Hockey.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 142, 16 June 1906, Page 14

Hockey.

[Bt Bulger.l

A feature of Saturday's match, United v. Wellington, was the number of goals wrongly given by the referee, who, however, cannot be !held responsible, as the playing field was in such a shocking condition as to make it no small matter to keep one's feet, much less to closely follow tho game. Two of United's goals were obtained by hits which were undoubtedly ""sticks," and there is strong evidence to show that another goal waa got by a hit with the back of "the fetick. Two of the three goals awarded to Wellington were illegal. One was hit a good stick's length from the circle, and another was got in such a manner as to deserve some detail, as the point is one which, is likely to crop up at any lime. Pope, the Wellington centre forward, passed the ball into the -circle from v/ell outside. The ball was fielded by Pearson, .who got his hit in, but the ball, by Bomo means, suddenly roso and hit Hull, who Vas charging at the time, full in the body, and bounded ■ into the net. The giving of a goal in this case was wrong for two reasons ; the first being that, under rule 12, a knock-on occurred, and the second being that the '"ball was neither played bj-, nor glanced off, the stick of an attacker whilst the ball was actually in the circle. The; important point is that no goal can at any time be obtained (except in some casas of a penalty bully) unless am attacker strikes or touches the ball with his stick in the circle. If ah these illegal scores were struck out, the United? would still be the winners by two goals to one. What a pity ih waw that the game was played under such unfavourable conditions. Both teams weri in good trim, and -were keen and eage'i for the fray, and had the 'ground been dry and fs&t, a splendid battle would have ensued. The Uniteds were without the services of Weybourue, who •was on the sick list, and 'his place was taken by King. The team suffered also by tha fact that Ashbolt strained himself fairly early in the match, and was not able to defend as solidly as usual. Blackwoll, the ring wing-haif for Wellington, made his reappearance, but his knee had not propaiiy strengthened, as ifc got out soon after the commencement. It is unlikely that senior hockey will see him again this year. / For seasons past the premiership has depended upon the resu.t of the final match bjfrueen Wellington and United, and it looks as though history -will again repeal itself. Given a firm ground we are likely to witness in this match perhaps as Jine an exhibition of the game as^-the colony can provide. Both elevens ate at present right .up to concert pitch, and there is piactically no difference between the two. The United skipper, Pearson, made full amends last Saturday for his errors on the previous occasion upon which these teams ineb. His wai> a. useful game, free from fault. The new half, Abercrombie, found plenty to do, nnd, on the whole, did it well. He has not yet fully grasped the many intricacies of his position, and is inclined to use his stick somewhat violently. King, as has been said before in this column, can play a really good game on occasion, and last Saturday was one vof the occasions. I am sti.l ot opinion that his reduction to junior ranks han unwise move. The Wellington forwards put in some sterling play in the game under review, but they wero miserably supported in the first spell by the backs It is, however, unlair , to pa&a judgment upon ihem, as the mud was mainly responsible for the trouble. It certainly did look pccuiiaTr to see the United vanguard going through tinu after time as though their visits were the most welcome things in the world, very .ictlo opposition being offered to them. Tho other senior match was farcical. It was easier to slide than to run, and everything in tho way of skill (except that required U> keep on one's feet) was out of the question Many of the players_ were hurt, but fortunately nothing serious eventuated. _ The Juollego have made several alterations in their team, and one is !ed lo wonder (when . thinking over these changes) why Eyburu was not playing, say, left-wing For. some considerabio time past the selection committees of the CoJego -have shown questionable juogment in their methods of strengthening a weak spot. For instance, last year their wing-forwards were weak, therefore they wero hardly used at all. How can a player be expected to improve if he is not given practice? Then, again, it was found necessary to find some one to fill Skelley's place as middle-half. The committee have taken advantage of the opportunity, and have altered the eleven almost out of recognition. Orain, who certainly was not a successful, winger, was tried in the insideposition, where he proved, in the writer's opinion, a success. He has, however, been lired out to make room for one whe wns just developing into a good and reliable full-back. It is, of course, recognised that the College have the right to do as they please, but surely this chopping and changing about is so ill-timed as to make it a source of regret to all those who are interested in the sport. It is far bstter for a team to lake the field with a known weakness than to bo everlastingly experimenting with moie or less unknown quantities. Putnam, who f;>r many seasons one of Karon's crack forwards, was seen in the half-rank against Victoria. College, and played as though to the manner bora. If he succeeds in the new position as well as he did in the old, Kaiori are to bo congratulated upon inducing Putnam to again don the jersey.

1 The Gold Cup at the Royal Ascot meeting will be need on Thursday next. The New Zealand Cup winner Nocluiform will probably be a competitor.