HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 12

HOCKEY.

[By "Bully-off."] j CLUBS & WEEKLY CAUSERIE. Metropolitan! What is Amiss? | The sames were advanced another stage on Saturday last, despite the heavy rain, ami in two moro Saturdays tlio first round will have !>cen completed. TUo result of last week's play still leaves Karori and Victoria College leading, and it is thought bv those who are keenly interested that these teams will stay ill tho "places," but that. College will ultimablv win tho championship. Their forwards aro very soliu, then- backs arc by 110 means weak, and, taking tho team i-i-lit through, they arc decidedly strong. La~t Saturday t'hey simply romped over Metropolitan. Tho forwards had charge of the game right from tlio jump, and itis difficult indeed to individualise tlio plaviTs as all performed so well. Not so tho Metropolitan team. Metropolitan! What has overcome you? You appear to be strong, but a nine goals' defeat is something to ponder over. Suwljr this team must liavo been right "off' on Rnturdav. The only player who Showed for hi was M'Grcgor. He always dOi'S. Wellington and Karori. The •I'euiul game under review—Karori v. Wi.lliiigtiiii—.-aw the Blacks lighting hard all tins time to keep their opponents onl. Th? Bluo and Whites :..tornied tho citadel time and again—always to 110 purpose—and why? Because the three oontrc-

forwards did not "bustle" enough, and put fire into their play, Onat* in tho circle, it is a forward's duty to remember that then is his chance. His motto then should bo: "Sink or swim," "Do or die." lie should then bo "all out" and all alive. How many players do we see in the circle tapping tho ball about as though they had a week to shoot a goal in? In tho name of good goal-getting forwards, always remember that all your is required when in tho circle. Just watch tho College forwards, and take heed! But to return to the game. Although ICarori won by two goals to one, they admit that they were lucky to win at all. Their combination was not that of their opponents, but tho hitting of their backs was good, T. Spiers in particular playing a splendid game. Williams, in goal, also performed well. L. Davies plaved well at times, but was often beaten by lieid (Wellington's right-wing). Parton was the best of tho halves, whilst, in tho forwards, Murphy, M'Killop, and Strack all let the other side know that they were there. For Wellington, Morpeth defended 'well, whilst Morrah was tho bettor of Uiie fullbacks. In tho forward line Reid easily played tho best game. Bay would improve Ids utility to his sido by stopping the ball with his hands. Of tine otheT three Fauvel was most prominent, Haaso and Paul being inclined to "go slow."

"Government Life" on Up Grade. The remaining senior fixture—United v. Government Life Insurance^— was remarkable for the improved showing of tho younger club. In the closing stages of tho game they made things warm, and it took tho Red and Whites all their timo to stem their rushes. Well done, Govern; ment Life, keep pegging away! Isn't it Bacon who says: "It is not famo itself that is so noble, but tho constant toiling in pursuit of success, the sacrifices made, tho self-denial imposed—these are moro noble than famo itself." It seems a little far-fetched to drag tho old Elizabethan philosopher into hockey notes, but his words do seem to fit the case, and tho writer hopes that they have not been cited in vain.

Senior Results, The following fable shows tlio positions of the senior hockey clubs to-day:—

§ . J! al J3 S g>l d +! C B'S S S fU £ 8 of! OB o H Oft P h) ft£ ft-3 ft College 2 2 0 14 4 4 Karori 2 2 0 5 3 4 United 2 1 1 5 5 2 Metropolitan ... 2 1 1 3 10 2 Govt. Life 2 0 2 3 G 0 Wellington ... 2 0 2 5 7 0 Cliristchurch Half-Holiday and Hockey. Mention was made in this column last week of tire chango of half-holiday in Cliristchurch from Thursday to Saturday, and its influence on hockey. Since then the Cliristchurch Association has met and wisely decided to closo all tho competitions on May 31, the new order of things to commence on. June 7. This will be a decided improvement, for in Cliristchurch Thursday hockey, although now not on a par with the Saturday games, does not lag far behind, and itlioro will now bo 14 senior teams playing in place of nine as at present. Moreover efforts are bsing made with the Sydenham Football Club to get the exclusive use of Sydenham Park, thereby enabling all the senior games to bo played together. This centralisation of senior teams, is to bo heartily recommended. We have the system working splendidly here, and already Karori Park is a regular "Mecca for hockey enthusiasts. Afternoon Tea. Hero is a suggestion which if carried out would help,considerably to an afternoon's enjoyment. The lady supporters of each club could dispense afternoon tea to all senior players, as'they do for the footballers in Cliristchurch. Each club could provide tea, milk, and sugar on their respective afternoons, whilst the ladies could "bring their baskets/' This would mean that at half-time all the senior players would meet each other over "a cup of bcn/ > and it is certain that it would help to promote that feeling of good fellowship which is essential for the success of any pastime.