HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1204, 12 August 1911, Page 12

HOCKEY.

CURTAIN DOWN ON THE SENIORS. (By "Right-Half.") This season's championship matches wero finished last Saturday, Karori being on top, with Victoria College (last year's winners) as runners-up. ; United have improved their position. At the end of the first round they were at the bottom of the list, but in tho second round they have managed to secure third place. This is probably accounted for by the rearranging of their forward line in the last round. Tho following are the final positions of the teams in the senior championship. c) . "3 dm KitS §v f a .u "f- "3 "2.5 = - « ° 5 £ '3 u "s'3 2-~ S S- k R &=2 k sO« Karori 10 8 0 2 43 11 18 Vic. College 10 7 1 2 25 !) 1G United 10 1 5 1 2:1 19 9 Wellington - 10 3 (J 1 19 32 7 Wesley 10 2 7 1 18 s.B 5 Y.M.C.A 10 2 7 1 25 41 5 The Karori-linitcd fixtures, last Saturday, produced a far better game than had been anticipated. United throughout (and especially in the second spell) showed better combination among tho lorwards than their opponents, who were probably resting on their laurels. G. Duvies was the kst of the Karori forwards. Lower and Hall were only prominent at times, individual play being the order of the day amongst them all. The United forwards all worked well, and showed the combination expected of a senior team each apparently knowing the other's play. Both Organ and Smythe did good work on the wing for United, and if is owing to the working of all the forwards together that (hey have succeeded in securing the third position in the championship. The United halves—Thompson, King, and Cameron—backed (heir forwards well, the last-named player, on several occasions, stopping G. Davies in fine style. Aicken, Campbell, and Putnam were the Karori halves. The first-named played consistently throughout'. Campbell did not seem to be "on his game" last 'Saturday, his work being patchy. Putnam started well, bill was suffering from lumbago, and in the second spell, ho went into goal. Hunter, the goalkeeper, going up into his position. This player, however, did not seem at ease in his new position, and the opposing side usually nianaeed to work down on that side of the field.

Hickson and ,M'Eldowney wore at limes very sound, though both were penalised for'"sticks" and obstruction a number of times. It is to be hoped that they will endeavour to overcome what seems to ,bn a habit with them in to-day's shield match. It will not be wise for Wellington to Rive Auckland any advantages in their own twenty-live. Of the Karon full-backs C. Ihvics was the. nick, lie slopped well and hit well. li. Davics was erratic, and penalised his side on one occasion when four United forwards broke away with (he ball, by what looked like deliberate tripping. In the sflcrnul spell the Karori scnlkeepe.r had far more to do tli.Tn the United keeper, and'at times brought off some lucky "saves." The Wesley-AVellinqt'in 5,11110 was fur belov: senior standard, both tides scemine; not to care what happened. Mostly each

player on each sido endeavoured to beat tho whole opposition on his own account. Birch and Keys were tho most prominent on tho Wesley side, and Dunn and Hall played well for Wellington. Tho runners-iip in tho championship took things easily in tho first spell, ana Y.M.C.A. held (ho advantage. In tho second half College woke up, but found that (ho opposing, backs defence some breaking down before they could score. After several combined rushes they were successful in adding three more goals lo their score, having by far the most of (lie ball in tho last spell. Tho Junior Championship has boon closed. United, which has a substantial lead, has been declared winners. Thirdclass learns will continue their game until Ihe round is finished. ' Below arc the positions of the various junior teams to dale:—

Tho success of tho two-referee plan (writes "Cleft Ash" in tho "Weekly Press ) in the last shield match mav influence the New Zealand Hockey Association to make it compulsory 'in all shield matches. It would also lie. an advantage if all representative matches were so governed. It woukl give tho plaVcrs more confidenco in tho referee's decisions, as the chances of mistakes would be greatly diminished, besides which the players would feel compelled to mind tho rules more closely, seeing that they would be in tho near presence of a referco all Urn time, and this would diminish tho number of breacnts of rules, especially No. 11, offside.

"3 fl °> If c o « P S i g S. -5 In ? ? Oti 3<i i; United 12 !) fl :l 49 25 21 Vic. College A 11 8 2 1 50 17 17 Govt. Life ... 11 S ,1 0 24 14 1C Metropolitan 11 7 :i 1 47 25 15 Hutfc Valley 10 7 ;) 0 31 2(1 14 Wellington. U fi 4 i 05 jg 53 ...... 11 ,1 ,5 ,1 26 38 9 Vic. College B 11 4 I! 1 27 ,)■> 9 K.Y.JI.I. •" 11 1 7 0 42 40 8 St. Mark s ... U 4 7 0 29 38 8 Wesley 11 3 6 2 25 37 8 Karon 11 2 il 0 n 14, 4 Y.M.C.A. ... 10 0 10 0 7 57 0