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1443, 18 May 1912, Page 12

HOCKEY.

[By Juno.] ONLY PAYERS AS PLAYERS? Small Fly in tho Ointment. Our control has begun its season's labours well. It has been fortuuato in its sele-ction of Mr. C. N. Catliio to fill the chairmanship so ably occupied by Mr. W. J. Organ. Bulr-yes, there is a "but," and a big one. It sceiiis to "Juno" fliat officers, not elected at tho annual meeting of delegales, and net tho direct representatives of tho affiliated clubs, play too strong a hand on tho committee. What fullows from this is natural enough—on many questions the committee's views do not harmonise with those of the players. Payers and Players, The sole selector, Mr. W. J. Organ, is' at present engaged on the task of finding a team to undertake tho northern tour, long overdue. Ho is somewhat hampered in his selection by the association's illconsidered decision not to assist the players financially. Perforce, therefore, Mr. Organ must choose from thoso who can pay, rather than from thoso who can play. The result of a selection conducted on these lines will prove disappointing to our northern friends. They, at least, nave always made a strong point of whole-hearted financial support to their representatives. So doing, they have been able to send (heir best.

The Auckland representative team, which is to meet Wellington on June 1, will be weakened by the absonco of two playera who did 60 well on the local ground last year. The reference is to J.

Baker, right full-back, and H. O. Welham, the dashing right-wing, who pierced sucli holes in tho local defenco. Tho Wellington representative team and the Metropolitan Club team aro unfortunate in Bakar'6 departure for the country. Positions of tho Teams. Tho season is now sufficiently far advanced to make a table showing the positions of the senior teams interesting. They are as follow:— - « £ & i . i r„ t a +1 < ~ . d o W S 3 C 3' C 3 If, Karon 2 2 0 0 7 1 4 Metropolitan ... 2 2 0 0 9 2 4 United !) 1 1 1 11 G 3 Wellington 3 1118 5 3 Coliego 2 110 17 2 Wesley 3 1 2 0 4 13 2 Government Life 3 0 3 0 2 11 0 College-United. Broadest feature of the CollegeUnited gamo was the fact that the former had all tho better of the first spell, while United held tho upper hand in the second half. Right through, tho play was good to watch, and several pieces of attrnctivo passing flashed meteor-wise through it. Coliego owed their sueoess in the first spell to tho passing of .tho forwards, -,*ho played unselhshly—a contrast to their weak display on .the previous Saturday. The second spell, however, saw a change in their tactics. Tho Sirack brothers resorted to short passing, which they would have do no well to avoid after tho succcss of tho long passing earlier in the game. Beere, at centre, and Griffiths, inside-right, combined woll at times, but, towardß the end of tho game, Bcere in particular had littlo diwli imd was responsible for raejiyJ of the penalty shots which were given "against his team. Dunn could fill his plaoe better. Ho has an oxoollent rsoord as a "shot." Salek played an improved game, but he will never make a sucoeesful right: wing.

The College half lino was cot too certain. Dunn played with greater confidence than ha showed, in his previous display. Ho did really good work nt times, but appears somewhat new to the position yet. JSarbidffO was not at his best, and the same can be said of Rowntree. Both were unreliable in tho second half.

Gaze was the better of tho full-backs. Tho left back was making his debut as a senior player, and showed good promise. He is just on the light side—a remark which applies to most of the College backs.

Mouce, in-goal, made some good savos, but his display was discounted by allowing United a very easy goal, which he should liavo had no difficulty in stopping.

United were unlucky not to ivin. In the second spell they played with rare dash—a marked contrast to their lethargic display in tho lir-St spell. They fairly bosic-ged the College goal, many shots missing the goal by the thickness of a shaving. Boyd was particularly unlucky with his shots, no fewer than three hitting tho post. Andrews played the best game for United. Ho is a splendid centre-forward, and tho writer -would choose him before G. Strack for this position in tho representative team. Strack would be better placed at inside-right. Sniythe,. who was out to fill a vacancy, Collins, and Burch fairly rovelled in the forward rushes of the second spell. Tho United halves were weak, we Thompson brothers particularly so. It. Thompson will require to impruvo if lie is to retain his position in the representative team. M'Eldownev played a very safe game at full-back. He is just rather uiow in getting his hit in, and, had the College for-

wards tackled him more instead r.f waiting for him to get in his stroke, there might have been a different tale to tell, Miller played a safe game at right full-back. Dwyer, iu-goal, was not too certain. He lacks the confidence which he was wont to have in former seasons. "Guv'ment Life." Government Life Insurance is a young team, and need not feel discouraged at the severe beating which they received at tho hands of Wellington. When one considers their restricted membership, it ie surprising that they aro able to place a senior and a junior- team in tho field. Wellington on tho other hand are n, much improved team, and are not as weak as yras thought at the beginning of the seas.in. Motropolitnn-Wesley. The Metropolitan-Wesley game, played on No. 3, Day's Bay, saw tho promoted juniors in a very favourable light. With a powerful back division, headed by Baker and M'Gregor, their forwards naturally had more opportunities of displaying their ability than the sporting Blues, and tcok full advantage of them. Stil! Wesley is a team with distinct possibilities, and ;ny success that may happen their way this season will be fully merited.