HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 312, 26 September 1908, Page 11

HOCKEY.

[Br Drivee.] The _ Wellington Hockey Association's championship fixtures were continued oil Saturday last, and only six matches now. decision. . The hockey season should! thus end on Octobcr 3, this day week. There will be no function, 110 form, 110 ceremony— tho stick will merely bo discarded for the bat, and, as far as the .majority of players are concerned, thero will , bo jio break in the _ continuity of sport 011 Saturdays)' tho form only- changing, the spirit, or central idea, remaining the same; I have not space to indulge in an exhaustive review of tho past season, but I should, like to expreso briefly tho general satisfaction of all concerned with the past year. Thero have not been any startling surprises, the only exception, perhaps, being , the sudden rise to' famo of the Wesley senior representatives. Their progress has been phenomenal, and if they keep their; team together, as Christie, the captain, hopes, I do not think I would be far' out in picking them for the holders of next year's 'championship. In all probability the members of tho United team i-ill be the same next year, but Wesley- may still triumph.; The future alone can tell; After great difficulty we managed to get a team.away to Auckland to contest the Shield;: but thoy were beaten before they left hero, arid they could not shako Auckland's claim to tho trophy. However, hotter luck nest time. The Auckland Association has practically arranged, to dispatch a touring'team, leaving the Northern city 011 August 5, 1909, to: return the-visits paid this year. The tour, will be very extensive, and will probably, oc-. cupy. three, weeks or a . month. . According to No. 3 of tho shield rules, the contest must b« played on tho ground of the holder for the tiino being, unless ot-henviso mutually agreed upon and approved by tho N.Z. Hockey Association. It is. not probable, I should imagine, that Auckland will agreo to this, as they may experience a difficulty in getting their best team away, unless they wanted to lose the shield. _ Some of tho Northern players complain bitterly that in many respects the shield is a hindrance, as they; aro only enabled, through the number of representative matches, to havo four or- five Saturdays for ' their club fixtures. _ It is generally thought'that, tho shield ,is not doing much for hockey,-and perhaps they would not be sorry to see someone- else have it for a while. At the beginning of this season' it- was hardly , thought that there would. be so many, contests, but, as. it -turned .out, many small, unions had a: shot.' If Auckland were to .allow matches on their tour to count for tho' shield, it would almost - cortainly go to Canterbury or Wellington; I fancy they recognise that one. of the two latter, will, take it from.thom next year,.but they would rather, have; it',- .on-their own ground - than away, from'home.'• The Manawatu .Association was unable to semj- a team down to play torday, probably otfing to the fact, that thoy sent a team' to Auckland,-, and it is difficult to arrange a second ■ trip so soon. aftorwards. On tho' subject of referees, the "New Zealand yH6rald" foUowin'g t-r-'-The majority of the local referees recogniso that the ■public'cannot: be- expected to support the gamp; if'they are treated to-a whistling fantasia ' every r Saturday, and thecliuisb which says'that -'an- umpire, shall refrain -from.-piit'-tiiig ;tlio- provisions of any rule into: offsetin cases 'where lio: is-satisfied , that by enforcing ho would:be ! giving an advantago to' thoi offending team/ is \yoll observed. From an experience of' the refereeirig in Southern centres, I .can state-that there! is 4 110. body of, reforms in New;Zealand..tfhi'ch'.c'ate'rg so much'fort-be. public as iho Auckland Asccia'tipri; - and .this largely "accounts' for' the ; great' 'which the .game, has-attained 'in this city. -Perhaps if Southern associations were to-adopt the .course, followed by tho ■Auckland, body they tvould havo bigger attendances''at their'matches;' and a consequent 1 increase in funds. All this, however, simply shows the desirableness of holding a conference,of .tho referees of the 'Dominion,'' and the- sooner such a . feathering'eventuates-the better, it will be "for hockcy in New Zealand;" " I agree as to tho necessity for holding the conforenco; there are no two opinions about -that. Regarding the behaviour of tho Auckland reforeos,,l should like to point out that at the Auckland-Wellington match;- the rcforeo, so I am told, killed.all.tho.,spectacular interest by continually penalising "sticks" eyon a breach of a couple of inches over the shoulder seeming adequate reason for stopping tho game. ■ .