HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 9

HOCKEY.

(Br Driver.) It was a party of sports, in the truest sense of tho word, who crossed tho harbour on Saturday last to play oil their fixtures, for tho sea was unusually rough, much to tho discomfort of several. of the passengers. However, everyone arrived safely, and tho games wore commenced on their respective grounds in showers of rain. -This continued for about twenty minutes, and after that it ceased, and the matches wero played- under normal conditions. Comment was mado on the fact that the Rugby people considered tho weather too boisterous, and that tho hockey players decided to go on. As it happened, thero was less rain at Day's Bay than in town. ~ Tho games at Day's Bay were interesting, and some good exhibitions of hockey wero seen. A game which .surprised even- tho players themselves was played between Victoria Collego and Vivian on No. 1 Day's Bay. > In tho-first spell, tho\Collegians played a rattling game, and their combination was all that could bo desired, tho spell ending— College 4, Vivian 1. With tho change, however, tho positions were completely reversed, and the Collegians wero put on tho defensivo. Vivian improved with every rush, and as tho gamo proceeded, it becamo exciting. Scores followed each othor in rapid succession, and it was quito impossible to say which toam would win. The gamo ended in a draw, each sido having 5 to their credit when tho whistle blew. Regarding the TJnited-Thorndou match on No. 3 ground, it is only : fair to the losers (Thorndon) to say that they played with only ten men. Tho United forwards played considerably better than they did on tho previous Saturday, and they managed' to get a lot of long passing rushes going from ono sido of tho field to the othor. This has always boon the policy .of this club, as the short passes take more time, thoy are not so effective, and they are easier to inter-

cept. F. and L. Ashbolt did not. play, andtheir places were taken by Luckic and Von Sfcurmer Tho juniors were successful against Vivian at Miramar, although their- captain, Pavitt, was absent from the team. Ho was replaced by P. F. Whitehorn from the thirds. Tho uniors wero very strong, and they aro lilcoly winners for the junior championship. Tho third-grado toam defaulted to St. Patrick's Old Boys, as only five of their players turned up, somo of their men. playing in tho senior and junior teams. Tho Wellington Club played Wesley on No. 2 ground Day's Bay on Saturday, and a very interesting gamo resulted. The Wesloyans' combination was superior to that of their opponents in tho first spell, but in tho latter half tho riper knowledge of the older players came to their assistance, and thoy had tho advantage to:tho finish. Wesley played thrcxf full-backs, and this rather puzzled tho Wellington men at first, and it had a tendency, to throw them offside. Tho gamo was fast, but the combination of both toams was poor. Thero was, howevor, somo brilliant individual play on both sides. The juniors playod four short in the ;match against St. Patrick's Old Boys, and wero beaten by 7 to 3. The thirds played Vivian, and defeated them by 10 to nil. With good practise and hard sticking to tho game* tho thirds shoulll como out on top of the list this year. Tho St. Patrick's College Old Boys junior team aro -to bo congratulated on scoring such a decisive win over Wellington last Saturday. Tho,, ox-Collegians havo experienced, much difficulty since tho formation of their club. Notwithstanding the fact that last season saw them beaten Saturday after Saturday, tho players remained as keen as ever. Tho experience gained by last year's tyros lias served them well, and the club is now in a flourishing condition.- On Saturday Quinn again played - a fine game. At times, howevor, ho is inclined to stfay away form, and scored threo goals. Tho other ablo last week. F. Ryan was also in good form, and scored three goals. The "other scorers .for the Old Boys were Chapman (1), Francis '(2), and Qujnn (2). Advice has been rbceived from Auckland to the effect that it is unlikely that a match for the Shield can take place, as Wellington's challengo was received after a number of others. Tho Aucklanders, howevor, aro desirous of trying conclusions with tho local representatives, but, as under the circumstances, a game would have no result I regarding tho Shield,' the idea'is not looked upon with favour, but it is still possiblo that a match/will bo played. The'Hawke's Bay Association has accepted an offor from Mr. A. Dillon, M.P., to furnish , tho representative team with jerseys.' The following is taken from tho circular to secretaries and referees for the information of thoso interested:—. ' "No play shall bo allowed on tho Day's Bay grounds on Saturdays-before 3 p.m. without special permission being obtained. "Tho Association's referees arq instructed strictly to enforce tho rule as to wearing of colours. "Each coinpoting team in championship matches, shall supply, upon each Saturday, a white ball, according to rule 6, tho balls to be used ono in each spell, so that each team may supply its fair proportion of balls during tho season, provided that when teams aro playing upon tho Athletic Park, each team shall provide two balls instead of one, the reforoes being instructed to report any team making default regarding the' by-law. • "Any club owning a ground upon which championship matches aro played shall havo its goal posts and bars painted white, and shall also provido goal nets,. both to be to the satisfaction of tho Match Committee. "The secretaries of each club are instructed to supply a report of tlie result' of their several matches in each week, not later than Tuesday." On account of tho football match between : Wellington and the Britishers last Wednesday, tho Wednesday Association did not play i any games..