HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 12

HOCKEY.

$ AFTER "TIME" IN SHIELD GAMES.

(By "Biuht-Haif.")

Games in tho first day of tho s£vcn-n----sitle tournament were played last Saturday, and the matches brought forth come fast and exciting finishes. All the junior teams showed up well, and, in some cases, extended tho senior players. This perhaps was owing to the fact that these games apparently call for lone-hand effort rather than .combination. " Tho Tournament Committee are to be congratulated on getting off all tho fixtures which were eet down to bo "tried out" on the convincing ground on the first day. There were tome 2-i in . all, and 23 of them passed off without a hitch. Only in one of the frays did misunderstanding occur, and this match will be played off when the tournament resume?. This, will probably be on September 16. Consent of the New .Zealand Hockey Association lias been given to the local association's request for the postponement of tho Taranaki challenge game for tho shield until next season. That is, of course, provided that Wellington is successful in retaining the trophy to-day and on September !) against Olago. Mr A. A. Eennett, secretary of tho Wellington HocUej has received a letter from the Auckland bxocutive, thanking his association for their great kindness in entertaining the Auckland roD-csentatives during their stay in this cits It is nlwajo pleasuut when somo little feature of this kind forms tho last act in connection with a pretty strenuous fixture. Nelson meet Wellington at Days Bay to-iluv and this match has some peculiar interest of its own. It is tho visitors first attempt to lift (ho shield, and is all the more interesting because Nelson have not been tried against any of (he stronger associations this season, and their display against a hefty, and tried combination such as the local team is, should* put them on their mettle. The Otago Association have now selected their representative combination, and these will bo given some practice together. This, of course, is with a view to giving the players every opportunity ol learning to combine efficiently beforo meeting Canterbury on September 7, and Wellington two days later. Tho last shield match, says an Auckland writer, clearly demonstrated, that the rule regarding extra time will have to bo altered'or deleted, as it is outrageous to expect teams to continue under such conditions as prevailed on the Saturday refeneu to. II would hv Jar belter to play two fortv-minutcs' spells than to keep "oing with so much uncertainty Jlr.'F. 11. Mason, the Auckland skipper, considers that his team had the worst of the luck against Wellington, and were unfortunate in not lifting Hie shield. Ho is al=o of the opinion that the extra spells should be abolished, and thinks tint if the game is not won in the prescribed time, the shield should remain with tho defenders. The continuance of the game when players aro tired is not conducive to good hockey. Adds the same writer:—The match was controlled by two referees, Messrs. C. S. Falconer and J. W. Gendall, and proved successful. I liked the Jailor's interpretation of tho rules best, and he seemed ti follow the game with a belter knowledge of the more practical points'."

The Canterbury Association have forwarded the following recommendations lo Hie N. 7.. Hockey Association •-(» That in all shield matches a gong or bell be "oundsd at the beginning and end of each spell; (2) that all sliield matches commence not later than ".;ifl p.m.; (H) that an official time-keeper be appointed

to officiate at nil shield matches; (-1) that Rule 7 of the shield match regulations bo strictly adhered to. The recommendations litre referred to the Shield Coniniit(co. WEDNESDAY HOCKEY. Tho following Tcport of tho Wednesday hockey matches in and round tho city had to bo held over till to-day. owing to pressure on our space:— Pakeha—Horeawa. This match was played at, Ptippa Street. Tho ground was in good order, and (lie gamewas fast and open. In the first spell Pakoha rushed the ball from tho "btrilyoff" into tho Horeawa circle, and (jratio scored for them. Thereafter, for a lime, l'akeha had the better of llic game, but subsequently Jlcrc-awa attacked and Pakeha had to concede a corner to save a score, and had to again do so before they could clear their line. Tho Pakeha forwards then took charge, and carried the game right down tho field, Jackson having a shot at goal, and just' missing. Pakoha kept up ilio attack, but Gracio lost a chaneo to score by kicking on in the circle, llereawa wero hard pressed at this stage of the game, and ono of Ihe players, in trying to give a corner, found tho net instead, thus adding another goal to Pakeha's score. The spell ended in favour of Pakoha by 2 goals. In the second spell Pakeha had things all their own way for a time, Gracio and Thompson each scoring shortly alter the game restarted. Simpson, Jlitter, and Jackson also hod shots, but could not find tho net. Dowling (Uereawa) at full-back was putting in some fine work at this stage. Simpson presently shot a goal, but it was disallowed for. oil-sido; shortly afterwards Gracio, again scored for Pakeha. Mercawa now seemed to wake up and, putting some life into their play, had Pakeha on the defence and, from a slrugglo in the circle. Caterer shot the first goal tor Hereawa. From this out' until the call of time they had all the better of the game, but Pakeha won by 5 goals to 1.

For the winners Gracio, Dwyer, Mittcr, Jackson, and .Smith were the best; while {or llereawa Howling, Caterer, Robinson, Ciementson, and Henderson loo); the honours. Mr. Empson was referee. Karori—P. and T. The struggle between Kurori and Post and Telegraph was waged at the Basin Reserve. The ground was only in fair condition and good hockey was consequently out of the question. In the first spell Post and Telegraph had all the belter ot the play, and should havo put up a lead, but their bad shooting and slow following up lost them many chances. Si.sson, for Post and Telegraph, and Jl. Spiers lor Karori, each scored a goal. In the second spell Post and Telegraph seemed to get "the tired feeling," and Karori had all the best of the spell in which both Dyer and T. Colo scored. This left Karori winners by 3 goals to 1. For Karori Gayford, M. Spiers, and Dyer, and for Post and Telegraph Craig, Cameron and Jvaopp were the best men. Mr, Simpson was lefeioe. Petone A—Hui Mai. This match was played at Pc'cone, the ground being in splendid condition. Hui Mai, playing only nine men kept play, for a time, in mid-held, but numbers eventually told, and Petono soon had them on the defensive. J. M'Ewan opened tho scoring for Petone and, within ten minutes again found the net. Play for some time afterwards was very even. Then Hui Mai had a chance, and Bay, by quick play, found the net just before half-time. Judd put on tho third goal for Petone and tho spell ended: Petone, 3: Hui Mai, 1. In tho second spell the play,-was very fast, moving from one end of tho ground to the other every few minutes, but the plr.yus could tot score, and tho gamo ended in favour of Pelone by 3 goals to 1. J. M'Ewan, Judd, Parrant, and Poiuton for Petone, and Bay, Constable, Hoy, and Sherwood for Hui Mai carried tho honours 'of the day. , Mr. Carver was referee. ■•■-.•