HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1168, 1 July 1911, Page 18

HOCKEY.

(Bv'"L , HiiiT-H.ur.")

United have at Inst improved their position in the championship by tlofc.itins Wesley last Saturday. The following arc the results of this season's matches to date:-

In the College-Wellington match neither foam showed their host form. Welling-ton,-with only ten men, played gamely up to the call of time, bu: U:e College forwards found the weak snot, and hint I hem on the defensive for a good part of the game. College forwards did notjilay up to -their "usual," and, instead, of passing out to the Wings, kept the hall iu-licltl. When iii the circle, tjicir-shooting wr.s at times most erratic. The Strack Bios, will need to do hatter when playing for the 'Wellington representatives to-day. Neither did the Wt-Ilinglou forwards play so well as on the previous Saturday, ami tlie only player .who gave Ihe College backs any trouble, was the . right-wing M'Dougafl. He worked hard all through the game, and Kent.the ball into the. circle at the crilic.il moment, but all his efforts were wasted, as his fellow-forwards failed to take advantage of the openings Wkeu in tlio circle, the Wellington torwards did not seem to realise what was expected of them, often hesitating when a ehanco'occnrred for scoring. One thing noticeable was the number of "sticks" given against the College (both forwards and backs).

The stronger teams appear to consider that, 'when playing against a comparatively weak team, they need not conform to the rules. .This, is a, bad habit to cultivate, as the players who offend often penalise their side when in a good position. Of'the half-backs, Hall (Wellington) and Biirbidge (College) were the best on the day. Hall especially having plenty, to do. This player should, however, remember that it is not n centre-half's playto dribble, but to sent! the ball out to his wings.. The'fnll-l)n?ks on either side "did not impress one by their display. Morpeth, in goal (for Wellington), stopped some hard shots during the game. On Xo. .3 Day's Bay United defeated Wesley, the forwards of the winning team ploying .their best game this season. The United forward line was altered last Saturday. Organ going to. his proper position at right-wing, and Andrews playing cen-tre-forward. Judged" on Ihe day's play alteration is for the better. The Wesley forwards would do well In nole the play of their opponents, who passed the ball across the field. There was no combination at all by the Bine forwards, each man, when in possession of the ball, trying to beat the United backs on his own account. Also the wings, when centring, should hit harder. Their display last Saturday was not up to senior standard, and gave (ho Bed backs' every chance of clearing their goal. The Wesley halves play up too close to the forwards, and, on Saturday, the United forwards had no trouble in obtaining the ball and evading the full-backs. At times it looked as if there were no halfbacks on the Wesley side, they being in the front line, and often hindering their forwards when on tho ball.

Hickson and Jl'Eldowney, United fullbacks, stopped well, and were very found on the defence. The Wesley frill-backs seemed to get excited, and failed to sto'p the ball, which failing on two occasions cost their side goals, through the goalkeeper having to go out to endeavour and cover their mistakes. The United goalkeeper, when called upon, was always ready, and defended well.

The Referees' Association have made a move in the right direction, in Holding an examination for referees. A referee requires to know the theory of hockey by heart. He is alwavs being called on for some' Midden decision,''which, if not given correctly, often causes ill-feeiing.

Speaking with a senior referee this week, the writer was- informed that the .three refere?'s names forwarded to (he Canterbury Hockey Association for selection for to-day's shield match had (so far as was known) not controlled any games this season. This seems hardly fair to the men who have given up their leisure and spare time ever}' Saturday. Canterbury are giving their representatives every chance to gain combination, and. in a, game against a picked eleven on Coronation Day, were beaten by the latter by 3 goals to t. On Saturday last, another game was arranged. The ground, however, was not. in the best of condition, and the affair ended in a draw.

The Wellington Association is' arranging for a kinematograph film to bo taken of* to-day's shield match. "Cleft Ash." in this week's "Weekly Press," discussing the matches arranged for the Canterbury representative team, states tint the display of the southern forwards has so far been very disappointing. Hiving now played three matches they showed no signs ,of combination, ancl one-handed bad passing and selfish pl.iv v;as lK'ticeable throughout. The results of the examination for referees, held last Wednesday evening, were very satisfactory. The candidates were required to obtain 90 per cent, marks to pass, and a majority were successful, two of these gaining 100 per cent. Tho followine is a list of passes:— Messrs. B. Kean, C. H. Ceckrell, A. A. Bennett, Tit. T.eckie, F. M'Tjowill, C. W. ■Yu<=tin, W. J. Organ, .T. W. Gendall, Tt. L. Thompson, and H. W. Thompson. Dr. Morpeth and Mr. C. S. Falconer were tho examiners. I

-3 ° c' i o « '3 h ? ri fl O •< P. Knrori ... 7 I! 0 1 H5 8 13 Vie. Col. 7 5 0 2 18 l 12 Wellington 7 3 3 1 Hi 21 7 IJnilcd ... 7 2 5 0 17 18 4 Wo?lcv ... 7 15 1 12 111 II Y.M.O.'A. 7 1.5 1 13 25 3