HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1545, 14 September 1912, Page 12

HOCKEY.

' fBY "BOLMT-OJT."] WHAT SORT OF "SELECTOR-ING"? Remarks on Club Play. Any hope of nn exciting finish for the men's senior hockey championship were banished last Saturday, when Metropolitan beat College. The latter are easily the most inconsistent team in the competition. It is to Cleave that Metropolitan, owe their. victory. Seldom lias • such goalkeeping been seen in Wellington. But not only on Saturday, but right throughout the season, this player has been so consistent that he easily deserves a position in tho representative team. "BullyOil'" has advocated this player's inclusion before, and it is interesting to know .that at last he is being given a trial iu the match on Saturday. . The' other two players who shone out in this match were Baker nnd M'Gregor, whose defence was superb. . . On No. 3 ground, Uay's I'-ay, Wellington conquered Wesley. It is well-nigh two years sinco the Blue and Whites have triumphed, but this they did on Saturday with no uncertain sound. At all times in the game they appeared confident, and their win was thoioughly, deserved. Their victory places thorn third on the championship ladder, a position which indicates their true value. The other senior game, I'arori v. Government Insurance, calls for scant comment. When the Blacks excited thenf'selves they easily predominated. Now that the senior championship haa practically finished, we can fix our attention on the shield .prospects. The holders have just defeated Hawke's Bay by oiie goal to nothing, nnd, 'according .to southern accounts, the match was a close call. It was-well into tho second spell before Throp dispelled Canterbury's fear, and it now only remains for .Wellington to bring the shield back again.

The "Selectoring"— Exemplum Horridum. In previous years the association hud the services of Mr. H. V. Walton, who discharged his duties admirably. But this cannot be said of the present selector, Mr. W. J. Organ. Tor several Saturdays past ho has been, playing for his club (United) when he should have . been watching the games. Had te wanted to assist his club he should have obtained two co-ordinates to. assist him, but this ho has not done. And whilst it is Lot "Bully-Off's" intention to cause discontent, Mr. Organ has sadly failed in his duty as selector. * In,the Scriptures we Tend: "No man can serve two masters," etc. Mr. Organ, however, has been endeavouring to do it. ■ Mr. Organ has not fulfilled his duty well, and here are reasons for saying so:—The best goal-keeper Wellington possesses is Cleave, of the Metropolitan team and here ho is resurrected at the last moment. After watching his display last Saturday one can say: "Mb man ever played as this man plays." In the comin» representative team he should certainly be included. Then we have M'Giegor, Without a doubt the finest centre-half in Wellington who has worthily earned a position. Again C. Davies, on the season's form, is superior to M'Eldowney. And then, why ever should Boyd be picked fof the A team? At best he is only a moderate senior player. It is true" Hint he is young, but G. Davies is so immeasurably superior that it is hard to see why Mr. Organ has included Boyd at all. What has he done to merit a position? • . Ereryouo has a whole-hearted desiro to see our eleven bring back the shield but one believes thai this can only be done by putting our strongest team in' the field, i and after deliberate consideration the writer, cannot help inclining to the following:— Goal-keeper, Cleave; left-back, C. Davies; right-back. Baker; left-half, Thompson; centre-half, M'Gregorj right-half, l'arton; wing forward, Loader; left-in-side, G. Davics; "bully," G. Strack; rightinside, C. Strack; right wing, Keitl.

Ladies' Hockey Tournament. The annual ladies' tourney is now in fall swing, and judging by accounts, the play is "full of incident.' Unfortunately the telegraphic messages do not make that "incident" very clear. The outstanding feature of the tournament is tho failure of last year's champion—Nelson. Their play .this year seems all too patchy, and there seems a general lack of life in their work. Hawke's Bay, on the other hand, are playing wonderfully well and at the time of writing have a strong In. their section, their wins include good victories over Wellington, Canterbury, and Auckland. It will not be surprising to see tho Hawke's Bay ladies win the championship. Both the Canterbury teams are playing well. Wairarapa, Olago, Wangahui, and Poverty Bay have done fairly well, and Auckland are renii'diicii'if "soiup of their old form. Tiv« Wellington ladies have.two good wins and one bad defeat again them, but are playing well together. From all accounts Mioses M'Dnnnell. Tinney. Doment. and karris appear lo be the most, conspicuous. The went her has interfered with Iho play somewhat and has necessitated the leaving "f f-ovoral Fames ill SI. Alb.ui's Park," which although much drier than the Sydenham ground .is noted for the length of Hip *ra?s. This hns militated against good ploy. Tho AVest Coast girls have not scored, so far, but should do so before Ihe tourney closes. Physically they arc very firm and robust, but they lack (hat scientific knowledge of gentle playing which counts for so much. . . It is yet early In predict the winners, but Ha'wkc's Bny, Wellington, Wnirnrapa. nnd Canterbury A will be within striking distance when the bell sounds for the last lap. Hats Off to Mrs. Maddison. Evidently'the hockey girl, nnd the hnckev woman too, play with much vigour— for do wo not read that Mrs. Marltlisnn "broke clean away." "nutclnssod the defence," "=corfd a beautiful goal." etc., -•Mrp. Maddison must be o real L "noer."