HOCKET

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 306, 19 September 1908, Page 9

HOCKET

' ,• : r ■■. . . [By Ditrvm.] The senior and .third-class .championship hockey matches ..wore continued .at Day's Bay last Saturday. ! The 'match.- on (No.. 1 ground,. between Karbriand Vivian, was scrappy-arid devoid of interest.' ' The ■ former' were ; unfortunate in the l absence' of . the Clampbeli brothers, and'they wore defeated. . It is to be regretted that Karori have defaulted 'to Victoria Col-, lege, for to-day's match.Of late, they seem to have been discouraged,'■ and even talk of breaking 'up and joining other- clubs. Time,: however, will mend old grievances, and we are sure to see them l next'season fighting Karori's'battles anow. Let us hope, at least, that. it will be so.

A match of spectacular interest took place on No.-.3 ground between United and Victoria College, tho result being a draw. The Collegians', were at their best, and they played a more dashing game than their opponents; who'did riot seem quite up to fighting pitch,. Tho forwards of both' teams were exceptionally good, Oram ■ and Strack being conspicuous, for College, and Elliott and Smythe' for United. Birketfc seemed to be taking a day off, and F. Ashbolt has'not yet recovered his - old form since his illness. Hickson; iit right full-back, put in excellent work. The United third-class team has defaulted, as it was' found impossible to keep the team together, as they have been drawn upon by the Juniors, some of whom have had to play senior. • The following table gives the positions of the various senior teams up to the present FIRST ROUND.

The figures'arc very interesting, and show that some of the teams played very differently in the first and second rounds. For instance, Victoria College only won 0110 gamo in the former round, but in the latter they

liavo never been beaten, even United having to draw with them. Wellington won four in the first round, but only one, so far, in the secoiid. The -?.me figures apply to Wesley,, who do not seem to have upheld their record. United, of course, are easily ahead, Karori coming next with 18 points, three below the champions. The next , are Victoria College with 12 points, but they are tod far behind to alter the positions.

On the subject of tho proposed visit of an English eleven tho local association has forwarded a letter to the New Zealand Hockcy Association stating that tho committee decided that while anxious to facilitate tho visit of a good English representative team, they could not guarantee £150 without further information. It is not probable that the liability of the affiliated associations would bo limited to tho amounts of their respective guarantees in tho event of greater loss to their New Zealand Council. The council would have no other course than to fall back on the associations it represents. The committee thinks, therefore, that it is reasonable that it should be furnished with an estimate of the probable total cost to .the council of tho team, and with an estimate, of the amount to bo derived from matches of which the council'takes the profit. The committee . is strongly of opinion that the team should bo sent under the authority of the English Association,, believing that an unauthorised or a weak team would only-result in financial loss and damage to tho game in -New Zealand; A good English. team would do tho, game much good, and it is willing to assist in- every way to bring one out, but it did not see its way to go into tho thing blindfold. It has been suggested that an Australian team would servo the same purpose.as well, but as hockey in the Commonwealth is younper than hero such a scheme would not bo entertained unless a competent New Zealand player reported favourably on Australian hockey.

Dealing with the recent ladies' tournament, "Cleft Ash," in the "Weekly Press," has the following on tho subject of. billeting tho visitors: —"It is the custom when one club visits another to billpt. Is it advisable in interpVovincial matches? I think not. Canterbury and Hawke.'s .Bay staying together at the samo hotels, preferring that to sending their girls round- town to strangers; and in- my- opinion this undoubtedly was an a.sset when it came to playing..-The members got to know each other thoroughly, and get combination that' cannot be expected of comparative strangers. , Then, it is much bettor for teams to bo independent, if the tournaments continue. It is too much to expect an association to billet out over a hundred players.' Theso points aro for the new association to discuss and make recommendations on, becauso it is in tho interests of hockey generally for everything to bo ruu on sot lines."

The writer goes on to say:—"A matter that caused_ a lot of comment was that several associations put in more than one team. Now a tournament should bo a tost for reprosontativo teams, and it is rather annoying after beating, say, Wellington A, to have-to play the B, besides prolonging the contest. . It is really too . much to expect girls to do. Tho pluck and stamina of tho girls cannot bo too highly praised. I doubt whether it would' be possiblo to get moil's teams to pliiy matches seven days; in succession, and yet the girls set to their, task willingly, and did it well,'but the question .arises, Is it asking too much of them? Cau wo cxpect them to do what men would hesitate and grumble at doing? These matters will need to be seriously considered."-

An apt warning noto has certainly been sounded. _ The endurance and staying powers of the girls certainly struck everyone present at the tournament, but tho girls themselves felt no fatigue. I mentioned the subject to some of them, and I was laughingly saluted with "Oh! It's all right. We don't feel it ; we're used to it I" That may bo so, but the boys would probably feel it, and it speaks volumes for the prowess of the athletic girl..

! The Wednesday players had the use of the Basin- Reserve' for two games this week on what was probably tho .worst day. Permission had been granted for play, : but; it had been raining slightly all night and morning, and continued a light drizzlo through the games. The match Pakeha Av. Karori was very even, .and owing to the extremely ;slippory. ground tho former's-forwards did ! not show- up las they usually , do. Tho best iform oil the,ground was shown by M'Eldowney in tho Pakeha A, ho saving his team timo after, by Hard-and judicious hitting, r .Karori displayed much improved form on their, previous week's play, and really .should have made a draw of it; the roforeo disallowing a goal from a corner, after it ,had been played, by tho opposing team, on the ground that it must be stopped-dead. Iho Karon goal-keeper had a warm time stopping some of tho Pakoha shots, but saved hisside on every possible occasion, the gamo ending two-one in Pakeha's favour. The match Pakoha B v. • Federal B was also a very even contest, the same score resulting. This places Pakoha'.B in "the position of runnersriip for tho cup, the Pakeha Club thus obtaining first and second positions with their .two teams. Tho vagaries of hockey are shown in the following results: —Pakeha B beat Karori, 3-0;- Pakeha- A beat Pakeha B,' 9-1; yet Pakeha A just managed to beat Karori,- 2-1. Artillery have •withdrawn from the competition for:tkis season, owing to their protest regarding a referee being, dismissed. On Wednesday, the referee in the Karori-Pakeha match was very lax as regards "sticks," .arid very, strict, with the bully. Sometimos players _ were seen sliding along with 'their sticks, right up .in the air, but, of course, tho very slippery ground accounted for this, and he was no doubt endeavouring to brighten a vory raggy. game. ' "

Last' Saturday a paragraph in this column made , re'fer'enco to Y.M:G.A. having .been "smiled .on by fortune" in some of their matches. This has been resented .by this team, and they , request. that . the ; statement b'B "retracted." The expression used .was due to the statements of somo opponents and spectators, in these matches, and the opinions of those are quite worthy of credence. The paragraph contained nothing which would be calculated to detract from Y.M.C.A. any of the honour they havo gained by winning tho Junior Cup this' season. i'hey have certainly merited their position, but: I feel certain that if they think over some of their games they will find that they averted defeat only by. the merest margins on some occasions, and that their own powers were not altogether responsible for saving them; hence tho expression used.

1 • /. ' # o m I . C . b. . .o tt 'o S 5 hi Q cu Thorndon ... . ... 0 7 0 0 Victoria College ... 1 5 13 YiJI.G.A. ... 3 4 0 6 Wellington ... 4 3 0 8 United 6 0 1 13 Wesley 4 3 0 8 Vivian 3 3 1 • 7 Karori 5 1 1 n SECOND ROUND. - ; Thorndon ... ... 0 4 0 0 Victoria College ... 4 * 0 19 Y.M.C.A. ... ... 2 2 0 4 Wellington 13 0 2 United ... ... 3 0 2 8 Wesley ... ... 1 3 0 2 Vivian :... ... 2 3 0- 4 Karori ■ ... ... 3 1 1 7 The following table gives the order of precedence and total points:— Points. United •' 21 Karori 12 Victoria College 12 Vivian , 11 Wellington 10 Wesley , ... ... ... 10 : Y.ILC.A. . 10 ' Thorndon ... 0