HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1234, 16 September 1911, Page 12

HOCKEY.

$ ' (By "Eight-Half ") Tlio last challenge for the shield for this season was successfully met by Wellington against Otago last Saturday. Since the shield was presented it has been held by two associations, viz., Auckland and Wellington. The following is a record of shield matches to date:— Year. ' Teams. Won by Scores. 1908 Taranaki v. Auckland ... A 3tol „ Canterbury v. Auckland A 2to 1 „ Manawatil v. Auckland ... 'A 4to 3 „ Nelson v. Auckland ... A 3to 0 „ Thames v. Auckland ... A .5 to 0 „ Wellington v. Auckland A 2to 0 „ Wauganui v. 'Auckland A t) to 1 1909 Taranaki v. Auckland ... A i to 1 „ Wellington v. Auckland ... W 3to 2 „ jlanawatu v. Wellington W 3to 1 1910' Hawke's B. v. Wellington W 2to I i, Horowhcnua v. Well'gton W Gto 1 „ Wairarapa v. Wellington W Gto3 „ Canterbury y. Wellington W 2to 1 „ Wauganui v. Wellington W 4to 1 „ Auckland v. Wellington W 3to 1 1911 Manawatu v. Wellington W Gto 2 „ Canterbury r. Wellington W 3to 2 „ Hawke'sj.B. v.. Wellington, W ~3 to „ Auckland "v. 'Wellington " Ito 1 Kelson v. Wellington \V 6JO * „ Otago v. Wellington ... W 3to - Otago put up a bigger fight than was anticipated. About half-way through tho second spell things did not look very pleasant for tho local representatives, but, after they had scored their first goal, more steam was turned on, and they held tho advantage thereafter. _ Loader, the local 'ast left-winger, had not .recovered from dijuries received in the game against Canterbury, and, soon after tho commencement, he was practically useless. A kindly, and timely act was (lone bv Gotz, the visitors goalkeeper, who bandaged the injured ono at nalt

The visiting forwards proved a fast lot, and showed combination. Their passing in the early part of Hie second spell gave the local backs plenty to do m keeping the circle clear. Adams was perhaps the nick of the visitors' halves, but at times 6 Strack knew too much for him, and the local right-wine, being oft his game, gave him littlo trouble to stop. ' Smart and Jloxhara, as full-backs, are two good ones. They hit hard and cleanly, and make up for tho weakness in the halves, but after Hiwr side had scored their second goal they went to pieces, and attempted to take too many flying hits, instead of stopping th= ball fiv ? t as they had invariably dono in the earlier part ot th Gotz, m in goal, brought off'one or Wo good saves by kicking the, ball. Ilns player was inclined to leave his goal and go out to stop the shot. On one occasion L came right out of tho circle, and it was fortunate for him that the shot sent in Sa V lek! on dO the righting, for Wellington, did not play up to representative form, and was.at times .clumsy, Ihe Strack brothers, and Danes all played well, and in the later part of the second spell, these warriors, by combining together, keeping the ball in the centre, set thinW in motion; whereby three goals were seoml for Wellington. Thompson (left-half) did not play up to form, ami .ppeared to bo -'off his game. Campbell, at centre, was also a suflerer, and consequently could not back .up the forward lino as he usually docs. Pa.Hon, o t righhalf, was a thorn in tho side ot the opposing forwards, and got .through a lot. of work in stopping rushes and in fallim,' back to assist his backs when they.were ti"htlv pressed. The local full-backs, liicksbn and M'Eldowney, were sound throughout the game, and managed to clear plav from the twen y-nve in the first ripell by 'sending tho ball weir down the '■Dwyer, in goal, had very few .straight balls to stop, and the two which passed him wcro tho result of his backs playing too far back. Ho could not seo tho ball coming in. , ~ ' , Ono of the Tcferees put forth strong comment in awarding a goal to Wellington, and after the ball had been placed on tho halt-way line for the bully-off brought the players back to the goal-line, and gave Wellington a penalty corner. The Wellington captain rightly entered a protest against this decisioja, as, after a referee has given his decision, lie fhoulcl abide by it. Ii this case tho ball was hit into tho circle, and the referee was of the opinion that it had touched an Otago back, and then proceeded into thf> goal. It appears, however, that it went straight through without touching anyone, though Da vies rushed up and narrowly mused assisting the ball in its roll letween the P °lt the meeting of delegates to tho Ncv Zealand ladies' hockey tournament a resolution was passed as folio s:-" lhat in tho interests of hockey, there should be no coaching of teams from the line when playing in tournaments. Anyone wlsj witne?ed games last week will no doubt 'admit that those who run up and-down the side lino calling 'out ■ instructions to the players have merely succeeded in annoying the spectators, wivhout doing any good at all to tho plnycis.