LACROSSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1511, 6 August 1912, Page 7

LACROSSE.

4 ; SHIELD GAME' CRITICISED. ' (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, August 5.-\ Witli reference to the lacrosse game between Wellington and Auckland on Saturday, "Cover Point" writes to the "Herald":—"l was present at the representative lacrosse match between "Wellington and Auckland on Saturday, ,and was agreeably surprised to see a fairly good exhibition of a fiue game.' Followers of the game in Auckland .will no doubt! be exulting over the success of their champions. and I regret to have to strike a. warning note. : I may say at once that lacrosse is.a'gentleman's game, and it will be found that its supporters' will never tolerate objectionable tactics. If players continue these tactics tho game will languish in New Zealand. I noticed on Saturday players using their hands and feet for defensive.purposes, and deliberately charging into opposing players with their knees or shoulders—a dangerous expedient. The Auckland men were the principal offenders in this respect, and several Wellington men were the victims. One player .was down for nearly fivo minutes. ' In Australia, where I played tlio game for some years, any .of tfieso'methods would have constituted a foul. Tho Umpiro, on Saturday, hardly ever blew his whistle, and never penalised either ' side,except once for kicking the ball—a practice which we used to allow. I noticed all kinds of dumsy attempts at what is known as the "body-check"—a most effective weapon if legitimately carried out. It is an extremely difficult feat .to accomplish • successfully, and it certainly never was accomplished 'in the game 7in "'fine's-' tion. Tho correct "body-check" is the net of bringing up a man running with the ball by opposing yourself, as an impassable barrier, or, in other words, "allowing another player to run into you whilst you aro almost stationary." The body-checker should bo not allowed to use force. Lacrosse is pre-eminently scientific and skilful, and, when played in the ideal spirit, intentional fouls lmrdly, if ever, occur, and the game becomes 'very fascinating-to play and pleasant to watch: Outstanding defects in Saturday's match were that tho attacking players were too eager t<V score goals, ami tho defence players "played the mail" too much. The Wellington team could have averted the tall scoro put up against them had they strengthened the defence round their own goal by bringing back some of the attack men who were obviously out.of form. The Auckland men should learn to catch the ball whilst running."