HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1533, 31 August 1912, Page 12

HOCKEY.

[By "Bully-off."]

WHEN THE SLEEPERS WAKE, "What ails thee? Or where lies thy grief? Or what good act may I perform for thee? Hockey is sick. Of that, as the Grand Inquisitor says in "Tho Gondoliers," there is no doubt. But where is ho who can diagnose the complaint? The patient Moms healthy, the financial pulse beats well, so where is tho disease? Is it bocauso we have lost tho shield and are spoiling for the fray? This may bo tho reason, and, if so, it is consoling to think that a good team will soon be dispatched on the errand to bring it back. Bjit, in tho meantime—what? Could we not infuse 'somo lifo into our weekly play, and let tho bellows of enthusiasm puff out their wind to fill tho sails? One lias no wish to don sackcloth and ashes and weep. Au contrairo, as they say in Franco, let ua be merry and bright, but in the name of the Golden Goddess of Effort, let thoro be more enthusiasm. Give us a Tournament, a Dance, a sports Gathering. Is it a big country tournament wo want? There are players in Levin, Otaki, Carterton, Paimorston, Hasterton, who would welcomo a tourney of some description; ond so, supposing that wo had half a dozen country teams each playing representatives of the combined clubs—two senior, two junior, -and two third grade—would not this help to charm Old Effort back on to pur fields again? Then, too, we might' join in with the Ladies' Association, and hold an annual dance in, say, the Town Hall. What a success such a function would be! And it would pay. Socially and financially it would pay. Also, why oould we not hold a sports gathering at tho conclusion of the reason? Let us imagine a big field at Karori, with athletic events of cvefy description—a fote where bon camaraderie happened to bo tho feature, and good sporting rivalry existed. Surely the secretaries of the various olubs could put their beads together and devise something of the kind. Wo all feel that tho sport is in the doldrums. Whore is the wind that will carry us out? Hockeyites will perhaps wonder why we have pitched our fork in this hay. Tho reason is this: Quite a number of old players and referees have noticed tho look of real interest in the pastime lately. They want this to right itself, and there «oems to be no better way than by carrying out one or more of the foregoing schemes.; That such .would meet with approval is certain enough, but what we want is somebody to .turn on tho steam— and then tho locomotive "of Apathy would surely move. And Christchurch Sleeps, Too! In this state, into which wo have fallen, it is a solace to know we aro not alone. The following from tho "Weekly Press" ■ draws a sufficient picture of Saturday boclcey in Christchurch:—■ "It has been suggested that, all the first grade gamos should be abandoned in order to allow the players to witness the game between the two leading teams, and as none of, the other teams have a chance in tho competition, the suggestion should appeal to all concerned." And then, referring to the junior grade, the paper says:—"ln the junior grado Selwyn Street have practically won tho competition, so that it could now bo closed." And yet again in the same column, referring to the fourtli grade'competition, it is stated:—"ln the fourth grade Selwyn Street have such a substantial lead that tto competition could bo closed at any time.", The outstanding feature 6eems to bo that because the winners of the various competitions are nearly assured of victory, the remaining teams' should forego their matches. Is tliere no interest in fighting for second place? No more Honour in coming third than fourth ? And no conspicuous gallantry in winning the "wooden spoon"? Comment on the Club Games, The Wellington senior competitions advanced another stage on Saturday. The games resulted as expected, except that United's margin.of victory over Government Life Insurance was not a largo one. Tho best gatno of tho day was the Ka-rori-Metropolitan encounter, and tho outstanding feature of it was tho play of Jl'Gregor. His fielding, hitting, and judgment could not have been surpassed, and it rather seems that it will bo difficult to leave him out of tho team which is to go in quest of the shield. G. Davies was again playing for liis old club, and showed that his old dash. is still there. R. Pavton played wing-forward in place of Loader, and acquitted himself well. Lcwer (from the juniors) worked hard at "bully," and M'lCillop and Henderson were satisfactory. All tho half-line played well, and tho .Davies men, at full-back, defended with judgment. Williams, in-goal, had littlo Metropolitan missed Cleave in-goal, who might have stopped one or two shots that found tho net. Positions of the Senior Teams. Tho following table shows the positions of tho teams in the senior competition:— v J ■ is I" | IB ° z* fi i 3 D Pi O a n. Karori 10 !) 1 0 35 11 13 College a 7 2 0 42 17 14 United l 5 5 3 2 38 20 12 Wellington 9 i 3 2 20 29 10 Metropolitan 11 3 G 2 2!) 31 8 Weslev 10 2 G 2 8 35 fi Govt.'Life ... 9 0 9 0 7 34 0 Sheer Gossip—On Oit. Porter of the Wellington senior eleven is shortly to join tho Benedicts. Loader is resting his leg in view of tho College match. Metropolitan sorely miss Baker and Cleave from their ranks." Somo critics aro dealing too severely with lieere, of tho College team. _ Tho wing-forward position suits Pi. Parton mucli better than wing-half.

Mr. Lucfcio docs not ouitc ploaso everybody with his oIT-sido rulings. Government Lifo Insurance are now playing moro with tlicir sticks tlinn their tongues. Canterbury aro very confident of reta.iniiir.' tho" shield. We, however, are sanguine of bringing it back again. Tho Victoria Collcffe-Karori fixture should bo worth seeing. An examination for thoso wishing to qualify as referees will bo held in Dr. •Morpeth's rooms on. Friday week, at 7.30 p.m.