HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1192, 29 July 1911, Page 12

HOCKEY.

'ARE OUR REFREES TIMID? (By "KiunT-HALr.") Wellington has held tho hockey f-hickl since l!IO!l, and has defended it' shcccmiully on ten occasions. The following is tho record of matches to date;— 190!) versus Mnnawahi 3 coal's "to"' J l»10 „ llawke's Bay 2 goals to 1 .. ~ Horowhenua (i goals to 1 .. „ Wanarapa ligonlstoll ~ » Canterbury -2 gonls to 1 ~ „ Wanganui 4 goals to 1 » ~ Auckland 3 goals to 1 1011 „ Manawatn (i goa'.s to 2 » » Canterbury 3 goals to 2 „ „ Hawke's Bay ... 3 goals to 2

Last Saturday's match against Hawke's Bay (lid not produce the standard of hockey expected from a representative Wellington team. The visitors were tho hotter men, and, had not Wellington livened up in the second spell, the shield would now bo in tho care of the Uawko's Bay Association.

It is rather regrettable that the selector is away from Wellington, as some alterations in tho forward line seem In be crying aloud fo> attention. Individually tho men nro good, but they have now played three matches, and there is still no sign of combination. Hardly one seems to understand the "other fellow's" play.

IJwyer acquitted himself well, in goal, and saved his side on a good many occasions. Tho Hawke's Bay keeper, Toinoana, is inclined to leave Ins circle. Ho was badly beaten when fi. Struck rushed in and scored the first goal for his side, being, in fact, a little too slow. Ho really had plenty of time to kick the ball instead ot' endeavouring to use his stick. But tho other goals scored would liavo beaten tho best of goalkeepers, being off tho ground.

Bottrell and Anderson, full-backs, played consistently throughout, and wero sound on defence. Kibblewhilo and llickspn, playing in the same positions for Wellington, wore, "up and down." The former made the mjstako of frying lo slop the ball with his feet instead of with his hands, and his mistakes in the first spell gave Hawke's Bay some splendid opportunities. In tho second spell he recovered, and gavo us something more like his usual game. Hickson had plenty to do in the earlier part of the game in backing up Kibblewhitc, and, frequently, just saved tho situation when things looked black.

What is wrong with tho referees? Last Saturday _ Hickson frequently gave "sticks" in hitting the ball, and obstructed by pushing his opponents off the ball, and, generally speaking, should have been penalised time and again. Speaking with some of the visiting players after the match, they stated that they fully expected to sec him (Hickson) ordered oil the field, especially on one occasion, when a player was pushed over, and (hey were surprised that the incident was passed uncensured, for only on one occasion did the referee penalise him. lioferees, are you afraid?

The visiting halves played well all through, M'Goldrick being perhaps the most conspicuous. His tackling nud defensive- play was always solid, and he had no difficulty in healing Salek for tho ball, which ended in Atkinson taking it down field. On the locnl side, Campbell played his usual hard gainc, and, in the second spell, managed to get tho ball out to Loader.

Thompson (left-half) should endeavour not to hit the ball inlo the hands of the opposing backs, but out to his wing. Burbidge was weak, and was beaten badly for the ball on nearly every occasion.

Tho Hnwke's Bay forwards were a strong combination, and they kept their places all through the game—a marked contrast to the system of the local forwards, who were never in nosilioii when the ball was passed in. Ilallctt gave a good display on tho left-wing, and was dangerous when in possession of the ball Atkinson, on tho right-wing, also gave considerable assistance?. The other forwards also played well, and the centre always sent the ball out to his wings. Tho Wollingt<in.;'-coul-re-fprward should takenote of his play. ■

Loader (left-wing) proved himself-,to be the best forward on the local side, though, once again, his backs and forwards starved him for the greater part of the game. Tt was t.his player's work that led up to G. Strack scoring, and ho also obtained n pood goal of his own.

The Hawke's Bay backs wore at times 'oo smart for Snlek, who .was usually stopped bofore ho became very dangerous, lie received Iho ball far oftener than his left-wing, but yet the latter, when it'did come his way, nearly always carried it down and centred—only to find his other forwards not in position in tho circle, and consequently shoals of opportunities were lost.

The loft and rielit insides nlayed a great deal out of position, and there was always a gap in tli« forward line. Tho centre-forward, G. Straclc, lost one or two opportunities in the first spoil through not being in his place when the hall' was <=ent into the circle, but the ijoal which ho scored by beating the goalkeeper was a Rood piece of work. It probably accounted for the dasli shown by his forwards afterwards. . It is to be hoped that the Association will endeavour to arrange another A and H match before our representatives meet Auckland. It would at least give our "motley crew" a chanco of learning to combine. The secretary of the Canterbury Hockey Association h'as written to Mr. A. A. Bennett, secretary of tho local association, roturnini thanks for the kindness shown to their representatives when in Wellington. . Another trial fame is to I*> played todav bv the Auckland Association, so that a "strdii!! combination may be font smith to try and secure the shield from Wellington.