HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 12

HOCKEY.

(Br "Buixt-Ofi?.") To-day is an important one. Beforo my next notes the result of the challenge shield match, Manawatu v. Wellington, will 1)0 common talk, so that a glance at the eleven as chosen to represent V/ellington will doubtless bo of interest. Tho selector had no option in giving W. G. Morpeth the position of goalkeeper. Tho next deserving of representative distinction in this post is Dwyer (United), an cx-roprescntativo of good repute. Unfortunately for Dwyer, lio did not play in local club matches last season, whilst Morpeth figured prominently all through, and also took part in several shield events. It must not bo understood that Dwyer is not a capable player. Quito the reverse. Ho has standing to his credit some excellent performances, but, as previously stated, Morpeth has not missed a club gamo last season or this. It is' satisfactory to note that Dwyer will be "emergency." Tho position of goal-keeper is a very important one, because it is quite on tho cards that some deadly shots will bo scut whizzing in at Wellington's goal on Saturday. Tho record of goals against the above-mentioned two players so far this season is as follows:—Morpeth, 10; Dwyer, 9. But these figures hardly indicate tho form of the two players. In tho first match this season Morpeth had six goals registered against him, whilst Dwyer only had two. After this, Morpeth began to show better form, as tho following figures show:—Second game: Goals against, Morpeth 1, Dwyer 3; third game, Morpeth 3, Dwyer 3; fourth game, Morpeth nil, Dwyer 1; totals for the last three games: Morpeth i, Dwyer 7. . Wo come next to full-backs. F. G. Kibblewhite, chosen- as left, is not the well-known representative player, but a brother, and deserves credit for the form displayed by him this season. Ho is quito a new man amongst our senior, players.- MTDldowney, who plays left (both in Wednesday and Saturday games), has been selected as emergency full-back. Some dissatisfaction no doubt exists amongst local left-full-backs over tho selection of Kibblewhite It was expected that Chris.- Davies would havo been included, as ho has been playing hero for several years, and his performances this season have been good ones. M'Eldowney, with doublo training—and practical work at that—to his credit surely deserved first consideration. No one wishes to see a belter right full-back than Claude Hickson. If lie is not perfect, only a miscroscope could pick out his weak points when ho is on form. But even Ilickson has his "off" days. Let us hope that to-day will see him at bis best. Tho half line, comprising "Reg." Thompson (left), Claude Campbell (centre), and Gordon Aickcn (right), should provo a far lictter trio than that which represented Wellington last season. Christio (Weslcv), who has not played in every gamo tins season, and an ex-representative, will not be amongst tho olcven defending Wellington's right to the shield to-day. Another cx-reprosontativc not playing this season is Smythe. It is interesting nnd plowing to note, however, that, tho lastnamed is still taking an interest in hocWith one exception, "Bully-off" is satisfied with the forward line. Why is G. Davies chosen for inside right, when ho is distinctly a left inside plnyer, whilst Murphy (inside right and who belongs to the same (earn as G. Davies.) is picked as emergency forward? Murphy has been playing very well this season, and he must surely feci a. littlo sore oyer tho matter. Salck, right wing, and a now representative man, deserves the post. Ho has a tremendous "pace." Tho writer hopes to sco R- Parton, last year's representative right wing, holding tho position a»am eoon. Parton has not caught the selector's cyo so far this season. To be candid, this player has not been showing tho good form which ho exhibited last ecaLoader and Strack Bros, (last year's representatives) mil no doubt give tho Manawatu backs something to think about beforo to-day's match is over. "What do you think of Wellington's chances against Manawatu?" This j s a question that ono hoars at times in tho small ebullitions of tho hour. Well, tho

issue .remains a doubtlul one, but the selector put things very wen last weeU wijou ne suiteu mat, n the ciiuncngera could beat ins cnosen eleven, tuey were i;uite welcome to tne slneul. Tilings nave cuuuged considerably siuoa 1010. in (lie hist pince, we had an A and 13 team practising togetner last year ironi wlncli a final selection was made, tho representative eleven being given plenty ot opportunity to improve in lorui and combination, '.this year notice was given rat Her suddenly and the representative team will no doubt have lu light an up-hill battle. Un the contrary, Manaivalu havo been training assiduously under the guidance of Elliott, an exWellington representative centre forward, of great repute. So thero it is. One cannot help thinking Wellington have a hard task set them for this afternoon. If wet, so much the worse. It is understood that West's Pictura Proprietary will (weather permitting) tako a kincuiatograph picturo of to-day's match. Tho writer's opinion that Karon would probably win the championship cup thio year is being borne out. On Saturday they fairly outclassed Y.M.C.A. Tho latter team were naturally a littlo distressed over their had luck in "shooting." Both Loader (Y.M.C.A.) and Lower (Ka> rori) sent in numerous likely goals, but the former's continued "sky scraping" rather disheartened his coufederntoo. Probably tho state of the ground was tho cause. On one occasion Loader cleared tho whole opposing defence excepting Hunter, in-goal, and had ample opportunity of scoring but, for 6omo reason uuexplainable, tho goal was not realised. Instead, the ball went "star hunting." Loader evidently wished to break a pane of glass in a neighbouring whare on tho hillside, and at least three goals were lost through this process. The correct record of tho scores for tho match was as follows:—Lower (Karori), centre-forward, secured four goals; G. Davies was also successful on four occasions; whilst Robertson secured tho Y.M.C.A. goal. Total:' Karori, 8j Y.M.C.A., 1. ' „ . Tho weakest member on tho Karon sido was Putnam. He still persists in "fooling" with tho ball, and hanging on too long. Hunter, an ex-Wednesday player, did yeoman service as goalkeeper for Karori. C. Campbell, centre-half, gave ono the impression that, on account pf his late arrival on tho field this season, ho had hardly got tho ' feel of tho ground again. For Y.M.C.A. Loader, left-wing, and Robertson, right-wing, were tho pick of the forwards. Holmes played a good, hard game, whilst Howden in goal was also in fair form. A feature of tho came was the manner in which the Karori forwards swarmed round tho ball immediately a Y.M.C.A. player endeavoured to break away. R. Farton took up the position of left-half, in tho akseneo of- tho eleventh member, and played a really hard and solid game. , Wellington havo accounted for United with a "baro majority." Only ono goal :was scored during this game, that coming off Dunn's stick half-way tliroueh tlio first spell. Wellington had decidedly the best of tho opening spell, _ and it was a hard and fast game. Their backs were strong, and United were beaten all round. But somehow, tho Wellington forwards c»uld not score, although many chances canto their way. Hall, centrehalf, played a good game. In fact, his confederates opined that Hall might be included, in the representative eleven. Wellington are a very active team, the halves being strong. Their forwards do very well in open play, but tho circle work seems to cripple them. Dunn wa§ the best forward. Both lots of forwards were deficient in scoring ability. United had tho best of tho second spell, M'Eldowney, left full-back, was fair. Day was out again for United as centre-half. Owing to the long 6pell from tho hockey field, ho was not in very good form. Ho received a nasty smack durine the game. Millar, ex-junior player, was not n success ns right-half. He should improve, however. Thompson 'was the best half on Uni tod's sido. Guy Smytho played a good game, and so also did Collins, tho new man at inside-left. Tho last-named is from a Christchurch team. Ho'Jand ,was not a success as centreforward, Andrews, inside-right, was fair. Organ, right-wing,'-has a tendency to tako tho ball on the '"fly." Ho' is not 'sound in circle shooting, Dwyer did his share for United.