HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1222, 2 September 1911, Page 12

HOCKEY.

(Bv "Right-Half.")

Hero aro tho positions of tho teams which competed in the third-class championship :— . o yj -3 (3 _ _ "uS Ss, <U . , 05 « H - « o v, s j.5 £ > i 3 Government Insurance ... 13 10 2 1 52 13 21 St. Mark's ... 13 9 2 2 -IS 21 20 llutt Valley 13 7 3 3 21 17 Victoria College A 13 7 6 0 fil 4G It Wellington 13 5 G 2 22 12 12 Gregg's 13 3 7 3 31 34 9 Wesley 13 2 10 1 29 75 5 Victoria College 87070 d 24 0 Laughter and tears: Wellington was called upon to defend tho shield for the fifth timo this season last Saturday against tho Nelson challengers, After tho display which tho team gave against Auckland, one would havo thought that it would be maintained, but tho game last Saturday proved otherwise. Considering tho fact .that tho visitors did not have a gaino together, little combination was expected, and Wellington in the first spell seemed to hold them 'too cheaply. Tho not unnatural result was Nelson held the advantage at tho end of tho first half. Wellington do not seem to "get going" in any first spell in the shield matches. This is bad tactics, as 110 doubt they will find out to their cost when -an opposing team may bo successful in scoring first. Then perhaps tho local forwards may for tho rest of the gamo keep sending in shots, ■ which may not bring tho desired result, and the shield may go to what appears a weaker lot. Then, of course, Wellington will rise in its wrath—after it is too late. Tho visitors' forward lino at times initiated somo good rushes, but always made tho mistake of passing straight across instead of diagonally. Whitwell and Hurst played well in tho field, individually, and Boyes occasionally showed up when In tho circle, Tho Nelson halves all ruado tho mistake of passing "too deep," and tho centro half (Lo Mottcc) appeared to keep Uic ball in tho centre of tho front lino too much, instead of giving tho wings a chanco to go along the line. Both the full-backs (Giblin and Bradlev) had plenty to do, especially in the second spell, but thev made the general error of taW flying hits, instead of first stopping tho ball, nn-1 so making sure of their hit. Ryder did well in tho early part of the game, and stopped some hard shots, but 111 the second spell ho bccamo over anxious, and usually left his goal. Thus, on dWKrnll" SI - 011S r r '"IS 1 fonvimls ! >ad no auiiculty in finding net The weakness of tho Wellington team n 3 r win 1 "'"FV Sa , lcfc was sfi " h -M i! Üb i n ' alul coul(t ll ° v °rv little with the ball, and Murphy, who'filled Loaders place, played below club form. Iho latter player received a good share ° \ii le ,i failed to make use of it All the inside-forwards worked hard, and worked the centre well when tho wings failed. Parton was tl, o pic | c of tho halves, neither Campbell nor Thomp.son playing up to form. The last-named player wandered a great deal from his position Inst Saturday. Kibblcwhile and M'Ehlownoy -ot through a lot of work in the first half, and had plenty of time in the second spell to gel their hit in. M'Eldowney did not seem at homo in the earlier portion of the game. This is probably accounted for by his playing on the ri"ht, instead of the left. Bwyer, in-goal! camo off luckily on one or two occasion.') when he appeared to bo excited, and rushed out, but all that passed him wero good shots. At least, excepting tho ono that entered Ihe net from outside, and this 011 c worried him a good deal, as hewas standing in a position to stop it. As it was not "dangerous," he just let it go over the line, never expecting it to go under the net. Tho game throughout was marred by too much body piny, players on both sides being offenders. Owing lo the ladies' hockey tournament, which commences to-day, monopolising Iho grounds at Hay's Hay, no men's games will take place. The next: shield match and the last for this season, will bo played at Day's Bay next Saturday, Otago this time being the challengers.