Hockey.

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 263, 15 July 1905, Page 20

Hockey.

It was expected that the "WellingtonVictoria College gain© -would prove veay interesting but the Wellington team, won rather easily by five goals to nil. Pope, Hall, and Allan scored' for the winners. Th)e College team did not play nearly so well as they have hitherto been doing, and 1 were only dangerous on on© or tJwo occasions during the game.

I think they make a great mistake in. leaving such a large gap between then forwards and halves. The halves moist support their forward®, and play fairly close up to them. If the ball passes the halves, they nearly always have time to get back behind the full-backs, and protect, them. The whole of the Wellington team played' well, and it is hard) to pick any of them out for special mention. Hull and Allen were very brilliant in the forwards. Pope also played a hard game, but tired toward® the finish, and did not keep his place very well. His goals, however, weire very gooid. Staples was sound, but he undercrofts a lot, and will have to stop, thasi. Fell was not so good as usual. He showed a tendency to' give "istdcks" nearly every time he hit the ball. Of the College forwards, Beere and Prouse occasionally did good work, but they did not get the ball often, and when they were beaten for it there were no halves within thirty yards to support them. Skelly will make a fine half when he knows mare about the game. Ho defends as well as any half-back playing. Matheson still speculates a lot, and it is wonderful how hits speculations oome off. He is, however, a hard man to pass. * # * The United v. Vivian, game was not the run-away match that was anticipated. The result was five to ml, but Vivians were very near scoring on one or two occasions. Hickson (3) and Elliott (2) scored for the winners. The United! team is very erratic this season, and Saturday was evidently an off-day. The team did not play with its old-time 1 combination, and wensfc in for a lot of short, scrappy passing. The training the forwards have been, indulging in isi doing them good!, Hidkson and Organ lasting the game particularly well. Hiokson seems to improve every match, and is shooting about as well as he ever did. He also does a lot more work in the field now. Weybonirne is the only half United have. He is magnificent, but the other two appear to be very dead this year. Ashboltfs sickness seemed to have affectedl him, as he played) the worst game I have seen him play for years. The Vivian team is a very fair one, and if they had a good coach for a while would make a formidable combination. Hollas (right wing) is a fast forward, with good 1 judgment. He centres beautifully, but does not use hi® hanids enough. Day played a fine game at half, but was unfortunate enough to get a bit knocked about on Saturday. * • » I was pleased to see Frank Ashbolt playing again on Saturday. He has now quite recovered from has recent indisposition. Last- week was the first senior oup mutch that Ashbolt has been away from since the United Olub was formed! seiven years ago. T. R. Cooke, who was injured in the Wellington-United third-class match on 17th June, has now quite recovered 1 .

Martin Luckie, the popular captain, of the United! third eleven, is still confined, to 'his room from, injuries received a month ago. Jeff. Hull, of the Wellington, team, and McLean, of the Unitedb, will carry scars for a while yet. Preston, captain of the Wellington seniors, has recovered from has attack of scarlet fever, and expects to play against Uniteds next Saturday. The junior competition is in an interesting state at present. Thornidlan and United are leading, with nine points each, and Wellington, Karori, and Victoria College are ooly one point behind. It is the general opinion amongist players in Wellington that the North v. South match is a farce, amd should be abandoned. The selectors never seei the teams play, and know nothing about their capabilities. It is almost certain that most of the best Wellington) men will refuse to go to Christctoureh to play, as they prefer to reserve themselves for the representative matches.