HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 247, 11 July 1908, Page 9

HOCKEY.

[Bt Deivee.]

After a spell of a few weeks the Wellington. Hockey • Association's . championship matches were re-commenced, on Saturday last. All senior matches are now played at Day's Bay, and the juniors at Miramar. The' weather was very wet prior to Saturday, and as a result the grounds were slippery,_ although not so bad as. was anticipated. Since Saturday, tho weather has not been. desirable, from a hockey point of view, but it is hoped that tho conditions will be favourable for to-day's matches. Interest Is running high in the_ Canterbury representative match, 'which is .to be played 011 Wednesday, and the team to .tb-. present Wellington Will be chosen to-night. Canterbury plays Auckland for ■ the challenge shield this afternoon, and the result will be eagerly awaited.- : : ■The " Weekly Press" lias the followiiigH- " The . Canterbury executivo is to bp , congratulated upon selecting Mr. D.'Manson as manager; of tho challenge team'. ?>lr..Manson has done a great deal for hookey locally, and as 110 is well known to' practically all the team, I am sure that all parties concerned will be highly satisfied." The match which has evoked the greatest interest was that between United and Karori., It was decided on No. 1 ground'in the presence of a good number of spectators, and a very fast , gamo resulted. /The barrackers for each team lined up at-opposite sides of .the field, it being noticeable .that. thoy-.did not-mix. Although both sides wore very .determined to win, ..'itv is ; pleasing to record that thero was '..an entire absence of rough or unsportsmanlike .play on ..'either .' side.

"It must be admitted' that United .took a bold step, and much-risk, in altering the positions of two of their team just prior to such" an important riiatch without a trial practice. Hollis, previously right-half, came up into Matthews's position as left inside forward, while L. Aslibolt .was brought .up ■from full-back into Hollis's position. That the change in the forward line was an. improvement, and justified by results cannot bo denied, and Hollis is to be congratulated on his performance. . The other alteration, perhaps, was not so happy. Aslibolt, on Account of his absenco- from the hockey field for somo weeks, was unable to keep up with his forwards through want of condition. The position will suit ; him, however, when ho strikos better form. Thefe was thus very little to choose between tho.. two forward lines; Tho Blacks (ICarori) were "successful in carrying out several very, lino ; forward rushes, each man taking part in a series of fairly short "passes.' The ' Uniteds 'adopted' long, well juaged passes, thus making their' attacks,- move deadly' on account of their 'extreme suddenness. Spiythe, Birkett, „ and Elliott -gave a splendid 'display, of ; hockey',, tho latter, perhaps, playing his best game this season. Birkett is very strong in field play, and it is a pity his circle work suffers somewhat in comparison. It is considered essential that the wing-forward should centre as soon as possible alter'crossing-tho 'oppo; nents' twenty-five line. ' Organ ; seldSnr does this, and tho .effectiveness of his, good work suffors very often through carrying the ball almost to the &oal lih6 before' hitting for tho centre: King was tho prominent feature of the Reds' half-line, his judgment in feeding the forwards, and good defence work making him conscipuons. Exley, on the left, 1 did not play his usual game, his hitting being unreliable. Hickson and F. Ashbolt, as fullbacks, had considerable work ,to do- in stemming tho hot attacks : of. tho Black forwards, and did it very well. Ashbolt had very, hard luck in breaking his stick during a scramble in tho Reds' circle,' from which, a- goal wasfinally,'secured! Pearson, -in'goal,' had little chanco-of preventing the goals scored except tho last one, when he.took a speculator and missed, although ho had time to stop' with hand or body.

That the Karori side was the better, team on the day's, play very few will deny. The suocess of the Blacks was mostly due to the very solid combined play of the forwards, and the splendid manner in: which Campbell kept in touch with and nursed his front line. Tho forwards wero a very oven lot, but possibly Willis deserves extra praiso. On that day's showing, he probably deserves tho distinction of being the best right wing in Wellington. There has always been a tondoncy on tho-part of. Karori halfbacks, and particularly Campbell, to feed their left wing almost continually. This was less noticeable oil Saturday, but still the right wing should be better attended to, especially with a man like Willis to feed. Cathio, the left half-back, acquitted himself very well, and was instrumental in helping his forwards to make openings. The two full-back's were called upon to beat out. some very warm by the Bed for-wards,-and'it must bo-said they were quite equal to the occasion.. The left full-back might to advantage'be quicker in'stopping tho ball and, getting his hit.,in, as it.was noticeable that he. often was bustled by the opposing forwards_ before he got the ball away, although given amplo time. An interesting match took place between Wellington and Victoria College, in which, the former were the victors by 12 to 4.- The Wellington forwards-played up to tip-top pitch, and simply raced over tho defending backs. Ulrich and Beero did excellent work in the forwards,, and Caldow,-, wing, centred nicely on soveral occasions. Rcid was absent from tho. Wellington team, and Doughty took his place at contre, and came through very ' creditably. ' Harty, full-backj ' -was found to bo a hard.man to.pass. If:the forwards maintain last Saturday's standard, they will be a force to, be reckoned with in the second round. . The United juniors played Wellington at Miramar oil Saturday, last. They had their best team of t-hd season on the'field; and,,as I was predicted,,they showed! a great improve--'ment, and they won' by six 'to .one.., It isconfidently anticipated that .the team willkeep together from now onward, and, give a good showing. Tho St. .lolm's Bible Class Hockey Club under the control of Mr. J. Boal, their coach, paid a visit to Nelson on Friday week,.and they played tho Thistle Club the; next day. Tho home team won by four to nil. It was a splendid game, and it was keenly contested, but tho local _ team had tho better combination. Tho visitors' wero.most hospitably entertained. at Nelson, and .they had a pieasant holiday. They returned on Tuesday night. : . -_- : - Tho Kia Toas (Greytown) have put up a splendid'record this season. Tho '.'.Hughes Shield" matches have concluded and tho Kia 'Ton. lino has only been crossed onco. On that occasion, the'redoubtablo player was Miss Olivo Richards, of the Kiwi Club, Masterton. By a clever piece of play, sho got through tlie posts and cake-walked in doing it. The Victorian .torn will-play the first of three matches against New South Wales at Sydney on August 22. . ,Tho New South..AVales Association has roceived a letter from the Hamburg Hockey Association, of Germany, forwarding,-an invitation to send a team to take part in the annual tournament in that city next Easter. This is an important hockey fixture, in which several English teams' participate. : Tho Association does not yet seo aiiy probability of tho visit being paid. ■