HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 83, 4 October 1930, Page 22

HOCKEY

»r "•tick*LOOKING BACK

A SATISFACTORY SEASON

WAIKAEAPA DEFEATED

On the whole, Wellington has had a very satisfactory season as far as representative matches are concerned. Of the seven games played, four were won, two drawn, and one lost.

The first game of tho season was that against the combined Universities, played at the Basin Reserve on the King's Birthday. It was anticipated that the Wellington team would be successful, but their opponents played sound hockey to draw, 4-all. i The next fixture was against Bush : Union, and it was in this match that the Wellington Shield team which was fielded in preparation for the game against. Canterbury piled up the big score of 10 goals to nil. The game was nothing more than an opportunity for 'shooting practice for the local forwards, and their display, and that of the other members of the team, gave their supporters renewed confidence in the prospects for the Shield game. Wairarapa were also fairly easy game for the Shield combination, the final score being 5 goals to nil in favour of Wellington, but there was nioro of a contest than against Bush Union, and had the visitors been mote accurate in their shooting at goal the margin might have been rpduced somewhat. Then came the Shield game, which ended in a draw, 2-all. Much has appeared already in this column in regard to this match, nnl it is sufiicient to say that the showing' made by the challengers was wholly to their credit. A southern writer, commenting on the match, expressed, tho opinion that had Wellington played Canterbury first instead of Otago, the trophy would probably havo changed hands.

In tho other three games Wellington was represented by what might be described without any intention of offending the players as scratch teams. Individually tho players were prominent in their clubs, but they had had no opportunity of playing together before they took the:'field.

The Otaki representatives were beaten by 3 goals to 2 in their first match after putting up a good fight, and showing that they had improved a great deal since the previous season. This latter fact was amply demonstrated in the return match, which was won by the Otaki representatives, by exactly the same score, 3-2. The curtain was rung down on Saturday with the match against Wairarapa,' in which the honours went to Wellington by 3 goaJs to nil. The competitions were unusually interesting, particularly in the senior A and intermediate grades, and the standard of play" was high. As far as the writer is aware, not one case of misconduct on tho field was reported to the Management ■Committee of the W.H.A.' The ladies also enjoyed a successful season, and they came into prominence with their brilliant play in the tournament at Invercargill, when they tied with Eastern Southland A for the coveted X Cup. Wellington Win Again. Wellington's final representative game of the season was played against Wairarapa at Carterton on Saturday. The game, which was won by Wellington by 3 goals to nil, waa nevertheless evenly contested, and was 'fast and spectacular. A Wairarapa exchange states that the Wellington backs were very safe, and although Wairarapa attacked strongly they could not get past the Wellington defenders, whose stickwork was a treat to watch. The local backs were also sound; Messrs. AY. A. Scott (Wellington) andEbbett (Wah-a---rapa) were the referees. ■ . . .■ ■ ■ : . Guy, in Wellington's goal,, had very little to do.'owing to tho wild sllOOtiug of the Wairarapa players, and the clever interception by the Wellington backs in the circle. Both full-backs, Spiers and Falconer, were on their mettle, and much of the credit for Wellington's, win is due to their play. King, centre, -was the pick of the half-line, although it was the wingers, Newport and Bobinson, who did the scoring, Newport scoring twice and Bobinson once. Individually the forwards acquitted themselves woll, but they could not combine. Scooping Into the Net. The Interpretation Board of .tho New Zealand Hockey Beferees' Association has been kept busy this season and it has done a good deal of useful work. One of the questions it has been asked to answer is as follows:— Can a player score a goal from tho scoop stroke, that is, > while in the circle can an attacker scoop the ball into the net?. • • The following ruling has been given by the board:— Yes. Under certain circumstances it is quite legitimate for an attacker to scoop the ball into the goal net from within the circle and score a goal. The goal would be allowed if, in the opinion of the umpire, the stroke was not in itself dangerous or leading to dangerous play. Kule 14 covers it. For instance, if the goalkeeper were drawn to one side of the not, and the ball was thon scooped neatly into the other side, the goal certainly should be allowed.! Similarly, if the ball were scooped into an open, undefended goal the score should be allowed. Hockey in the Sudan. A very favourite game- in tho Sudan at certain seasons, of the year is a kind of primitive hockey. Sticks like hockey sticks are used, and a stono '• or seed of' a palm tree,is used as a ball. There are no goal posts, and no boundary lines, and no interrupting referee's whistle. The only rule is to "hit hard, hit often, and, if possible, keep on hitting." The course may be a milo or two miles long. The idea of each of the opposing sides is to hit the ball in opposite directions. It means a lot of running and is a very good game. Appreciation of Referees. A good umpire is a valuable aid to a skilful, team, but a hindrance to a clumsy team which has little knowledge of, or regard for, the rules of the game. A weak umpire tends £o bring both teams to a common level, and to a large extent robs clever players of a very deserved advantage. Particularly is this so in the game of hockey, which, on account of the speed at which it is played, and the consequent difficulty in controlling tho ball, niakes it possible for players adopting obstructionist methods to very easily mar, and sometimes absolutely destroy, the skilful manoeuvres of their opponents. A slack umpiro who permits this sort of thing, places a premium on clumsy or rough play and spoils all that is best in the game.