LACROSSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 147, 22 June 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

LACROSSE.

None of the championship games last week were particularly interesting from a spectator's point of. view. The Suburbs-Ponsonby B game was 4he best contested, but owing to the fait that several of tils season's players were engaged the standard^ of play was not as good as usual. The Ponsonbyites felt the want of a reliable scoring "home," as on several occasions fine openings *or snooting at goal were made but were literally thrown away. If Suburbs manage to keep the team which, played last week together now, they will have a much better record than hitherto. The material is there, but combination is the chief thing lacking, and to overcome this they will experience great difficulty, as the members live so far apart from each other. Alan Brown as captain so far has proved a success. Besides doing good defence work he is always on the alert, handling his team well. J. Thomson in goal has improved a lot of late. Dawson, the ex-Graftonite, is a solid grafter, but he is too rough. Thorpe, who has lately returned from South Africa, kept goal for Ponsonby B, and succeeded in stopping several hard shots. Harris, Bartlett, and Robinson are quickly grasping the fine points of the game. Some members of the Parnell and North Shore Clubs were at the Rotorua celebrations, and consequently both teams played short-handed. The members of the Grey Lynn teams displayed much improved form when playing against Ponsonby last week. Their passing work was, when they got an opportunity, well timed. Brndly 1 noticed has dropped most of his old style of play, and appeared to great advantage. A. Walton as "home" plays with great dash and dexterity, and keeps his position well. His brother Harold also accounts for at lot of serviceable work. Madden, Moncur, Cooper, and Moody are picking up the finer points of the game quickly. Anderson (Ponsonby) was tried at "hpme," and filled the position capably. Gallagher at cover point is a very hard man to pass, and is generally quickest at getting rid of the bail. Mason, Nolan, and Robinson are all players of the safe order.

Mr A. A. Davis left for Australia last Monday.

I hear Mr J. Alexander intends resigningl his position as a member of the managing council, owing to his inability to devote the necessary time that the position requires.

In all probability the association •will make a small charge of admission to the Ponsonby-Grafton match, which takes place on July 13th.

The council are considering the question v,of holding- a la crosse sports meeting1 this season. The matter is worthy of deep consideration, bxit I am afraid a lot of obstacles 'will be in the way.

Players would do well to remember to back up more. When two players are engaged in a duel, tlie nearest one who is not engaged should hover round the duellists, and take advantage of the ball coming away, and not stand from a distance and watch the duel. The majority of our points and cover-points do not recognise the big responsibilities attached to^these positions. Point checks first home upon whose movements his own very much depend. But, whatever first home does point must never wander very far away from goal, nor, on the other hand, may he back in upon it, as doing that practically reduces the side to eleven men, for goal-keeper cannot see what is going on. Backing upon goal is one of the' very worst faults pf which point can be

guilty. A shot is made in front of point, who tries to stop it and fails. Until the ball passes him, goal-keeper has seen nothing of it, and the notice is too short for that player to deal with a swift ball. If first home takes up a position close to the goal crease, point should stand close in front of him in such a way as to impede passes, but never so directly in front that he loses sight of him, although goalkeeper of course would always warn point if first home were slipping away unperceived. In the ordinary course of events, with first home standing well out, point would be at his shoulder, a trifle inside towards the goal. Point's throw should be straight down the centre of the field, and it should reach about third home's position. Besides looking after first home, point has to be on the alert to intercept attackers who have evaded the attentions of cover point and fhird man-

The play at coverpoint is not so concentrated as it is farther back. The mission of seeorid home whom cover-point checks being to feed first home, or shoot for goal himself, it follows that cover-point's normal position is just inside second home, first and' second home generally standing- on opposite sides of the goal. If second home is addicted to straying1 about, cover point should permit himself come latitude in following, because, if second home is allowed to be loose, the ball will come to him sooner or later, and too near goal to be pleasant. It is a difficult thing for a beginner to know what to do. in cover-point's position in all cases. If second home wanders out as far as third home's position let him go. Point and cover-point should be continually in support of one another, one or the other always being inside as the first line of defence.