HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1180, 15 July 1911, Page 12

HOCKEY.

SOME CRITICAL REMARKS. (Br "Uight-Haif.") The championship matches wore resumed last Saturday. Karovi easily accounted for Wellington, Victoria College managed to defeat Wesley after a close game, and United secured their third win this season by defeating Y.M.C.A. The following are the positions to date:—

The United forwards played with better combination than the ■Y.M.C.A. front lino last Saturday. The latter wero never in their proper positions when in possession of the ball.

For the winners, Organ (wing), Andrews (centre), and Collins did good service. Tho former centred neatly, and Andrews played unselfishly throughout, though in the first spell lie penalised his side when in the Y.JI.C.A. circle by- off-side plav. Of the Y.M.C.A. for wards Loader was the only player who showed form. All the others tried to bent the opposition "on their own," instead of passing. All. that tho Y.M.C.A. right-wing seemed to do was to run up and dowi the field, and if he had. the ball he was always, too slow to carry it a.iv distance, and was always 'stopped by Jl'Eldowney. It must be heartbreaking to b player like Loader, when, after carrying tho ball into liis opponents twenty-live, and then passing in field, he saw it go careering over the opposite line. And all through his other forwards failing lo bo in position— probably through lack of training! I'. King turned out for his old club for the first time this season, and showed that ho had not lost any of his old dash and quickness, being always ready for any emergency. K. l'arton played in another position again last Saturday—this time as centre-half—and. his display proved that lie is a good all-round player. In the sccond spell die made one mistake by always sending the ball to his right, instead of lo his left, win;,. The Y.JI.C.A. left and right halves did not play up to senior form—especially .the left, who did not back Loader up and was invariably either in the centre of the field or playing in line with the full-backs. Jl'Eldowney and Exley, the United fullbacks, played soundly. The former is inclined to take too many (lying hits, instead of stopping tho ball 'first and then hitting. Also when tackling players who had the ball, ho at limes obstructed by giving them his shoulder and pushing them away from the ball. The referee failed on one occasion to sec an occurrence of this rightly, as he gave a freehit to the wrong side. The player penalised was obstructed (as stated above), and to save himself from falling caught hold of M'Eldowney.

A. Parton trave the best back display on the field. His hitting was always true, and tho way in which he dribbled Hie ball into the circle and scored tho only goal for his side is an example for hjs own forwards to copy. Holmes, the other full-back, was at times not reliable, and should stop tho ball before hitting. Dwyer, goalkeeper for United, has we'll earned his placo in the representative, team, and he saved his side in good style whenever called upon. The Y.M.C.A. goalkeeper played well in tho first spell, but made a very poor attempt to stop this shots in the second half.

Wellington were again one player short in their game against Karori. The latter team made a slight change, playing Klins right-wing and Murphy left-wing. U. Davies and Murphy played well together, the former scoring five out of six goals for his side. The Karori backs did not exert themselves a great deal, and thus let Wellington in their circle on several occasions in the second spell', which slackness brought about two goals. No combination was shown by the Wellingtoi. forwards Whenever M'Dougall, right-wing, received the ball, lie was never backed up, and his pases were either overran or missed by his fellow-forwards.

Tho AVellington captain was rightly cautioned by the referee for abusing his position by continually calling out instructions to his men, which is hardly the thing expected from a senior player. Murphy (Karori), who replaces G. Davis (tho latter player having asked to be left out of the represennive team), and the selector not being able to see his way clear to make any alteration on the left-wing, should strengthen the rightwing— at least, judging; his form shown in club games, and provided that the St rack Bros. remember that there are other forwards in the team besides thcmsclvis. in the- game with Canterbury, those players, when they received the ball, always failed to pass to the other forwards, and invariably kept the ball to themselves.

Mr. 11. V. Walton, the Wellington selector, being out of' Wellington on business, will not be able to be present at the Hawke's Bay-Wellington Shield malcli. Ho is not expected back until about August 10.

The Ilawke's Bay Association are giving their representatives every opportunity nf being in their best form. Tho team will arrive here by next Thursday's express, and will practice on Friday.

The Wellington Club have issued a handy little booklet containing the rules of the club and the game; also notes for players in all positions on the (ield, which should be useful to members who are not conversant with the rules controlling the game.

o c "2 • P m*|"-a Ivnrori S 7 0 1 II 10 15 Victoria College 8 6 0 2 21 6 11 Wellington 8 3 i 1 18 27 7 United 8 3 5 0 20 19 0 Y.M.C.A. 8 1 fi 1 H 28 3 Wesley 8 1 U 1 11 31 3