HOCKEY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 150, 31 July 1914, Page 2

HOCKEY.

I THE TRIAL MATCH. { The contest competitions were agai* postponed last Saturday, and trial matches were played in view of the Ashburton and Shield matches. At Addington Reserve the teams chosen did not show much keenness or enthusiasm, some players thinking it quite good enough to arrive half an hour late, while others did not feel inclined to attend at all. At Sydenham Park the A team was bent on reversing the order of things on the previous Saturday, when it was well beaten by the B's. The form shown last Saturday by the A's was a great improvement on their previous exhibition, the forwards working well, while the backs performed more as representatives should perform. The score at half-time (3 to 2) was a fair indication of the play in the first spell, but in the second half, when several changes were made, there was only one team in the race. Seldom did the B's pass the half-way-line, much less* increase .tlieir score. i Hawkins's display at inside right wfcs brilliant, and a great improvement on that of Hulbert, who, unfortunately, has been labouring. ; with big odds against him, he not having recovered from injuries to one of his feet, met with in a recent game. . . . THE OMISSION OF-PASCOE. In the half line Duffield has replaced Pascoe, but whether the team has strengthened by his inclusion has yet to' be proved. Duffield has not been in company with the rest of the challenge teafri yet, but he is a player who can work in with almost any team, and lie has one day in which to overcome the peculiarities of a somewhat new position. In the writer's opinion the exclusion of Pascoe was not warranted. Until last Saturday, the position had not been decided, and presuming that both men had equal chances Pascoe's game should, I think, have given him the preference. He played a fine game throughout.. So did Duffield, but his was v not as solid as Pascoe's. The latter showed much improvement in his clearing, whilst his defence was as solid as ever. Canterbury has certainly got a first-class man in Duffield, a clever stick-player, but that does not necessarily mean that he is the better of tlie two. Bellamy, in goal for the representatives, brought off some clever saves, but was not troubled in the second spell. Sherwood and Martin both showed an improvement on their previous Saturday's game. Playing -closer to their halves, they we*re.'in- a'better to stop opposition fOrwawd rushes after the halves had beeh beaten. Their distance from the halves was the secret of their failure the"'week before. Parton played in the best of form, getting through an immense amount of work, most satisfactorily; lie-fed the-left'arid right with commendable discretion. Sepie did daofr givoiithe; Solid:' display which he is capabld'bfy!but dftspitethis he got in some very. .usofiuL work. As previously ineniitonedy Paseoe played possibly his best game' this- season,placinghis forwiards.inri»a»y.good positions with well-placed A BRILLIANT' PAIR/' ; Patrick gave .his performance in the. first spell* put in the' secori'd, with Hawkins alongside him, his play was splendid... Many good centres didhe send in, and he tackled his opposing back as the Patrick of old used to do. Hawkins played his usual dashing game at inside-left in the first spell, but when he took Hulbert's place in the second spell he clearly showed that his natural position is on the right. His play could harldy be improved, his back-tackling was splendid, and his work in the lineouts gave his side many good positions. Throp, too, relished the change at halftime, and gave a glimpse of the,capabilities he undoubtedly possesses. Grammar played a very solid game,-and ' passed the ball always to where the best opening was. Cha'ppell did not show up quite as prominently as he has done in club fixtures, but this may" be accounted for by the fact that he did not get a great deal Of work to, do. Playing with an entirely new inside-left in the second spell did not assist him. THE ; B TEAM. Brown, in goal for the B's, saved several hot shots, and the majority of those that beat him were .exceptional < Lotties.'' The third goal scored by the A's was the easiest of shots,, and should have been stopped. But Brown is like the majority of good goalkeepers—the shots which best them are generally the easy ones. Bowden again gave a great exhibition; his stick work was delightful to watch. Berry in tha first spell played well, but in the second he found Patrick and Hawkins, especially the latter, too "warm" for him; following the ball up fast, the representatives gave Berry little chance Jof clearing. At last his back-handed stroke got him into trouble, he being penalised for this in the game under review. Duffield was the best of the halves, giving a good all-round performance. Arnold was agaiu a stumbling-block to the rep. forwards, he cuttingrout in grand fashion. His left-handed stickplay stood him in good stead, and upset many dangerous-looking opposition forIward movements. Burrows performed [creditably in the first "spell, but when Hawkins livened Patrick up the pair got '' all over'' the little East Belt warrior. Cummins, at bully, gave another pleasing display, accepting passes on his stick ' very cleverly indeed. w arburton played another good ganie, and followed the ball about just as an inside forward should. Hulbert bettor in the second than in the first spell, but his ill a v generally has not shown that dash which has made his name notable in Christchurch hockey circles. Hutchings was a great improvement on Wilson, on the right-wing; his centres were well placed, and he sent m se.\eial first-class shots. . . The team which is going m, quest of the shield will leaA'e Christchurch on Tuesday next, arriving in Auckland on Thursday morning and playing Auckland on the,. Saturday. On the following Monday it will play Manawatu at Palmerston North, and will I hope with the coveted trophy held by the New Zealand champions.

Other sporting and athletic notes mill "be found on page nine-