HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 799, 23 April 1910, Page 12

HOCKEY.

■" ONE SELECTOR OR MORE?

(By "Bullt-off.")

The annual meeting of the : Hockey Association is a thing of the past 'now, and the Management Committee, have commenced work in earnest. It is exceedingly gratifying to know; that the executive as elected at the annual meeting is a' thoroughly efficient one-the officers being oapable and diligent men, and with their combined efforts hookey ought to make great strides during the present season. . -

In Mr. W. G. Garrard,-the delegate-to the New Zealand Hockey Association, the game has a thoroughly capable official, and the writer feels that he must congratulate those responsible.lor Ms eiection. Those who know him will endorse the statement that he has always been found eager to assist Wellington hockey enthusiasts. The. remainder of the officers elected,to the executive are well known as impartial and thorough sportsmen. A word of thanks to Mr. Christie, the retiring .secretary, is due. He , worked hard, and only those intimately acquainted with , this position know how much time and energy is entailed in planning and supervising. All hockey players will regret that Mr. Christie is retiring. The' new officer, Mr. Bennett, one feels confident, will also give every satisfaction. Both these ' officials are actual live members of clubs, and know what is required. ' ,

One also feels that ,a. word of recognition is , due to Mr. W. J. Organ. The clean sportsmanlike way in which he has dealt with hockey affairs is a credit to himself and the association. i

. There is not much to lie said about the business dealt with at tho meeting. . The Selection Committee appointed con-sists-of. ono gentleman only, namely, Mr. 'H. V. Walton. He has done good work ,in the past, nnd, being a good player and ro'foree, lie should do justice to himself this season. His task will be a hard one. Personally, the writer would prefer to see at least three selectors, and fears an ugly mistako hns beon made by adopting the course taken. It is not suggested that Sir, Walton, is incapable of filling a reasonable position on a selection committee, . hut 'asking one official to select the "very best" team is, I think, without precedent in hockey. Mr. AValfon has boon indisposed during the past few months, but he has offered his capable .services as a reforcc again this season. He is a true sport. Still, one has very good grounds for holding that a selector should be n spectator only, and not take part in the gaiiie. Sir. Walton understands the game thoroughly; but, in his position of referee, ho cannot be expected to give an eye to both infringements and "form" at one and the same time. ■ A referee does not at all times, I think , possess an unbiased mind; This state' mont may seem daring, but let it be pointed out that referees fail just like ordinary human beings. And what one referee may look uron « inconsistent

regard of rulea in one particular player, another refereo may treat lightly.. One sometimes hears referees declare:—"So-and-so gets on my nerves!" though So-and-so may indisputably be a very fine player, and one of the first to catch the selector's eye. • The postponement, transfer, and match committees consist of the eame officials as formerly, viz., Messrs. Organ, Oram, and secretary. , , , ;, Everyone is looking forward to the proposed visit of an all-British team. The association will probably hold a tournament shortly and also a bazaar to raise funds to cover its guarantee towards expenses of the "all-British" tour. Unfortunately, Manawatu will in all probability not fall into line with the Now Zeaand Association's arrangements. Surely with almost a year to go they could get together sufficient founds to ffuarantee .£75. They even suggest that a British match played in theift district would not compensate them fotv the trouble, and that hockey would tot benefit thereby. This is not convincing. During the Auckland teams torrr last season they played eix matches, and woo 3, drew 2, lost 1. Their credit balance this year is' £110 10s. sd. as against £Al Bs. last year. They open the present season with a seven-a-side tournament on April 30. They have 17 clubs affiliated to the association, but, like all other districts they complain of the dearth of referees. In this respect it is to be hoped that Wellington "sports" will come to the assistance of our own association. : Wanganui hookey is going ahead. The players of that town made great strides last year, and proved etrong enough to effect a draw with fhe Auckland representatives. ..--.■■■ New South. Wales has, asked New Zealand to send a visiting, team over to Sydney to play on July 2 and 9, and intervening dates. South and , Western Australia and Viotoria representatives will be at Sydney then too. ' The Management Committee of tho New Zealand Hockey. Association at Christchurch recently decided to ask. Wellington to make the, necessary arrangements for affiliating our:local Wednesday Association to the Saturday ' Association.' : ' ' .' ; :

The United senior team'is as follows: Goal, Allen; backs, Hickspn , and Weybourne;- halves, Bxley, King, and Day; forwards, Smythe, Jones,.Elliott, .Owens, and Organ. ■. . Senior Metropolitans: Goal, Marshall; backs, England and Gayford; halves; Burbish, Kelleway, and Moxham;. forworde, Kitolung, Mackenzie, -Hall, Wrigley, and Johnston. ■ ' United juniors: Bennett is captain. Hβ has every confidence that his team will do excellent work. The team as'selected for to-day may not be the permanent one, but, possibly, the men will be finally placed next- week. ■. Included in the team is Sargent.-■' (bully) late Taranaki Representative. He will probably 'fake. Elliott's place in the senior rank'as the latter is; only playing for a''.Saturday.; or two. Porter is a Southland representative and fills the position of left, half for the .juniors. Wills ■is a' promising man, as also is Ware Wai-tai. ' ' ■ . "■ " ' • - The following; is the allotment of grounds, for'sjunior- ' matches ■ to-daj :— Wesley v. . College A, Karori No.. 1; Greggs v. Karori, Karori No. 2; United v. College B, Day's Bay, No. 5| Metropolitan v..Wellington. Day's Bay No. 4. Wellington's team is as follows:—Goal, Morpeth (late Vivian) replaces Shuley; full-backs, Harty, Morrah; ' halves, Smith, Smyth,'and Dobson,(late Vivian); forwards, Clere, Thompson (late. Vivian), Hollis, ■ Kundle (late Thorndon), Caldew. Beere is unable to play at present, and will be in reserve. The foregoing team should give a good account of itself. At this stage of the season.it may not be out of place to , strongly. advise players and referees to'procure copies of the' rules and study > the new rule concerning "penalty bully/' This year's new rule is interpreted as follows:—"A penalty bul.'y shall bo, played by the offender and by any player selected by the other team on the spot where the breach occurred. All other players shall be beyond the nearer 25yds. line , in the field of play, and shall not cross such 25yds. line, or take any further part in the game until the ponalty. bully is completed. ■: If during the progress of a penalty bully the offender sends the. ball over'any part of the, goal T line other ;than that betweon,,,the, l jgpal',,posts, .the':'penalty bully, shall be' taken again; if he sends the ball over the goal-line between the goal .posts, a penalty goal shall be awarded .to the attacking 'team; in all other cases as soon as the ball has passed, wholly over-the goal line, (not between the goal posts) or outside the striking circle,- the game shall be restarted by a bully on the centre of, the nearer 25yds.. line." .