HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 229, 20 June 1908, Page 9

HOCKEY.

[Br "Driver."]

Tho championship matches were continued in beautiful weather on Saturday' lust, and somo very interesting games-resulted. The match between United and Wellington was played on No. 2 ground, Day's.Bay. The ground was vorv fast and. bumpy, and the, forwards could not rely .upon: taking .passes on the run, and invariably they had to stop and hit the ball, or miss the stroke;- The ball would often give a kick and fly ovor tho stick. Consequently the forwards wero ■unable to . institute many passing ■ rushes; Tho\ visitors (United) had rather the better of tho game during tho first spell, but in tho latter half they were, more ca the defensive, and tho result was very nearly mado a draw. On one or two occasions towards tho last, it took the winners .all. their timo to keep_ -their opponents - from- getting through, and in this connection Pearson did excellent defensive work. Organ and Smythe played conspicuously. They not only attacked, but they often fell back to assist' in the defence whero neecssarv. Of the half-backs, King was most prominent, and he played his best game this season. Ho appears to bestriking bis usual form, and tho club hopes that he will maintain it. Tho halves had very solid work to do, and they did their duty well. Dwyer, 011 the right wing, should, rush quicker when another player..has the- ball, instead of backing away. He is, a clean and hard hitter, but he should pass to the forwards. It was noticed that Von Stunner was very slow in hitting after ha had stopped the ball. .

.The Wellington forwards wero in good condition, and they mado the gamo verv fast, JJtteir passing, howercr, was-a littlo-erratic. Uilnch and Beero wero tho two. most prominent. The latter hampers his own play considerably by using only' one hand, and several times on Saturday his stick was knockcd out of his hand and sent down the ,'j , 0 in. this respect, ho wou.d he ouo of the best cf forwards. Ilcid was the mainstay of the half division, and ho played a very creditable game. Ho showed considerable judgment in feeding tho forwards, The team's full-backs were good, but they hit hard without much, idea of airection, and tho result was that the United backs.were ablo to take plenty of time to shoot, and it gave them an opportunity of placing nicely to their forwards. The Welmoll 2° a 'kecpor did not have much to do. lira match of tho season is to he played ?T l -i i P a ' T ' s ® a y> to-day. It is between United and Karori. Tho former team is leading by two points, and if Karori win, thoy (Karori) will only be oven. Interest runs very keen, and the Karori representatives hope that the honours will be with them, thu3 vindicating their explanation of their defeat by Wesley on Saturday week, when they blamed the ground, which was certainly very bumpy. Their, team is strengthened by Campbell, and they aro confident'of victory, but on the other hand, last year's champions, are putting a first-class team in the field, and beyond all doubt, a very interesting contest will take place. It should be .an ideal game from tho spectacular point of view. • • The United Juniors have now a good team, and there is no excuse for them if thev. fail to give a good account of themselves. Their i ranks have been depleted of late by the requirements of tho Seniors, but the latter team has now its full complement. Tho Juniors have a bye to-day. - Tho third-class team will also be strengthened by three of tho Juniors going down, and they should also do well. , Tho # Vivian-Wesley match was very; interesting, and tho result was in doubt until the whistle blow.

Tho Wesley forwards showed no dash, and wero not prominent enough in tho circlo, : thus throwing away tho opportunities gained bv the backs,. Gapper and - Birch should both stop tho ball better than they do. Of the backs, Moody should use his hands more in stopping the'ball. If. these individuals look up a bit it will greatly, help an otherwise good combination. ; ,Tho forwards of both teams lacked combination, the play in consequence being very scrappy. . Donovan ?? , n '.' honied to play with more dash than their fellows, tho others occasionally awakening to <t-ho' fact' that a slight effort was required of them. Of tho halves, R. Thompson and I'argetter did good work, Sanders in goal was as safe as a bank. \ lvian twice placed their i goal in a very perilous position,, two penalty bullies being fought out in their circlo in quick succession, a goal being scored from one. Tho match between Y.M.C.A. and Thorndon was an interesting contetst. The state of the ground (No. 4 Day's Bay) was against good hockey, but, under the circumstances, both teams showed .that they could, adapt themselves to tho state of affairs' by putting iu some good work at _ different times. Combination was at a premium, but of the littlo that was shown the Y.M.C.A.' men had tho hotter of it, especially .in. tho first spell. Tho forwards got quickly to work, A. Parton boing "prominent. This player enhanced his reputation as a goal-getter by bagging the four goals for! Y.M.C.A:; andhe had hard luck in not scoring two more. Loader, on the left wing, justified his promotion from junior ranks by his clean hitting and good centring, but his work would bo more appreciated by his insdie forwards.if ho would centro a littlo sooner. Good was in better form than'the previous Saturday, and at. times put" in some splendid work. R. Parton showed,up now and again. The halves were much better than' in previous games. Luke should feed liis wing instead of continually hitting to the ccntro of the field, and Dawson : would do bettor if he would hit instead of dribbling. This fault of his continually givca the defence time to organise. . Thorndon woke up in the seoond sjsoll, and interesting-play took place, Hunt and Foote being prominent in the forwards. Their first«goal was tho rc-sult of good -following up by Hunt. . Williams waß tho better of tho full backs. Tho team is to bo congratulated on its showing in sonior hockey, and should be encouraged as much as possible. The Manawatu-Auckland '.match has been fixed for August I Nelson lias'asked Auckland for August 8 for tho shield match.

The "Weekly Tress" has tho following:— "It is understood that tho representative ' team for Auckland will be picked on Saturday nest. In the opinion, of several players/ who stand a good chanco.of'being selected, it is not a bit too soor It is not easy for some TJcoplo to obtain leavo from work at any time, much less on short notice, and I think it would have been a good jnovo on the part of the selectors to liavo found out ffhaf men could not get away, and drop them out of the trial games, nutting others who could get away in their places. To win the shield from the Aucldanders, Canterbury will need to put her best -team in tho field, and it behoves the selectors to take no chauces." General satisfaction is expressed at the arrangement by which the Association loses tho use of tho Athletic Park, as they get tho sum of £3o and tho ground, was 'very unsuitable for hockey. The money will clear expenses .that have been incurred and leave a littlo to tho good. This, of course .opens tho much-dobated question of .playing grounds, and next year the position l must bo faced.. Two extra grounds will be ready at Day's Bay, but moro than these will be required: Probably double-banking will help matters, hut there is a difference of opinion on that _ subject. Tho loss of tho Athletic Park will simplv wan that four'senior games will hare to be _ played at Day's Bay. An 'interesting position has arisen-in connection with one of last Saturday's matches. An oxtra ground had to bo borrowed •at Miramarfor a junior fixture. Tho ground was considered too rough, and tho teams refused to play.'. Now thoy apply to havo the match nlnved at n futuro date. It is moro than doubtful whether the request will bo granted.