LACROSSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 129, 1 June 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

LACROSSE.

Last Saturday, being an off-day, a practice game was arranged, and a poor exhibition it was. The teams were- composed of about 17 players each, and the play showed how slow it makes the game when played with too many men on each side. The first series of the first round of ' the championship matches was played this afternoon. Nex"t Saturday afternoon a very interesting contest will be that between the Ponsonby "A" team and North Shore. Both of these teams had three great "goes" last season, Ponsonby managing to come out on top on each occasion by a close margin. Both are said to be as strong as ever. I expect a very close game. Another game which wiil create a lot of interest will be the Grafton-Par-nell match. The latter team has a lot of new blood in it, and some of its new players have shown firstrate form at practice. The Graftonites will, of course, be favourites, but they will have to go "all out" from the jump to claim victory. Kelly, a member of the North Shore Club, who went away with the "Federal Contingent, returned last week, and will be found in the ranks of the Shore team this afternoon. While in Sydney he saw a match played, and took a part in a practice game. He predicts that if our players still continue to improve as they have done in the past, in a short time they will be able to give the Welshmen a very warm time of it. I gather from press notices that la crosse in Australia this season is stronger than ever it was. "A large number of noted cricketers and athletes have taken up the game. The

New South Wales la crosse representative team meets Victoria on July 20th, and Adelaide on July 27th. Our local Referees' Association will not have the services of two of its last year's most useful members, Messrs. W. and G. Robinson, both having- decided to play the game, and will be found wearing- the. blue, and black colours (Ponsonby). The. Ponsonby La Crosse Club, f hear, was anxious to get the use of the Football Club's training shed one evening a week, but the terms offered were very severe. Ponsonby's "B" team has several promising players in it; in fact, a few of thorn would do credit to the "A" team. It is chiefly composed of this season's players, and I had an opportunity of seeing some of them at practice last Friday and Saturday. Graham struck me as being the most advanced player of the lot, and seemed to show up no matter what position he played in. Harris, Eees, Bourke, Bartlett and Dow are new at the game yet, but will be heard of before many weeks have passed. Treston, skipper of the Grey Lynn team, is working hard getting his men together and coaching. He has; unfortunately, a rather stiff task, for most of the members are playing the game for the first time this season. However, they are picking up the game as well as can be expected. T. Moncur has been practising with a ciew to getting a place in the team. His pace will be of great service to him. Of other new players McKenzie, W. Glimmer. Madden and Walton are said to be shaping well. With Ward, Cunliffe, Fairburn and McKnight Parnell will have a very formidable defence, and opposing attackers will find great difficulty in breaking through the cordon. On several occasions lately I have noticed that when at attack player gets possession of the ball, when in a good position near goal, he is allowed by the opposing defence to shoot unmolested, the defence man relying on his ability to stop the shot after it has left his opponent's crosse. This is a mistake. The checker should be within the length of his crosse of the thrower, whose , crosse he watches, and, as the forward movement of the throw is made, the checker darts out his crosse at arm's length, the result being that it meets the other crosse somewhere midway in the course of the throw. Great care must be taken in thrusting the crosse out that the "butt" (that is, the end of the crosse) does not point toward the body, but to one side, as the violent contact with the other orosse might cause injury. This check may seem to many a very bold one, but it is absolutely safe. If the checker is easily within range he has nothing to do but thrust out his crosse at the proper moment. If he is running in at the opponent, and is doubtful about getting close enough in time, he must have his erosse ready to bring up as the throw is made, covering his head with it. By carefully watching the opponent's crosse it is possible to judge the direction of the throw, and it is astounding how often the ball may be taken straight from the crosse, as it were. Do not raise the crosse before it is absolutely necessary, as it is easy to throw past a prematurelyraised orosse. It is necessary for young player,s to remember that in checking another player's crosse they should do so by many little blows, instead of by one heavy "slog," which is dangerous and praotieallv useless. The essence of good checking is to spoil the opponent's throw, and this can be done effectually by very moderate -force. When approaching a man about to throw from the rear it is enough to push in the crosse between his crosse and his arm; no blow at all is necessary. No checker should pursue a running- opponent beyond the position for the next defence player, it being the duty of the last-named to come out to intercept, his opponent being taken in hand by the original pursuer. Bodychecking is very rarely practiced here. When well carried out it is very disconcerting to the dodger, The checker must take no notice whatever of the dodger's crosse or the ball, but simply study to place himself in the way so that he cannot pass.

I have not noticed much improvement in the throwing powers of most of our defence players so far this season. Unless a defence nian is a decent thrower and quick at getting the ball away, he cannot expect to be of much service to his team.