Hockey.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 129, 1 June 1907, Page 14

Hockey.

[Br Bulger.] Tho second matches of the scison were played last Saturday in anything but favourable circumstances. During the progress of tho games nt Day's Bay, n. slight hail-slorm was experienced, and for the last quaiter of an hour tho men wero playing in heavy rain and in a light that was so bad that a spectator, who was quite familiar with all tho players, was unable to distinguish individuals though he was only ten yards from the touch line. UNITED, 3. v. WELLINGTON, 2. This game wa.« very keenly contested. At half time cither side might reasonably havo been expected to 'win. United attacked from tho start and kept thair opponents busy defending for ten minutes. But the first ten minutes is tho only period during tho game in which United can be fairly said to have had the better of it. At half time there was no score and advantages were about oven. Soon after commsneing the second f-pell United scored two goals. Wellingtons, who at this stage were doing more attacking thun defending, replied with two goab in quick succession. The scores w-ere even when the light failed. In fairness to both teams the game should have boen abandoned, as, on account of rain and bad light, it was quite imposiblc to see tho ball unless it was quite close at hand. The referee stopped the* game to consult with the two captains, but tho decision was in favour of continuance. Good play was out of the question in such conditions, so play of a poor order followed. Interest was, however, maintained right up to tho last through th» equality of the teams and the strenuous individual efforts of player,-}. Closo on the call of time Elliot hit the third goal for United. Had the ground been in bettor condition thorc is little doubt I that Uniteds would have increased their score, as tho state of the ground and the light, which at no time during the second spell was good, interfered with tho combination usually shown by Unitsds. However, on the play, tho writer feels certain that Wellington owes Saturday's defeat to the bad practice, which appears to havo been universally adopted by their front rank, of playing one handed. Allen is the only man in Wellington who used his stick in this manner with success, and even Allen never attempted, when tackled by an opponent, to continu; his attack holding the stick with one hand. A man may get along quicker when one hand is frsc, and, when he is away on his own, the writer, while he would not encourago it even then, would hardly go no far as to condemn the one handed play ; but when a man is tacklad he is without doubt throwing his chances of success away by attempting to pass tho tackier with a one handed grip. Many tiinea did the Wellington forwards throw chances away by adopting this faulty method. Should one handed play prove successful in evading an opponent it would look pratty enough, but it will never succeed sufficiently often to pay. Beere and Patterson — leaving out tho one handed business — played admirable games for Wellington. Duncan was also good and Bridge showed great improveni3nt on his previous senior performance. Reid and Smythc made a groat difference to the- Wellington half lin?. Both men played very well and succeeded in converting the poor half lino of Saturday week into a lino fairly formidable in attack and stubborn in defence. Brewer and Blackwell played good games at full-back. Shurlcy, goalksoper 7 was very successful in stopping. For United, Eliiot played a good game and managed to score as usual. Organ and Smythe on the wings were, with Elliot, tho pick of United's forwards. Tho inclusion of Hollis Ins improved tho forward line. Unitcd's half-line is not of the strongest, but HollU' — brother of tho forward — and Exley showed good promise. Ashbolt was seen to groat advantage ; it is remarkabh that Ashbolt has maintained so high a, standard ,of play for so many years. The scorers wore, for United, Elliot 3; for Wellington, Duncan and Patterson 1' each. KARORI, 0. v. VIVIAN, 2. Karori had little difficulty in defeating Vivian. In all departments tho winners exhibited their superiority. Tho gamo was only moderately fast, and not over interesting, but nothing better- could be expected from two unevenly matched teams on such heavy ground. This speaks well for tho goal getting ability cf Hid team. Before the teason is o\er there should bo seen some stubbornly contested games at Day's Bay. All Karon's forwards are of the light material, and the fact that each man scored in this match and only one had failed to score in tho previous match tendo to prove that fncy all knew what to do and how to do it whsn they get into their opponent's circle. Tho Vivian toam is op the weak side all round. They have not yet . learned the absolute nscsssity of each player keeping his placo. A hockey ball can bo hit with great speed «ud to a great distance ; therefore, the man who adopts football tactics, by attempting to follow the ball, is very soon out of tho hunt; — not only is he out of it but he places tho rest of his team at a great disadvantage. A back should havo a fairly accurate idea as to where his forwards aro without having to look , round 'tho field for them to pass to, with a fast set of forwards liko Karori's racing down upon them? Vivian's forwards should also pass the ball among themselves more frequently. One or two of tho forwards seemed to have the idea that when they obtained the ball it was their duty to pilot it through the opponent's goal-posts*. Tho writer agrees with them, but he suggesta combined in lieu of individual play. Of tho very good set of Karori forwards Davies and Willis deservo special praise. The only Karori back who had a great deal to do was Campboll, and ho did it exceptionally well. For Vivian, Donovan on the wing worked hard and did well, but he has a tcndoncy to .roam from his place. Goals were obtained by Davief 3, Horrox 2, Murphy 2, Putnam and Willis 1 each : for Vivian tho two Donovans scored a each.