Hockey.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 12, 14 July 1906, Page 14

Hockey.

[Br Bulger.]

The big event of the- season haa come and gone, and unless tho unexpected happens, the trophy which the Uniteds held for so long, and lost to the Wellingtons last year, will be restored to them. But what a poor game it was which gave the three-point lead to the Reds! Both teams were as keen as possible before tho fight began, but for some unknown reason the playeis were unable to settle down to Ijard work. Most of the city's leading hockeyists were on tho field, yet not one played up to form, with, perhaps, the one exception of Pearson. Something must be radically wrong when we see backs like Ashbolt, Reid, and Weybourne fumbling and scraping. Reid, especially, was nil at sea, and ho misaed nearly everything that came his way. Strange to say, the only forwards who did nnything at nil were tho four wingers, and of these Smythe was about tho best. A good suggestion lias been made that after the completion of the final round, and if time trill permit, thess teams should again meet. Many supporters of the game who were anxious to see a match between tho two crack elevens were prevented from going across to the bay on Saturday by tho inclement weathTr, and it is to be hoped thab arrangements for such a match will bo uiadt. Mr. R. St. J. Beere has been appointed to the vacancy on the representative selection committee. It would have been difficult to make a better selection, and Mr. Beere may be relied upon to do his work well. Mr. H. V, Walton, who has" lately officiated as referee for the local association, is recently from the Old Country, where he played for the Northcote Club, Bristol. . Mr. Walton also represented his county (Gloucestershire), and there is reason to believe that he narrowly missed All England honours. From him I have succeeded in obtaining- his opinions -upon the game we play here, and no doubt the following remarks from* his pen will prove of great interest: — "1 have been iraked," Mr. Walton writes, "for- a few lines ?% to what I think of tha hockey played in New Zealand, and t,o compare same with the game played in the Mother Country. I have only been in the colony for a short period, but at the same' time the amount of hockey I have seen is sufficcnt for me to give you some idea of my impression as to your f-tyle of play. The t qne.,thii>g which, struck me very iorcibly was the great keemies3 with which the men piny tho game. Of course, this is no doubt owing to th.2 fnct that there is something at the end of it. 'By $bi6 • I mean that each club is doing' its "utmost to secuie the championship. In the Mother Cpuntiy the Hockey Association will not allow any league or championships to be competed for. Their reason is that they wish to keep the game a purely amateur one. They have an idcti that by forming leagues, etc., in course of time- the game would eventually turn towards professionalism, but I think your readers will agree with me that it would bo impossible, as hockey will never I draw the crowds that football does at the preeenG time owing to 'the size of the bail being so srnnll. "I am of an opinion that your championship matches are most ex'cclent, for the simple reason that it makes the players keen, and also has the tendency to induce other men to take an interest in the gime. As to your grounds, they are excellent in every way, and I may add that it Las not been my good fortune to "be able to play every 'Saturday io England on such grounds as you possess at that charming spot Day's Bay. With such ground? at your disposal, there is no reason why hockey m timo should not be as powerful in New Zealand as it is in England. As to the style of t play in the colony, they are lacking in combination. Your forwards have plentj of pace and clash, but their great weakness is the lack of combination. They indulge in too niuich hard hitting, and are too fond of mdivjdusil attempts to break away. It is waste of energy to keep hitting the ball to the opposing backs, ac it gives them plenty of time to clear, with the result that* the tront men are worn out before the game is very old. , "l'he above fault was in evidence in the game that I refereed in on Saturday last. The great secret of success is for the forwards to combine together and to have a perfect understanding .with each other. The position of centre forward is a must .important one, as lie should be able to feed his men without having to look as to wheie they are. - -To get good combination each man should make a strong point of keeping his place. As regards the different defences I have seen, I consider tbehi eicellent. The tackling and clearing have been as good as any I Have feen. I should like to say a word regarding your goal-keepers. All I have seen have the same weakness, and without a doubt, a very serious one, and that ib they have a tendency to run out and leave an open goal and the result is their side suffers accordingly. No goal-keeper should evei leave his* position unless lie has plenty of time to clear, and in no case should he be out of his place when his opponents are in the circle. On Saturday last I saw three goals scored with the greatest of case, qwing to the goal-keeper running out, and if he had been in his pluco all three might have easily besn saved. I have seen all the senior clubs play with the exception of the United, and tho same weakness was plainly, visible in each case. If your goal-keepers will only remember to keep their place your forwards will not find, it quite so easy to score. I have heard very good accounts of the United Club, whom I am given to understand are the champion club of Wellingtpn. ' I hope to see them play shortly, and I will then give you my views as to how I think they Mould fare against the strongest club in the West of England, viz., the old Redland Hillians. "Before concluding this article, I should like to mention something about the ludies I h'avo seen play in the colony. Their great weakness is irlso lack of combination, and if only they could get this to perfection they would ' give the English ladies a very hard game. They would' certainly beat them at one thing and that ib running. il have never seen Indies run Etj fast as the colonial*. "-