Hockey.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 164, 22 August 1903, Page 19

Hockey.

I must again plead the weather as an excuse for the brevity of mv notes this w eek lam afraid that the Day's Bay giounds this season will not recover from the damage they have sustained through the breakage of the dam, a fact that is greatly to be deplored in ■vn ear of the important engagements our playeis have to meet. The Ferry Company can bo relied upon to do its utmost to restore things to order 1 , but an exceptionally dry spell is absolutely necessary to give the grounds any chance at all and unless the Assookr tion can arrange for this, things for the Canterbury match and the Ladies' Tournament wall be "only middling." The Wellington Club's ground, at Miramar, will be available at a pinch, but, as the Association, is looking for- a good "gate" to replenish an impoverished exchequer, it is certain to be used only as a last resource. * * The Canterbury team passed through early m the week, and, in conversation with some of the team, I learnt that they are very sangume of success all through the tour. Every man selected was able to get away except Bear, who was injured in the inter-Island match, so perhaps this optimism is justified, but, personally, I think that the length of programme will prove ta be the rock their ship will split on. Five matches and constant travelling, is far too much to be undertaken by one team in ten days, for such will be the programme after arriving at Palmerston, where they will have played their first match bv the time this appears The Wellington match is timed for to-morrow week and, as the team will have played at Hawera and Horo-whe-nua on the two preceding days, I anticipate a win for the local men. The Wellington team has not been selected yet but no change in its personnel is anticipated bv the cognoscenti. I have however, received the follow ins; letter from a correspondent on the subject, which speaks for itself — "Dear Bully,— ln light of recent performances, the Wellington Hockey re>presentative team seems to be in strong need of a 'reviver.' or in need of a strong 'reviver,' and 'Shot' imagines

that it will receive a rather rude one at the hands of our Canterbury friends unless some of the 'old stagers' in the team come to light, and infuse a great deal more dash and precision into their play than they have hitherto shown. Wellington ha& an. unbeaten record on tihe hockey field, and 'Shot' suggests a team something after the following to help to maintain that untarnished re*cord —Goal, Preston (Wellington) , fullbacks, Ashbolt (United) and Mafcheson (Victoria College) . halves, Weybourne (United), Balh&rry (Wellington), and Campbell (Karori) on the wing, forwards, Smythe (United), Davies (Karori), Putnam (Karori), C. Bridge (Wellington), and Hull (Wellington ; with emergencies — Spiers (Karori), Reid (Wellington), and S. Hickson (United). — Yours, Shot." lam thorouglily in accord with "Shot's" remarks anent the necessity of a "reviver." but do not altogether agree with his selection. The present centre-forward (Hickson) is far too good a man to be relegated to the bank for a long while yet, and if Putnam is to be included he should be in as ''right inside." Mathe«on certainly lias claims for the full-back position, and the present half-line could be improved with great advantage. "Shot's" suggestion is worth a deal of consideration.