HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 199, 16 May 1908, Page 9

HOCKEY.

[By "Driver."]

Tho hockey matches were postponed last Saturday owing to bad weather;. or, rather, it was presumably owing to bad weather. Tho morning was certainly rather threatening, but when tho sun came out about 11 o'clock, and there were no notices posted lip, hockey enthusiasts thought' that perhaps after all they might not be deprived of their game. However, about 1 o'clock notices wero put up announcing that all hockey was off. Owing to the tardiness of tho Association in making this announcement' many players turned out, only to find when they reached the ground that there was no game. Tho new comniittco has certainly begun their year badly, for such bungling can only have a detrimental effect upon hockey. Matches should not be put off unless there is some real cause for it. Last year, matches were postponed on the slightest .protect, and, in consequence, tho season was very late fn closing. This year, owing to tho larger number of teams playing, and tho late start that has been made, things will be even worso, unless tho committee dccidcs to play matches except when it is absolutely , impossible to do so. On Saturday it was said that the Miramar grounds were in very good condition, and even if ■ the matches at Day's Bay had to be abandoned, tho junior and third-class matches at Miramar might, still have been played. Although thero is always a certain amount of grumbling among any players; tho hockey players certainly think they have a grievance about the postponement of their matches. They do not-

want their matches put off so that they may go and watch ' a football match, arid the hockey player who only plays hockey until thero is a good football match to watch is not wanted amongst tho ranks of-hockey enthusiasts.

As thero are no matches to criticiso, and as thero are a good many new players this season, a few hints on the respective positions of players in the field may be of some littlo assistance to them in gaining a wider knowledge of tho gamo. Tho United senior team is last year's team, with the exception of Claude Hickson, who has been a member and played with the club for soveral years. This lfc a decided loss, as ho was ono of the best, full-backs in Wellington. - His place will bo taken by L. Ashbolt, ono of last year's second eleven. Tho club was formed ten years ago, and it is remarked that four of tho irembers of that time are still in'the team. Up to two years ago thero wero eight members, of tho original team playing. This is striking testimony to tho enthusiasm of tbosa players. Tho juniors have a fairly strong team this year, and it is expected that tho third-class team will be much nearer tho top at the finish than they were last year. The latter are putting in hard work, and they deserve every encouragement. ' Admitting that most of the gamo is learnt by actual play, still it cannot bo denied that a very great deal can bo learnt off the field. With this idea in view, I shall start with the position of goajkeeper, and work up to tho forward line, giving, as stated before, some tips regarding each. (

Goalkeeper.—Of this position, though undoubtcdlv ail important ono, I shall say but two things. Many goalkeepers think that their duty consists solely in remaining between tho uprights and trying to stop tho ball when a shot is matlo. They aro. quite right, as far as they go, but surely a goalkeeper will be of far,grcater valuo to;his. side if lie can fill the. position of a third full-back, coming out of his circle to take somo active part in, the defence' whenever occasion' demands it. Never, however, let him bo-in a position frpm whicli he cannot get'back instantly.

Full-back. —Rarely a goalkeeper or a fullback should speculate. You may get a very serviceable hit on to a flying ball nine times out of ten, but the tenth iirce you'miss, and a forward is on to the ball before you can recover, and . unless tho. other hill-backs gather round, scores a very easy goal. Is it worth risking? More than one match lias beon lost through speculation. Therefore first stop tho ball, and then get your hit in if possible.

Hitting.—Whenever a hit is made it should be done with some fixed idea. Either give tho ball to ono of your .men or else find the line, gaining as much ground as possible. A hit mado at random, is'of very little.'use. Never, hit*across your own goal. Tho reason for this is very apparent, because .by so doing a pass is. given to an opponent, who naturally makes the most of' tho opportunity. Whenever ,thc 'ball is within your own circle hit hard for the side lines, i'requontly a defending back hits straight. up : tho field at tho legs of the on-rushing forwards, whon a hard quick hit to the line would relievo the strain and give the halves and forwards time to got back. , '

' Half-backs.—These three players form tho backbone of an eleven.. Without good' halves tho besj; of forwards are hampered to .such an extent as to bo of very little use. During attack the • halves must • play the whole time just behind tho forwards, their work being to return ,the' ball_ to the forwards should they bo beaten for it. Then at any moment, should tho tables be turned and attack become defence, tho halves must get back as quickly as possible to support the full-backs. The position of -.wing-half deserves some special attention., The right or left half is told off, or, rather, should be, to watch and check or intercept the opposing wing forward. A tendency with wing halves is to como too far in-field and neglect their charges on the wing. Remember that when five forwards como down the field in a line, tho centre-half opposes ' the " bully," tho wing halves attack or intercep the wing forwards" and the two full-backs aro concerned with the two inside men. This is ,tho ideal of hockey defence. Nevertheless, if wing halves p'oukl only keep further out . tho work of defence would be made much-easier. Remember also that, in order that tho work of a half may bo effective, it must bo done immediately. Forwards. —Forwards havo a tendency to bunch together as tho ball approaches the circlo. This is fatal to shooting, and if the ball should branch off, as,it very frequently does, a defending back has plenty of time to clear with a |iiie hit. On very raro occasions should tho wing forwards bo. liearnr tho goal than tho extremities' of tho circle. More unselfish play and more jiassmg can, in most cases, bo introduced into forward lines with advantage;. It is a great mistake to entrust all shooting to oiTo man, as lie soon becomes known, and is consequently woll marked. All forwards should to a certain degree take part in the actual shooting at goal. Passing right across field frequently gives good results, especially if tho play has had a tendency to keep to ono sido of tho field for some time. Tha defence naturally moves over in this direction, leav : ing two unopposed forwards on tho other sido. In dribbling nover hit too hard, but keep always on the ball, and by so. doing ono s chances of keeping possession are very greatly increased.

THE 'WEDNESDAY ASSOCIATION. Tho season was opened in beautiful weather on Wednesday, and the form shown by players was considered fairly satisfactory, although thoro is room for decided improvement. The play in the match between Y.M.C.A. 1 and Artillery was not by any means up to standard, but no doubt an improvement will bo observed in a week or two. The Artillery representatives should follow the example of their opponents in the way of playing an open game and not bunching themselves. Tho referee.had a.difficulty in restraining the enthusiasts from raising their sticks. Caution is needed in this respect. An interesting match was played between Federal A. and Karori, but if tho winners (Federals) desire to uphold their reputation they should see that their team has its full complement. Both sides talked too much during. the progress of the game and questioned tho referee's decisions. This is a feature which can, advantageously, be dispensed with. A good match took placd between Pakeha A and B at the Basin Reserve, but tho A's wero too superior, although their opponents played a determined and very creditable game. Kuch did excellent work for tho losers, but his hits should bo followed up more smartly. A match of average character was played between Federal I! and Y.M.C.A. 2. One player on the winning .side (Federals) played a very selfish game, otherwise tho scoro would have been larger.

Tho following are the fixeures for noxt WednesdayY.M.C.A. 1 v. Federal, on tho Federal ground; Pakeha A v. Y.JJ.C.A. 2, at tho Basin Reserve; Artilery v. Pakeha B, on tho Y.M.C.A. ground; Federal B v. Karori, at Korori.