HOCKEY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 84, 15 May 1914, Page 2

HOCKEY.

The Sydenham A-Selwyn match, ■which -was played at the Addington Reserve last Saturday," provided a good, keen struggle for supremacy. ,The game throughout, and more especially in tlie second spoil, >vas always a keen and willing "go," Both teams had been in training, with thie ! result that the pace did not slacken even in the last stages. ' . '

Sydenhani had their best team in the field, as did their. opponents-. V In the first spell honours, were easily with the blues, who played a good game in all parts, their forwards were well fed by the rearguard, and the circle work was good. • . .

In the second spell Selwyn made a bold bid for victory', they attacked repeatedly and deferfded well. The secret of their non-success lay in their poor circle work.. ; Time aftei* tinje the ball found its way to the edge of the Sydenham feii'cle, but the chocolates repeatedly missed ; easy, chances 'of scoring through overcrowding, and generally having no understanding amongst their forwards. Players would persistently make a good opening, dribble the ball to their opponents' danger zone, . and ; then : at. the critical moment would either fumble or else have a shot: from almost impossible positions, rather than pass to their colleagues, who-, often had but the goal-

keeper to bpat. The. fact of Selwyn being in Sydenham's territory and not scoring, cannot be put down" to bad luck,' but it was simply poor play on their.. part. The feature of the- game was the wild hitting of the Selwyn backs. Repeatedly they took the chance of risking flying hits, but on this occasion they "came off," but seldom did the backs, .even attempt to feed their forwards. In this matfeh there #as far t6o much talking, especially in the second spell; the Selwyn men were the worst offenders in this respect. Players should leave what is to be said to'their captain, and in the interests of the game it is to be hoped they will remember this. Brown, in. goal for the chooolates, defended creditably, bringing off several good: clearances per medium of the boot; he had no chance with the shots scored against him. Hay-used" the flying hit stroke far too> frequently*, he seldom missed the ball; but just as seldom did he feed his forwards. But for this stroke Hay would turn out a really goo.d back. Of the halves, Morris, a promoted third grade player,..was easily ,the best, he used coinhiendable discretion in the power of, his strokes, and s£nt, the ball on to his forwards in good srtyle. ;j Joe was the best of the forward line, at all times playing good steady hockey j, he kept his , position well, .and back tackled effectively* -

Wrather made several good but spoilt them by- not passing, leaving, on many occasions, the rest <jf the fort, wards The fornix skdwn byfEown -jta wie right; wing was ttiucli below fifst "gra'cte; he ist| certainly'fast, but sometimes too fast,, as he often overruns' the ball. When!/! attacking he would; do well to remember, that he plays ; wing-forward, not centre,and that. m|". position ''is no^>» hi front' of the goal' posts. | Sherwood *was again out for ■Sydens ham after a season's spell. He played well and improved greatly as the game proceeded, • 1 giving > on«> ..the' 'impression that he will regain his old form} 'quickly;- ;;j Skelton worked-well with Sherwood, and cleared' effectively. 1 'The halves were a very even lot, but* tlie bumpy , nattire of the ground, 'seemed • to trouble them at times. . - -< The : ! forwards' playedi :,well • .together,? although their passing lacked sting, and _ Was often intercepted by thei iSelwyn' backs. The three goals scored, especially Throp ? s,< were all'ifirst-classi shots. . . i :The BOfgame ' did not, produce any really good hockey, neither side having any combination - whatever. The majority of the players were playing their first, game of the season, were sadly out of form. ; ■_ J-y-U.R.C. had a 'good d<?al of their own way in the first in the second, Sydenham were'repeatedly tack, but failed was, a' fitting result; ;.thei day's -.ftlay. B. Jones,' itUgoal;.for -.U3.0., played first-class,iiis. 1 footwork leaving little to be Luxton playei.a good jsteady game, throughout, getting his ; | out of many 1 Of the halyes, ° at centre,. played brilliantiyithroughput. He had the lion's shari^f>Svprk to do, and did it': well. ' ; Kiddey's stick was of immense service to his side, but he, is inclined to obstruct; he, sent the "ball into the circle in good fashion. George combined well "vjith Kiddey, and put in nsefut,mo rk - Henley. .sigtygd' inside biat has not yet '' foiin<i'his new position. T. Butterfield, . in'goal had lijbtle to do, and leSf'ih the second spell# ' C Berry and Bowden were sadly out of form, but made a better showing in the second spell. Of the forwards, Cummins was perhaps the best, the rest being quite out of form. . Cummins found himself re 1 - peatedly unsupported, but witji another game /or twojthe, team should iipister; up some combination,- aud shoiilditurn out a good, strongs even sidie. ;yXr;|,v;.v' Quinton ifipecoyeririg fi'oni-lu's Illness, and will probably- :be out'-igain for Selvvyn in the course" of another week I 01' two. ■: :f i

I understand that there is a probability of.R.T.CowpGr,.donning the Aldington. jersey shortly. . To-morrow should see fit least two very even f ' jr&iiies, iiamely, "SfelWyii' and Christchureh,. Qxfor d,Tejjiafle .versus Te Whaka, while IJ.iI.C. should, have no difficulty in securing a win over East Belt. As Ohristchurch are without several of thelifl&t'year 'sl-best players Selwyn '.sfyqialH '"frfr able to win. The Oxford Te j rra(Je-'J'.e iWhaka ;game should provide ■ a Struggle, as.jpotlji .these teams are'meeting for the first, time in the first grade.