HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 30

HOCKEY.

TBt "Bully-off."] GENERAL REVIEW & NOTES. Good, Bright Game. The second lap of competition matches was started last Saturday. Two of tho three games scheduled for "decision—lnsurance v. United and Wellington v. College—provided very little interest, and it whs as well that anticipations of a great game concerning tho other fixture between Metropolitan and Karori were realised, for otherwise Karori Park wouJd havo been a very cheerless spot. The first meeting of Knrori and Metropolitan—only the previous Saturday—was an exciting affair, and there is some justification in saying that the Keds were an unlucky team on the .day. As it was, tho scores were even at the finish of tho encounter, and tho general opinion was that at their next clash Karori would have to sing a smaller tune, for surely tho clement of luck that hovered about Metropolitan's operations wouJd not again bo' their portion. It was a lucky- circumstance that the return should bo played on tho succeeding Saturday. Karori came out with Campbell back in his place, and tho inclusion of tho representative half seemed to give more heart to the Karori supjjorters, but when it became known that M'Gregor—the mainstay of Metropolitan's battlers—was not to play, the watchers on the touch-lino started to loose hope of the guod game which they had come to see fizzling out in an easy win for the Black brigade. This opinion was shattered by the fine exhibition of tho Keds, who came out most creditable winners after one of the fastest and most exciting clashes of the season. M'Gregor.had not recovered sufficiently from the injured knee, sustained in the previous game, to don the jersey. Ho was on the lino though, and tho advice handed out by him steadied the Reds up wonderfully. And Shall Karori Die? / That Karori were a hack number will be a. hard pill for the Blacks' supnorters to swallow. Saturday's match indicated, however, that the combination (onco brilliant), in the operations of tho suburbanites is not impossible to resuscitate, for, at periods of the game—especially in tho second half—they reeled off some really pretty concerted dashes, which only needed the finishing, shot to have gained them, the scoring points. But the finishing shot was invariably bungled, and this, as much as anything else, can be blamed for their defeat. It was saddening, indeed, to sco "the true and trusty" missing goal after goal.

In past games with Karori it,has been a case of "all that was left of them." Saturday's encounter saw Murphy playing his good safe game, and his opening up of the play lent considerable assistance to the team. He was primarily responsible for one of their goals at least when lie intercepted from an ugly Red rush and passed 1 cleverly over to tlio centre. It was' a pretty move. Murpliy is one of the "reliables" left. Davies certainly wants more assistance in the front line, he is capable of surprising things at critical moments, but Saturday's game saw Murphy as his only reliable wing. M'Killop made many fatal mistakes in not centring. Tho fever of goal-getting has attacked M'Killop, but his solo efforts would be more useful in the game of euchre.

Of-, the Metropolitan team, Pullyn can be written down as "tho goods." Always safe when defending, he was as equally valuable in attack, and Karori men had to admit that lie was "a cuit above them" on occasions. Pullyn has been playing brilliantly for the past three matches, and his chances of being one of the final selection to reprpsent the province seem to bo of the rosiest.

He Wouldn't Take His Coat Off. The drab affair between Insurance and United ended in a goal being scored by each team. Insurance were handicapped by having only the two full-backs of tho opposition in front of them when on tho move, as United were playing without a keeper, and, as tho rule says that three men must be "in front, etc., Tnsuranco were compelled to apply tho brake very often. United's goal-keeper was asked by his captain to dispense with tho overcoat which he was wearing,. and,_ refusing, M'Eldowney had no alternative but to play without him. i College Too Hot for Wellington. Onco again College proved themselves to be a sterling team in their defeat' of Wellington. The Green forwards on the clay simply played with their opponents, and their superiority made the play uninteresting from its one-sidedness. Some Stray. Notes. 'Victoria College havo some trouble ahead in the matter of players departing from the city. Headquarters are showing no signs of anxiety, however, for they consider the filling of the gaps an easy matter. Havo they not a sterling junior brigade to call on?

Boyd (United) was prominent against Insurance, hij obstruction, however, detracted from his good display. M'Eidowney was between the goal and his own position at full-back for tho Red and Whites. H« was tho best of the side.

Hunter played a sterling game for Insurance in goal. He should get some consideration from tho selectors.

Wellington selectors were out watching the lAid-wcdc games on Wednesday. This competition' is likely to produce at least two representatives for the province.

There will be' two trial ' games at ICnrori to-day, but the final representative eleven will not be selected till after next Saturday's games. M'Gregor has notified tho selectors, Messrs. A. A. Bennett, C. S. Falconer,

and C. Campbell, of his inability to play in the try-outs to-day. His kneo is still troubling 'him, but he hopes to be fit again for next Saturday's play. Ladies' Prospects and the Tourney. Taking a line through the play shown in die Indies' competition, the prospects for Wellington at the New Zealand tournament in August appear to be brighter than in previous years, and the selectors should have no difficulty in picking a team that would hold its' own with any in the Dominion. _ The final selection should not be left till too late in the season, however, as it is desirable that the team should have an opportunity of playing a few games together before leaving home to enable _ them to get. that combination which is, after all, tho secret of winning tourneys. Glancing at the players in the various teams, "Bully-Off" finds that most of, last year's representative team are still,in the game, ajid somo of their play will no doubt find favour with the selectors once more. From fho form shown to date, tho weakness in tho team will most likely be in the half-line, but if the improvement evident in some of the younger players continues, the team should be a strong one all round. Players who have impressed tho writer as likely to bo in the "try-outs" for representative honours, are as follow:—Forwards: Misses M. M'Donnell, F. Campbell, A. Bonge, M. Harris, L. Garland, TJ. Dement, E. Dagg, G. HaTris, D. Melior, , I. do Lamiay, 11. Laurenson, K. Pickering, ,T. Shearer, N. Lang, F. Young. Halves: G. Williams. R. Wood, N. Brown, F. Hicks, I. Waddell, P. Godda rd. Full-backs: W. Thompson, D. Tinney, M. Newman, K. Cameron. 0. Roadley, M. Thorp, D. Williamson. Goalkeener: At present this position is a difficult one to fill, but the Victoria College 'keeper, Miss M'Aiilific, appears to bo the most reliable, though it is a pity sho lias such a penchant for speculating hits. St. Augustine's have some - very promising players, but not having seen tlipm together. "Bully-Off" will wait till next week before summing them up. Of the nlayers above mentioned, Misses Dement, M'Donnell, M. Harris, G. Harris, A. Bonge, N. Lang, F. Hicks, N. Brown. D. Tinney, and K. Cameron are ex-Welling-ton representatives, Miss Thompson lias represented Hawke's Bav, Miss do Launay, Auckland, Miss Wood. Manawatu. and Miss Newman and Miss Campbell. I fancy, have represented Marlborough.. In all probability tli.? trial matches will commence early next month, when a more definite idea of the team's capabilities will then lie obtained. Out For Practice Only. Mr. D. M. Yeats writes as follows regarding Hult District High School loam, which figured in the tabic of positions last' week:—". . . We affiliated not for clifttnpioniship matches 05 almost nil our girls arc- bogmnors, but so that wo micht

bo able to get a game occasionally with 0110 of tho junior teams."

Revisions of Rules by Headquarters,

Tho annual meeting of tho International Hockey Board was held recently at the First Avenue Hotel, London (states the London "Times.")

It was decided to alter Rule 9 so that the word "alternately" bo substituted for "alternatively." Tho sentenco referring to tho "bully-off" will therefore ro;id: "To 'bully' Die ball each player shall strike first the ground on his own side of tho ball, and then his opponent's stick three times alternately; after which one of these two players must; strike tho ball before it is in general ploy." Hulo 10 was altered. Tlio sentence in tho penalty bully rule now reads: "If tho ball goes over t/ie goal-line between the goal-posts off the stick of tho attacker or stick or person of the offender a penalty goal shall bo awarded to tho attacking team."

Tho second paragraphs of Rules 19 and 20 were altered, so that tho second sentenco in each now reads: "A player taking a corner-hit cannot participate in tho gaino again until tho ball has been touched or hit by another player." A letter was read from tho New Zealand Hockey Association recommending for tho consideration of tho International Board certain suggestions, for improvements in the rules of hockey. Tho board accepted tho addition to Rillo 9 of tho words: "But shall not stand within three yards of the players participating in tho bully." This will prevent the crowding of players round the bully. The board also accepted tho suggestion to alter the second sentence of Rule 17. so that it should begin with the words: "All other players must be in tho field of play, insido the five yards' line, which they may cross immediately tho ball leaves (lie hand of the roller-in." At present d number of players consider that if they are over the side-line outside tho field of play they are complying with the rule. The lioard propose altering the wording slightly.