HOCKEY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1262, 23 June 1914, Page 4

HOCKEY.

As hockey has now been taken up so enthusiastically locally by both sexes, and is practically a new game in this district, a few notes and hints may be of interest to both players and spectators—the latter especially, for it is impossible to follow the game intelligently unless one knows the rules and the finer points. Hockey is a combination of football and cricket, but is much faster than either. The rules are much the same as those governing association football. The team consists ot n players, viz., goal keepers, right and left full backs, centre half, two wing halves, centre forward (a bully), two inside forwards, and right and lelt wing forwards. The goalkeeper’s duty is to guard the goal ; he should be a good fielder and should be able to stop well with his pads

or body. He is the only man in the team who is allowed to kick the ball, and should when pressed use his feet freely, remembering always that he must find the side line if possible. The full back® must also be capable defenders, but should be able to turn defence into attack by feeding or hitting out to the wing halves or forwards, they should never speculate, and if they haven’t time to field the ball they should stop with their pads. One full back must back up the other, taking care not to obstruct the goalkeeper and to get back into his own position immediately the danger is passed. The centre half is the key of the team. He must be good on defence and attack, and do everything well, clearly aud crisply; his passing should be done quickly and accurately, for to dally with the ball is to lose opportunity. The wing halves must assiduously watch the opposing wing forwards, and must be prepared to intercept passes to same by anticipating which side the play is going to ; a man who studies the game can do this time and again ; they should not only feed their wing forwards well, but should vary their play by centreing when the forwards are hot on attack. Halves should practice stopping the ball with their pads, for having to mark the forwards there is no time to stop the ball with their bauds. The centre and inside forwards should rarely take part in the defence of the goal (except when a corner hit is given, or the opposing side is within a few yards of their own goal line). Their duty is to attack, and they must always be in a position to do thistheirs is a passing game to whichever quarter is likely to be least defended. They should be cool-headed, remembering that when in the circle a short pass to one or the other will often result in a goal when it is impossible to score themselves. The 'wing forwards are the real attackers of the team and should be satisfied to lake the ball up the field and then to centre to try and score themselves) : they should seldom retire beyond the half-way flag aud must always keep near the side line and not to crowd in on the inside forwards. All players should remember that passing is the game, aud that selfishness will never win matches, always to play fairly, and if any pointing is to be done leave that to the other side. Don’t yap, and never find fault with the referee’s ruling, for everybody is liable to make mistakes, and that

with the best of intentions, ever remembering that refereeing is an unthankful billet at best, and that a man who takes it on deserves the very best thanks of players.

POSITIONS OF TEAMS

FIXTURES FOR SECOND ROUND.

men’s June 24. —Levin A v. Shannon at Levin ; Levin B v. Foxton B, at Foxton ; Moutoa v. Foxton A, at Moutoa. July Ist. —Levin A v. Foxton B, at Levin ; Levin B v. Foxton A, at Foxton ; Shannon v. Moutoa, at Shannon. July Bth. —Levin A v. Levin B, at Levin ; Foxton B v. Moutoa, at Foxton ; Foxton A. v. Shannon, at Shannon. July 15th. —Levin A v. Moutoa, at Moutoa ; Levin B v. Shannon, at Levin ; Foxton A v. Foxton B, at Foxton. LADIES. July 24th. —Otaki v. Ohau, at Ohau ; Levin v. Tainui, at Otaki ; Foxtou v. Shannon, at Shannon. July Ist.—Levin v. Otaki, at Levin; Tainui v. Shannon, at Levin ; Ohau v. Foxton, at Levin. Jury Bth. —Otaki v. Shannon, at Levin ; Tainui v. Foxtou, at Levin ; Levin v. Ohau, at Levin. July 15th. —Otaki v. Foxton, at Levin; Levin v. Shannon, at Shannon ; Tainui v. Ohau. at Ohau.

P. W. L. D. Pts. Moutoa 6 4 2 o 8 Levin A 6 3 I 2 8 Foxton A 6 3 2 I 7 Shannon 6 3 2 I 7 Levin B 6 3 3 0 6 Foxton B 0