HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1764, 31 May 1913, Page 12

HOCKEY.

fßi "BuLi/r-OFr."] COMPLETE SUMMARY OF WEEK. Hope Not Dead With Karorl. Ivarori aro going to change the disposition of their team for to-day. Their last defeat—that by Insurance —was not among (heir calculations, and now tho thinkers of the club aro considering tho hard fact of two defeats. They intend, from tu-day, to endeavour to gather back some of the prestige that belonged to them in previous seasons. ... Tho state of tho ground in the circles at No. 3 was perhaps partly responsible for their last downfall, but one has always to think of Insurance in this jnntt-.;r, for this team was as often contesting these c[uarters as tho one-timo champions. A level area round the goal has always been a factor in Karori's victories, their front attacking lino—G. Davies especially-al-ways adopting tho short, sharp dribble luforo the culminating goal shot is let loose. . ~ Insurance have been on the improve every game, and, as a fair criticism, they quite deserved their win. Their backs were better organised, and, apart from a little crowding-in amonp their frontrankers, their attacking line seemed to bo quite a capable one. Insurance is only a young team in experience and tho coaching which it is getting from Hunter seems to bo brightening up the tactics of the players each Saturday. Hunter is playing himself as goalkeeper, and can keep liis eye on anything that wants improving;. Tho weaknesses are pointed out during tho week. Ono word to Insurance: Training is the thing!

College, Cricket Scores, and Form. Seventeen goals—two games! Good record College! More big figures from you unless your opponents can hand out something better than they have been giving. Tlio cloven green-jacketed, athletes who romped round No. 1 at Karori on Saturday were trained men, and men that train will win out every time. United, their rivals on tho day, showed flashes of play which, introduced consistently, would bring tliem out winners nioro frequently. Ono has always something to say about a losing team, and, on Saturday's play, lack of cohesion is a charge which can, very fairly, bo levelled at the lted and Whites.

A Word on "Sticki." An all-round improvement in Metropolitan's play meant defeat for Wellington. The latter' team has however played better games. For ono thing, the finesse that one has been accustomed to expect from their operations was missing. It was merely ft "whang" with them, and tho "whang," on many occasions, meant the infringement rulo being enforced. 110 frequent giving of "sticks' reduces the interest iu a game, and invariably handicaps the offending team. On the other hand, "Mets." introduced quite different tactics. Careful play was their stvle, and their combination, both behind and in front, was creditable.

Great Dose of Shield Matches. Southland, Hawke's Bay, Otago, and Auckland have challenges in tor tho shield. If Wellington can survive all tlieso matches and aro still ahead for those to follow, players who are unfor-' tuuiitc enough not to cutoli tuo sGlcotoi s eyo will have a lot of looking-on in store for them. The local association is perturbed at the likely sacrifice of club buturdays for the shield games, and is moving to have tho number ot challenges limited. 1 Some Players Up for Mention. Duncan (lvarori) was an improvement iu his now position on Saturday. lie was 011 his last trial and camo out well. 0. jjavies's nippy play illumined tho dull showing by the Karon attackers on Saturday. Although' he hail played only two games this season (being down with an illness) Davies is the same Davies whom one knew of previous seasons. Iho Karori attack would lie hopelessly weak without him.- ' ■ .The Karori right-half was outclassed. 110 has been promoted from tho juniors, t>ut lacks that experience essential in senior play. '■ . Brooker is. a ' plugger. He took Murphy's plr.ee on Saturday, and did well. ' ~ Congratulations to Claudo Campbell on his recovery. He played his first game for the Blacks this season on Saturday, and was the best back in the match. Hunter and Cleave aro the only two hied players in the Insurants team. Tho former's "keeping" ton Saturday was really good. . Cleave, although playing a good game, was inclined to roam away out of his The Insurance centre-half (Williani9) was prominent at all times. He had somothing heavy in the_ task of marking Campbell, but his showing was sound. The old fault of wandering in and cramping the play was noticeable among the Insurance backs. On his showing in the Metropolitan team, Pullyn seems likely to get his cap this season. M'Gregor ij still as dependable as ever. One of his scoring shots on Saturday puzzled Morpeth sorely. Morpeth kept his place for once. ' Bullynif" wonders why, being eucli a bustler, lie does not put himself among tho front line of attack for good and all. College supporters aro suggesting that their team's name should be inscribed on the shield forthwith. Their present lead serais to justify this.

Boyd anil M'Bklowney were two of tho United men who stood firm to tho bustlijijr tactics of the Green whirlwind on Saturday.

To a Correspondent. "Keen Supporter" writes severely criticising tho refereo in tlio WelliligtoiiMetropolitan match. Wo regret being unable to publish the letter, though it is by a writer who has been closely associated with senior lioekoy for many years. In all sport—football, boxing, Hockey, etc.— tho referee generally lias to shoulder a heavy load ol' responsibility, and no good purpose is to bo served by firing a broadside into him after he lias done his best. The practice of commenting on referees, cither l'avourably or adversely, has always been avoided, as far as possiblo in The Dominion - . In this particular case, however, we think that the.referee acted very conscientiously. If he was wrong on any matter of law. mich errors (if any) are purely matters for appeal by players to the governing body.

The Six-a-Side Tourney, The King's Birthday six-a-side tournament piomoted by the Wednesday Association, promises to be a vcrv successful fixture. Both ladies' and men's nominations have filled very well, and besides tho town teams, the country will have a number of representatives doing battle for them. Summing up the Wednesday Men,

Pctonc Club, winners of tlio competition last year, are again doing well this season—their players showing dash ami combination. X'lie forward line is vtry last, audtakesa lot of stopping, but the half-lino is not so strong, 'ilic centre is a first-class man, but tiie wings want to put more life into their work. Dolling, at full-back, is very safe, ami Elm (in-goal) is perhaps as good' as any "keeper" in the competition. Hereawa is one of the young clubs, ami is going along nicely this season. Last year they had only one win to their credit, wiiilo so far this season they havo reversed this to only .one loss. _ Willi a little more attention to combination, and lets changing of positions, they should be we'll up nt the finish. Jlui Mai have a reliable set of forwards, and solid backs. Tho front men display good combination, but they would do well to practise goal-shoolillg. Tho veteran toani of the competitionPakeha A, runiiers-up the previous -arc not such a creditable combination this year. Their engine of attack seems to have gono all wrong, anil in trying to remedy this they have met. further (rouble by chopping and changing the positions of players. \flcr a couple of seasons spell, Aititlevy have taken up K l,mc nPlnare improving as the season aiU'iinets, and will be among the stiff propositions very *0011. 'Hie backs are gooil-esprcuilly m defence—but Hie forwards should pay more regard to the value of playing together. This is what wins matches. •\ new team this year is lakcha !>. Tliev are nearly all strangers to I he game, and this fact should bo rccognised by

their A team, who should think about do- j voting a little time iu coaching tliem. • A Glance at the Ladies' Teams. ( Tho affairs of tho Ladies' Association givo indication of a successful season. ( Kight teams are competing for the senior grade and 'six are battling it put in the junior grade. Ramblers, A, last years premiers, have again a strong team, w»n seven of last year's contingent, and two new ployers iu Miss K. Smith ami Miss N. Ijing. Alias Smith represented Nelson in the tourney at Christcliurch last September, and Miss Lang will be remembered as tho "surprUc packet' of tho Veilington team at the smno fixture. , Misses Cameron and TinnO' are back in tlicli old places at full-back, and the Misses Harris aro again testing the capabilities of the opposing goal-keepers. Syrens (ruiiiiers-up last year) aro endeavouring to go on* bettor, and have got a fairly strong cloven together to do battle for them. Tho inclusion of Aliss Thompson (an ox-Hawke's Bay rep.) has strengthened their backs, and with the Midi's M'Donnell and Dement in the forward line their opponents aro Always kept busy. The team to date lias not shown the pretty and eil'ectivo combined play that gained them so many admirers last year, but it is expected that a few games 'together will revive this pleasant feature. St. Augustine's aro again in the arena, and are a stronger team than they were last season. Tney aro fast aud willing, but the necessary finish seems to bo wanting. Where is their coach? Victoria College are back in the ranks after a season s respite, and have tho nucleus of *a very formidable eleven. At present thifl team shows a decided weakness in their opponents' circle, but that may be overcome with a lUUt> JJJ oro P ruc " tico in the art of shooting., two strong players in Miss Jvewnian (back) and Miss Camiibell (forward). , . Collego Old Girls have a lot of last year 8 members in their team, and what tho new ones lack in play they inako up for in their enthusiasm. Girls' College are now to _ tho senior ranks, and to watch them playing suggests they will bo a better team later on. llwj are nil vonng plity«rs, und nro getting that experience that is necessary as a belaid to winning honours They were winners of the junior grado last sea.on, and, with a little more knowledge of senior methods, may prove more lvorLlncr opjiuiienls for some of the mow, wpen inced teams. Misses Hicks, Williamson, and Stubbs showed quite good hockey on new aspirant for winior lioijours is Greggs. Tlicv have hit misfortune in not being able to always Ret 11 full muster of players. Don t get rtowli- . hearted, Gregga! This usually happens to teams when tho membership is a • limited one. ~ • Like Girls' College the second Bambler team is out for experience only. -In?"' i preliminaries have shown that possibilii ties of big things aro capable of tlip:n. . Victory has not come-their way so iar, I but 'the enthusiasm manifested will mean , something to them later on in the season.