HOCKEY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 202, 15 August 1908, Page 6

HOCKEY

TAKAXAKi v. UAWMi'S BAY. The iollowing team has been sclectcd to represent Turanaki ugami Hawke's Bay to Ire played un Uic K creation Sports Ground on the iand iusl.: Goalkeeper: G. 1!. Anderson (Stratford)'. Ml-backs: K Avery (-Nov Plymouth) and K; 11. Anderson (Stratford). Halt-backs: H. Curtis (luglewood), E. Harris (lnglewood), and* A. Thomson (Hawera).

Forwards: James Harris (Inglewood), F. W. lfagan (New Tlymouth), E, Sargent (Hawera), W. T. iNieoll (New Plymouth), and John Harris (Inglewood).

A CTUTTOISM. '•Sticks" writes to the editor complaining of the work of the selector. He says; The selection of the Turanaki hockey representatives is a Hung to wonder at. It. is impossible to arrive at what grounds the selector lias for ignoring some of the finest men iu the province, in favor of several young iiud -inexperienced players, it may be that he reckons on giving the young blood encouragement. That is a noble sentiment, no doubt, and a good one to exercise in club selection, but when we get together a team to do kittle for Taranaki we want the best. Jn the opinion of most hockey players, T. I'. Anderson and Woods are about the lines! forwards we have. Perhaps bhey are not available for the llawke's Hay match. Otherwise, 1 can't explain their absence from the team, in my opinion John Harris should make way for Andcrsoi, and ISicoll should certainly not lie iu the forwards. As a half-back or i'ull-bnek, 1 don't think we can better him in Taranaki, (.hough lu- has not played much this season. Of course, he knows the game thoroughly, and may adapt himself to the torwu'rd game, but whv take this risk when lirst-claßs forwards are available'; li Jlanis is played at centre half, but he isn't used to chat position. It's this changing about that makes me wonder way Crawford, who has been playing forward this vear, was not selected as goal. The selector can't find a better goal-keeper in the province, and lew belter iu the Dominion. Ciaphain would have been an improvement on Curtis, at half, the latter being ipute inexperienced, whilst Clapham, a line plaver, llias a good record and is as fit as a fiddle. I think the following is a better team than (hat published:—Goal: Crawford; fullbacks : R. Anderson and K. Avery; halfliackx: Thomson, Nicoll, and Ciaphain. forwards: Harris, l'agau, Sargent, T. I'. Anderson, and Woods.