HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1907, Page 12

HOCKEY.

Last Saturday was an ideal day for hockey. On the Domain United had rather a lopsided game with Ponsonby, fend University easily accounted for Auckland Bat Remuera. St. George's made a great fight against Auckland A, but went under. At one stage of the game it looked like ending in a draw. I notice that there is a tendency among players, mostly juniors, to appeal for any trifling breach. A most objeertionable point in "hockey is the habit of appealing. Fortunately, it has not reached any great extent in Auckland, although theTe was a little too much of it in some of the matches last Saturday. Players should remember that the object, of the new rules, in allowing the referee sole control, is to promote a faster and more interesting game, and not develop into a whistling farce, as experienced by the Auckland reps, during their second match in the North Island last year when on tour. It would be a wise move if captains of teams instructed their men to play to the whistle, and keep, silent .during tbe game. Another matter I wish to bring before players is contained in Rule 12, relating to rough play. In one of the senior matches the referee had occasion to caution one ofcthe players, a step which I am pleased to say has rarely been taken in Auckland. It is the only way to keep the game np to the standard it has attained here, and I am glad to see the referee dealt with the case so firmly. The game between Auckland A and St. George's could not by any means be called a good exposition of hockey. In fact, to the onlooker it seemed nothing better than a scramble. The fine open work, so often characteristic of the Auckland team, was absent. They seemed entirely at sea, and there was nothing to account for it. Certainly, Mather was absent, and Brooke-Smith -was missing from the half-line, but that should not have affected their combined work to so great an extent. Had it not been for I am sure St. George's would have won. Notwithstanding that the Auckland team were not at their best, St. George's made a great fight, and their electrical forward dashes must have disconcerted their opponents, notwithstanding they were withou ttwo of thenregular forwards. Indeed, they made the pace too hot, for it was only on tiring that Auckland managed to register their goals. lam sure if they opened out their play more they would even show to better advantage. They have a very fast lot of forwards, which are well supported by the backs. Howell's position in, goal for Auckland was a sinecure. Hill had a great deal to do at full-back, and came through it very satisfactorily. Allen, on the other hand, did not play his usual game, both hitting and tackling being below form. Whitley was called upon to fill the

that the object of the new rules, in allowing tbe referee sole control, is to promote a faster and more interesting game, and not develop into a whistling farce, as experienced by the Auckland reps, during their second match in the North Island last year when on tour. It would be a wise move if captains of teams instructed their men to play to the whistle, and keep, silent during, the game. Another matter I wish to bring before players is contained in Rule 12, relating to rough play. In one of the senior matches the referee had occasion to caution one ofcthe players., a step which I am pleased to say has rarely been taken in Auckland. It is the only way to keep the game up to the standard it has attained here, and I am glad to see the referee dealt with the case so firmly. The game between Auckland A and St. George's could not by any means be called a good exposition of hockey. In fact, to the onlooker it seemed nothing better than a scramble. The fine open work, so often characteristic of the Auckland team, was absent. They seemed entirely at sea, and there was nothing to account for it. Certainly, Mather was absent, and Brooke-Smith -was missing from the half-line, but that should not have affected their combined work to so great an extent. Had it not been for Mason, I am sure St. George's would have won. Notwithstanding that the Auckland team were not at their best, St. George's made a great fight, and their electrical forward dashes must have disconcerted their opponents, notwithstanding they were withou ttwo of thenregular forwards. Indeed, they made the pace too hot, for it was only on tiring that Auckland managed to register their goals. lam sure if they opened out their play more they would even show to better advantage. They have a very fast lot of forwards, which are well supported by the backs. Howell's position in r goal for Auckland was a sinecure. Hill had a great deal to do at full-back, and came through it very satisfactorily. Allen, on the other hand, did not play his usual game, both hitting and tackling being below form. Whitley was called upon to fill the position of centre-half, and did a great deal of stopping. Elliott, who hails from the Old Country, was short of condition, but gave one the impression of being a top-notcher. Mason stood out prominently in the forward line, and it was mainly owing to his determined play and good shooting that his side were victorious. He has registered eight goals out of tbe eleven scored by his side this year. • Lepine and Jessuj* were the best Of the remaining lot, the former showing good judgment in line play.. Gilmour, custodian for St. George's, shaped well, having some real hot ones to stop. I was pleased to see H. Whyte out for St, George's, and especially during the early part of the game showed something like his old form. Sherman was also prominent in the full-back line. Steele was tbe mainstay of tbe baitline, his hitting and stopping being very solid. The forwards all grafted bard, and are a very willing lot, but lost one j or two good opportunities in the circle.! Tattley and Skipworth were the best, the latter's dashes up the line being excellent, while Tattley, at centre, kept tbe opposing back fully occupied, and also landed a neat goal. After Ponsonbys display the previous week I expected the western players to make a closer fight with United, but they impressed mc with the idea thatk they bad gone on to be beaten and only on one or two occasions showed glimpses lof their best form. Price gave a fine display in goal for Ponsonby, and stopped some real hot ones. This player shows to greater advantage as guardian of the net than jin the full-back line. | Wakefield was by far the best of Ponsonby's remaining backs, playing a hard game, tackling and stopping well, givinor his forwards good passes. The Ponsonby forwards, especially I Young as outside left, aided materially in allowing United to score so heavily by not tackling, thereby throwing the back division right out of order, and causing confusion and crowding. i Both Phillips and Donovan would i often meet with greater success by keep- ; ing the ball instead of sending long passes across to the left. | Brown's display at wing half for ' United was a fine exhibition, and I am pleased to see this player regaining his i form. Barry had a day out, scoring goals, placing six to his credit. Each of tbe United forwards -were successful in scoring. The only score registered by Ponsonby was the result of fine work by I Phillips and Donovan, who carried the | ball from the half-way to the circle and I then transferred to Young. j A wire has just been received from the Otago Hockey Association that their ; rep. team will tour New Zealand in July, i and they play Auckland at Auckland on ! Saturday, July 13. This is good news !to all Hockeyites, and tbe match will "be 1 looked forward to with great interest. ; JUNIORS. J The Training College—Ponsonby match I was too one-sided to be interesting. The I College was quick to notice the weak- • ness of the opposing backs, and, not bothering to use their wings as much as j usual, attacked straight down the centre. | The game was a succession of these attacks, resulting in 10 goals to 0. i Crispe, centre forward, put in some j very hot shots. Masefield is a bustler. I but he should not hit quite so hard and ! straight ahead. A. Web3ter played j well, but was not in his place on several I occasions. Cottrell on the right wing | must overcome his tendency to play too I near the centre if he wishes to be effeci 1 tive. , '■ I In the halves Gerrand showed good i' form with the stick. Mark left the opI i posing wing too free and crowded his ■ centre too much. Rowe, centre, played • ;his first game in the position and got '- ; through a great deal of work both on - j attack and defence. Kis pace enabled fjhiffi to keep up close behind his forwards I I on attack, and to get back with the 1 fulls when needed.

H. Webster wa3 safe at full-back, and Beeson showed an improvement in his stopping. Auckland had a walk-over with United 8., the latter only mustering five men, and the match developed into a scratch, game. It was good practice, and the former team should render a good account of themselves, several of the new members showing very promising form. College Rifles defeated Varsity out at the new ground at Epsom by seven goals to one. The game was very evenly contested, but better combination in the second spell by College told against the blues. Cotton, in goal for College, played his usual hard game, and sto-pped some hot shots. Wilson and Ching were very reliable, and. hit out very well Hardle on the right half played his best game this season, and has improved greatly from last year, his hitting and stopping being very good. Steele was just as quick as ever, and feeds his forwards splendidly. B. Alexander has improved a lot of late, and stops much hetter. The forwards are a very fast and even lot, playing together better each Saturday. The wings should hit a little quicker and centre more. Alexander has played better games, Bagnall keeps his place well and hits well. Woodroffe and Rutherford are two very good insides and follow up very well. Hesketh kept a little too far up in the first spell, but made amends for it iv the second half, playing a welljudged and unselfish game.