HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 16

HOCKEY.

fßi "Bcli/t-off."]

.THE BATTLE AT THE BASIN.

Quiet Last Weok.

There was a true rural quietness 'about Karori Park on Saturday afternoon last. Tho trial game was witnessed by about a dozen peoplo, including two selectors and two pressmen. None, or at least few, of tbo players in tho game took it ovor-soriously, but nevertheless there was some excellent practice to be got out of it. Tho "A" team forwards galloped about freely enough and scored just about as often a& it was their pleasure. Four of. tho goals woro Boyd's, who was shooting in great form. Dwyer was not playing probably because he knew there was no likelihood of his being replaced in the team to meot Auckland. Whether or not that was the reason of his absence, "Bullyoff" is not aware, but lie would respectfully suggest, to the champion goalkcoper that under the circumstances "a littlo practico now and then is wanted by tho wisest men." The third-class ovent. To Whaka (Canterbury) v. the Wellington Club' 3 redoubtable third waß easily the attraction of tho day. There were a few more spectators at this game, and they were provided with quite an interesting set-to, the final result of which was a draw.

Tho Battle of To-day. To-day at the Basin Reserve matters momentous will be decided. The shield will bo won or lost—the only shield that remains in the Empire City. Tho Auckland men come to us with big reputations, and they will fight right hard to capture the trophy. The local men have been callod upon already three times to defend the shield —against Hawko's Bay, Southland, and Otago—and to-day will be the fourth and the hardest. It will be Wellington's best that will take the field this afternoon, although possibly, in view of the fact that tho senior club championship has been closed about three weeks, and the time having been filled in with trial games, they, will hardly be in as good form as they were earlier in tho season. Tho Auckland men, it is rumoured, are hardly as strong as they have been for a year or two past, but thoy are a tough proposition nevertheless.

The History of the Trophy. The history of tho shield runs as follows: —in all 28 matches havo been played, of which Wellington has had 17 wins, with 68 goals for and 34' against; Auckland, 8 wins, 34 goals for, 12 against; Canterbury, 5 wins, 17 goals for, 12 against. Sinoe Wellington first won the Shield from Auckland tho original holders of it., thoy have been called upon to defend it upon 19 occasions,; losing only ono match (to Canterbury last year), drawing another (with Auckland in 1911) and all tho rest yero, victories. >

It is remarkable that the total number of • goals the Wellington men ha,ve scored in the Shield matches is exactly double of those scored against them. That English Tour. During the week the New Zealand Management Committee received a letter from the English Hockey Association wherein were submitted the various conditions or terms under which the English people propose sending a representative team to New Zealand, l'he New Zealand parent body has decided to circularise the various New Zealand associations to ascertain their news.

On'the score of expense, the writer fails to see any difficulty. About two years ago t'lio Wellington Association endeavoured to , arrange a four weeks' New Zealand' tour of a New South Wales team. The local people went into the business of expense very carefully and it was finally estimated that the cost of a team of 16 men to tour New Zealand and play matches in several centres over a period of four weeks would amount to about £384. This includes the Btoamer faro of the team from Sydney to Lyttclton and return. For some reason or, other the project fell through. The English team will be in this country six weeks, of course, but the steamor fare outside Now Zealand will be paid by the Homo Association. Surely, then, if the four chief centres will guarantee at least £75 each(and it is understood that they will) and 6ome of the smaller associations give smaller guarantees' tho tour as far as finance goes should be a simple affair and apart from finance there is no difficulty whatever.

The Ladles at Wanganul. From all accounts the ladies' representative team at the Wanganui tournament have performed worthily. They camel through all their battles without a loss until they met Wairarapa on Monday. Then they fell. After a great game the country team won by three goals to 1. Considering that Wairar rapa had not, until they met Wellington, had a score registered against them, Wellington's performance was a fine one. During the tournament the Wellington girls scored 21 goals, only haying four scored against them. Miss Harris it'was who scored Wellington s goal against Wairarapa. The touring team returned home on Friday night and this afternoon they will play the Canterbury team as a cur-tain-raiser to the Shield game.

Series of Lcotures, The Poverty Bay Hockey Association, with the object of doing its best to improve the standard of play in the East Coast town, has been holding a series of lectures, illustrated by blackboard diagrams, of lato. The third Icctirre was attended by 20 ladies and 15 men.