HOCKEY.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19884, 13 May 1936, Page 11

HOCKEY.

GAMES IN REVIEW.

HAMILTON SERIES OPENED. 1 KAIPAKI‘S GOOD SHO’WLNG. (By “ Left Half.‘.‘) Long grass and lack of practicet were the two main draw-backs whichl were to he found in the preliminaryi round games which introduced tlioi 1986 season or the \V’alkato Hockeyi Asoclaiion at Steele Park on Saturdayfl The unmown grounds slowed up the play to a surprising extent and the players in all teams found it. difficult to get the ball away. However, until the fields are consolidated there is little danger of the turf being extensively damaged while the grass remains long. Neither senior game furnished an accurate guide to competition form as only Kaipaki had its best team on the field and the remainder—particularly Colts and. Old Boys—will be materially amended before the competition proper commences. The feature of the play was the promise shown by newcomers to Hamilton hockey and there is unliker to ‘be a single team whose strength will not be enhanced by the influx of new blood of considerable ability. Kalpnkl’s Half Line. In defeating Technical “by the odd goal in five Kalpakl put up an excellent showing which afforded an interesting and rosy criterion of their chances for championship success. As in past, seasons the skipper, Cecil Bones, was the pivot around which the team re—volved. feeding his forwards diligently and always retaining position to come back to the assistance of his backs if the opposing van staged a break-away. He was well supported on the flanks by Dunwoody and F. Boyd. Dunwoody lacked nothing in pace and dexterity, while Boyd's soundness as full—back in previous seasons has brought reliability to the halves. There will be nothing better than this trio in com—petition hockey this season. Oi' Promise. Old Boys have undoubtedly the best of the new blood which is being in—fused into Hamilton hockey this sea—son. Badcock, a former Taranaki re—presentative, imprcssed, but. the pick of the newcomers was probably .\lor—(ran, a clever half—hack, who riemnn< sirated an occasional marvel of stick control. lie was repeatedly the salvation of his side. extricatin: them from difficult. situations with the ease and confidence that is horn only from experience. Cromwell and .\lclntyrc did occasional good work, although the former appeared too slow for at position in the forxmrd line. Oliver, who was seen in action on a few mat.ches last year, again showed that physical fitness is the essence of hockey.

Technical Let Down. Had Technical possessed a more efficient back line, the story might have taken a different turn in the match against Keipekt. In the circle the backs were badly out of position, tackled half-heartedly and bunched right across the goal—mouth so as to cramp the goal-keeper, Shepherd, out of having a chance to save. )[angnall badly needed determination. while Lin—der appeared to he right off colour,‘ making abortive attempts to intercept‘ and being 'hadly beaten by Graham and his fast. Kniphki forwards. The half line was patchy—Jenkins, in the key position. was solid, but at times slow, while McAdam‘s abundant energy at times appeared to be wasted. Nevertheless, he shone in im—proved company and his perseverance will develop Into real hockey ability within a iifi'wecks. The some might be said of R. Kilham on the other flank. MoKlnnon In Goal. i After a season‘s absence from Hamilton, McKinnon again donned the pads as goalkeeper for Colts. He has lost little of his former pluck and; was never doubtful about getting down to the hall if the occasion demanded a l resolute save. Although he played‘ a few games last year in Tsuranga the opportunities he obtained were almost negligible and it will require a few playing Saturdays before he can find his feet. Old Boys' had 11 newcomer, Sutherlsnd, in goal. Although slight. in build he showed himself a useful type and lacked little in deter—mination. His methods are some-l what unorthodox and he may land hisl team in difficulties if he plays too far out of the circle on all occasions. Kalpakl‘s Rearguard. Stability. rather than the spertarular. is sought by the lx‘aipnki defence and the glimpse of form which was given eßainst Old Technicals on Saturday was most satisfying to supporters of the rluh. Smillie in goal was as re—liable as ever. althnuzh his fatal n95:lect, in close play was again apparent. llis boot. is as powerful :is before and. although few really difficult tasksl came his way. he proved his soundness on more than one occasion The fullharks. Cowley and Goodwin. are both seasoned players and combine well.l Goodwin has pace in plenty and on‘ Saturday helped his team out of manyi a hole. while Cowley. the embodiment of cool, calculating defence, was thrw type of player to hold up \vhlrlwindi rushes which a. smart forward line otter introduce. ‘ Concerning salnsnnese. l Selfishncss is an unhcroming word hut. it might he applied with Justiili‘n—iion to the performance of the Old lioys‘ inside forwards when they play—ed against. Colts on Saturday. l‘nv doubledly the stone was on exhibition of holiday hot-hey, but this was scarcely excuse for tho nionolmly of the hull \\llll‘ll was obtained liy \\'est. Davies and Hamilton. .\‘o selcrt rolerio of inside forwards rnn ploy n match on their own and the sooner the Old lioys' \‘nnA~lu'il|lnui individualists though they might lh‘~—lllillic more use of their outside lili‘ll In _E'tlllllllf-I i ground tho sooner will they in: raised 11 class nth' the ordiniil'y. it is sur—prising how nrnr nietiiocril)‘ is to intiiviriuniisni. 0n the Ball. \\'hcrc the llflll \\nsvihr'rr’ \\ci‘r‘ ‘ (lid ’l‘m'hnit‘nis' forwards also. At least. this was the impression gained from their oprnius: game against. hoipnkii The team hos :(oiuhd niniorially by the nvriuisnion of IL lluntt‘r ins centre—forward and the ex-South

Auckland representative Soccer goalkeeper who played hockey as early as 1923. looks like being one of the main—stays of the senior eleven. Clough did good work alongside and, although De Lacey was inconsistent and a little timorous of his own ability. llatuschka and Forster on the outside were right‘ up to form. There is some sug-i gestlon that Forster should take an‘ inside position, but it, is doubtful if the step would he a wise one as he has specialised in this position and will Jeopardisc not only his team‘s efilcienoy but also his own chances for representative selection. or Rare Promise. It is rare that new players to hockey put up such a commendable performance as did Jacka in his first appear—ance for Old Boys against Colts on Saturday. This was the first game of hockey he had played but he handled the stick with dexterity, showed no signs of selfishness and centred with surprising exactitude.‘ There were times when he over-ran‘ the ball but they were few when compared with the success of most of his flank dashes. A champion middle distance runner, he has all the pace and fortitude that is necessary for a winger and should not find it dimoult to retain senior status. llis one fan“; was to get rid of the ball when there were brighter chances of going into circle and drawing the backs before transferring to the inside 'men. Three Goals to Burrows. In scoring all three or Kaipakl's Ronis Burrows may have seemed to play a brighter game than was actually the vase. As happened last season. the brilliance of his inside forwards, Graham and A. Boyd. rnahled him to retain position to a nirety and it was a noticeable feature that the hall whon—(‘VOl‘ it. reached tho virrin Mme across in hiini The chief merit in his play on Saturday was tho (iotorminatinn with which he followed in~—n somPv what rare quality anmng present-day forwards—hut. the lack of wrist flexi—bility and his pronencss to wild. swingin; shots made his shooting most in—accurate. This. however. is a fault that can he m‘ercmno. \\'hen it is Burrows will be a ccnlrc—iorward or real class. Old Boys' Backs. The Old Boys' Club has gained a great. deal in securing full-backs of tho callhre of )irKihhen and r 7, Clark, who were soon in action on Saturday. Clark. who was last season‘s captain of the Old Bors' junior tram. is a sound hat-k with a hard—hitting stick and the valuable mcrll of retaining‘ position. 110 gives nothing away in ground and, unlike nmny young: hack Mayors. Enos up to tho hall rather than away from it. .\HKihhen also is \"f‘l‘_\‘ sound and nt‘forod tho spectators :1 grand vxliililtion of steady doicnco. i‘ountncy was tho thorn in tho shin of tho liolis’ forwards who found it almost impossililc to pot thr- hollnr or his accurate noiilimz. limciy intcrrow lions :iiul hard hitting. iii‘ will ho assurcit of \\'ziiimlo rom'cscniative lilliilliiil's and should hc wrli in tho lrtiiiiilm: for Now Xuziininl srlm‘iioni