CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3221, 19 June 1909, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor.

Sir, —As hockey is fast coming into favour with the general public, I think a few remarks 'in the selection of the Wairarapa team to play Wellington would not be amiss. In the first place I do not wish to discount the efforts of the selectors, as it is impossible for them to please everyone, but I do think they have made an error which may prove costly on the field. What I refer to is the picking of men to play in positions which they are not used .to. Now, included in the team in question, there are four full backs, two of these being placed in the position of half backs. If there were no half backs in the Wairarapa worthy of consideration, it would be the next best thing to play full backs in the position of half back, but while we have half backs of the calibre of Richards, Nicol and Scrimgeour, the selectors cannot make the excuse that capable players in this position are scarce. While making these comments I dojnot wish, to "infer that Morgan and Boyd are not capable of doing good work, but their position is full back, and the team would be all the stronger if they were played in this position. Hall, in goal, is the right man in the right place. Tunnicliffe and Fisher, as full backs, could have been improved on, especially the former. Sievers, as centre half, is undoubtedly one of the best backs in the district, and he may be relied on to play a good game. The wing forwards are weak, but they are the best available. W. Fisher as "bully" is in great form this season, and is undoubtedly the best forward that Wairarapa possess. Minett, as left inside, has not played up to form this season, and might well have been replaced by King. Another question for the selectors. Why is Gray included as right inside forward? This player during this season has not been playing up to anything like his proper form. Probably this may be accounted for by his changing his position so often in cup matches. He has played centre half, wing forward, and left half, and yet they prefer Gray befora such men as Grange and Tunnicliffe. In conclusion I with all other hockey enthusiasts wish the team, as selected, success, if for nothing else, it will place credit upon the selectors. —I am, etc.,

ENTHUSIAST Masterton, June 18, 1909.