HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1515, 10 August 1912, Page 12

HOCKEY.

1 [By "BuLLT-orr."]

"MUDDIED OAFS AT THE GOALS." Mr. Bates, Shakespeare, and the Weather. Enrly last week Mr. Bates predicted a bad week-end, and such it. proved to be. The games, however, wero played—or rather got over—ami had tho immortal Shakespeare been alive, either i't Farori or Day's Bay, ho would have seen tho force of his lines when he said: "If all the world were playing holidays To spurt would be as tedious ae to work, But when they seldom come, they meet for come, And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents." It is the second line of the stanza that concerns us mostly.' Sporting last Saturday was far more tedious than work over was. I'or the weather was disgusting. Tho. grounds were treacherous, the rain never ceased, and tho temperature was freezing —but despite these conditions hockey was indulged in. And this leads one to ask:

"Is this not carrying otit the spirit of true sport to an over extent?" Lot those who will play the gi-.me in such weather. For tho sane ones of the earth it is nothing short of ridiculous. If we wero.asked to transact business uuder such,conditions it is morally ceitain that wo would be "righteously 'absent," but when it comes to a game, it seems that we take on a new spirit. Wo say: "Yes; let us play by all means." Well, let it be said at 'once that we have tasted enough of this weather, this season. Last Saturday should be'a lesson to the Postponement Committee of the Hockey Association. But Let Us to the Games. Wellington clashed with Victoria College on No. 1 ground, Day's Bay, and, in the muddy fight, they woro vanquished. It is very evident that College are a much bettor team in the mud than the Wellingtouians, for, twico this stason, they have triumphed easily ever them under such conditions. Wellington were strengthened by the inclusion of Harly, who played centre-half for his old club. Considering the fact that it was his first game, ho performed very creditably. Ol tho other players Reed was easily the best. Of the Collegians, the two Shacks were by far the best on tho side. In fact, Victoria College would ho lost without them. 'They were here, there, and everywhere, and, between them, were responsible for the scoring. Burbidge was an abseutee from the half-line, and he, too, mado a big difference. Of tho others, Dunn and Salek wero-the best, although Morris, in goal, stopped some good shots. College's victory now places them second in the championship—only two points behind Karori, and the Blacks will Lave to "play up" to keep their position. It was generally expected that United would defeat Metropolitan, but the game ended in a draw— i' goals each, which score is a true indication of tho play. The game does not lend itself to much description. United's forwards were the better ox the two sets, and worked hard all tho afternoon, but tho half line, with tho exception of It, Thompson, are a poor 'lot. M'Eldownoy is always a great help to them, and several tiines on Saturday extricated them. On the Metropolitan side, M'Grcgor was the star player. Both in defence and attack he was ever prominent, and, with Blackburn, played the best game. Baker also defended well, but Muldoon was sorely missed in the forwards. Karori accounted for Wesley, but by a small margin only. There is no doubt that the suburban men have gone olf since the beginning of the season, l'heir' success seemed so assured that they have taken their latter games too lightly. It is true, however, .thut they have not had their full strengtiv'for both- DaVieS and Murphy have not be«ri playing. Nevertheless they should have done better. Wesley aye to be congratulated on putting'up such a good fight. They ore always "die hards," and no matter what the score against them may be, they fight it to.the end. •- •' Our Strongest Eleven Out To-day. This afternoon all the mon'e games will be postponed on account of the representative matches. It will be a reel-letter day, for all threo grades are playing representative fixtures. The seniors are doing battle with Taranaki, and should come off victors. Mr; Organ has picked a splendid team, and, if they keep together, they should eventually hovo no difficulty in relieving Canterbury ■ o£ the shield. The' playing ot G. Struck, at "bully," and Heed, on tho right-wing, is the cause of much satisfaction—well-justi-fied satisfaction, too. The team as picked leaves nothing to be desired. It represents Wellington's strongest eleven. The junior representatives are playing Wairarapa, as also are the third grade. As theso teams are unknown quantities, the writer is not in a position to criticise tho merits or demerits of members. Shield Match Dates and Probabilities, The following dates for shield matches* have been decided upon by the New Zealand Hockey Association:— August l!2—Canterbury v. West Coast. September 7 —Canterbury v. Hawke's Bay. September 21—Canterbury v. Wellington. > The Cantabrians will have no difficulty in vanquishing the "Coasters," as the latter's play is full of energy, but devoid of science. Hawke's Bay should prove a tougher proposition, but it.would have been much better had the Wellington-Canterbury match been played first, for then, in the event of . Wellington winning, Hawke's Bay would not have been required to travel so far. On the other, hand, if tho northerners do win—Wellington have already been to Hawke's Bay—a trip down south (perhaps as far as Timaru) would have been welcomed in preference by tlio local players. Howover, it is evident that Canterbury are out after the "gate." After paying all expenses in the Auckland match they cleared i!2O, and as' they are not overburdened with money, a few shield matches would put them on a sounder footing. It is rather regrettable that Otngo ia not sending in a challenge, for hockey in the far south, is not in a very flourishing condition. It is probably, however, that Canterbury will be sending a team down early in September, So that should fan into flaming tho dull embers in the southern grate.

"The Sky is Serene," It has now been definitely decided that the ladies' tournament is to be held in. Christchurch, and as tho news has been joyously received in the "City of tho Plains, the affair should be a huge success. The matches are being played' at Sydenham Tarlf, and as this is right on the tram route—on the penny section, in, fnct—the attendances should be large. Canterbury, too, is the stronghold of ladies' hockey, so that it ie oiily meet that Christchurch should be the venue. The management of the tournament is already in the hands of tho Canterbury Ladies' Association, so when the time arrives, players enn Test assured that "the sky is serene, and tho apple tveo is in flower." Extraordinary disorders have taken pkee in Dublin following: the announcement cf tho results of tho Fellowship Examination at Trinity. College. Tho trouble began when the students to the number of pome 400 marched in procession up (iraftou Street. Tho young men attacked and held up cabs and Iramcars, and though once driven back to tho coljego precincts they broke , out again, A determined attempt to stop tho "rag" was mads by the police, who arrested two or three men. On the way to the station attempts wore miulc at rescues, which resulted in tierce melees and inoro arrests. During the riots one constable was foiled by a blow from his own baton, while other ollicws wero knocked about, and their lu-lmcts and bells carried off by the students ns spoils of wnr. After a night march from Kngshol, 33 members of the Ist Cadet Battalion of the limits Regiment arrived on !\itticdi\y, Juno IS, in Hyde- Park, tho listanco of 31 iniles having beuu covered in seven houri,