Hockey.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 18, 20 July 1907, Page 14

Hockey.

[By Bulger.]] The spectators who went to Day's Bay last Saturday to see the hockey matches should, if not influenced by strong partisan feeling, havo returned to Wellington very well pleased. Tho weathor was almost perfect, and visitors would havo beon well compensated for time spent even if the trip across tho harbour had been all they obtained. But as two admirable games of hookey were added to tho excursionists' other sources of satisfaction they ' must havo had a really good time.' The United and' Karori toams, who prior to this match were leading for the championship with an even number of points, gave a very interesting and generally excellent gamo of hockey, and the Wellington v. Victoria Collcgo 'match was just as keenly fought out, and was -very nearly as interesting as tho" moro prominent contest. United gained a- fairly comfortable victory over Karori and now lead for the championship by two points. Uniteds should now win the championship, but they may still expect that almost every match they havo yet to play will prove to be a stubborn contest. The leading team, has to meet Karori once again and Wellington twice, and oach of these matches is likely lo be pretty close. SATURDAY'S MATCHES. United (6) v. Karori (3). From tho spectators' point of view this was as good a gamo of hockey as has been seen 'in Wollington for several years. The play was fast and exceptionally good, and United did not establish its lead until tho end of tho contest was drawing near. Tho game could bo styled both brilliant and extremely exciting. The first spell was decidedly in Uuitod's favour, as the scoro of 3—o3 — 0 »t half timo shows. Iv tho early part of the second spell things wove more even, and it was thought that thero would bo very littlo additional scoring. Karori, however, brought about Eomo great surprises and registered three goals in very quick succesrion. With tho score at three all United again becaano aggressive, and before the call of timo had reached the substantial total of six goals. There can be no doubt that tho better team won. Birkett, Unitod's centro forward, was tho moßt prominent player on tho ground. He was clever in tho field, passed ' well, and obtained throo of United's six goals. It would bo difficult to mako a selection from the other four United forwards, as each player was seen at his best. Unitod's weakness lay in its half -line; good material is thore, but two of the halves are now to sonior hockey. Ashbolt and Hickson were seen to advantage. Peatson waa back in goal and did good service It is perhaps presumptuous' to criticise a Slayer who knows tho game as Pearson oos, but there is, in tho writer's opinion, a fault in his play. A goalkeeper cau hardly bo said to be too far up the field if ho can get back to his posts before an opponent can reaoh tho striking circle. Tho position in tho field on Saturday would haye been all right if 'United's goalkeeper had boen in his best form, but he should remember that his pace is not as good as it used to bo. Ono might say also ( with regard to Karori's forwards, that it would hardly bo fair to make a selection ; if, however, any were moro conspicuous than the others these were perhaps Davies aaid Murphyr Campbell was the best of Karori's halves, but very good work for his team, was also done by Cathie. Spiers, full-back, and Campbell, goalkeeper, also did very woll. Wellington [\) v. Victoria College (3). This was a fast and vory oven match. The College, however, did more attacking than was done by their opponents There is certainly something wrong with tho scoring ability of the College inside forwards. Becre was shotting vory well on Saturday, but the other two inside men aro inclined to attempt to "poko" goals rather than "bang" them. Smith, apart from thb weakness in tho circle, played a capital game , a good deal of this play in th& field was very admirable indeed. Pope, wing forward, was also very prominent. Tho College threo halves rendered vor> good service. Griffiths and MacDougall, full-backs, showed up fairly well. Hull was tho. best of Wellington's forwards , he was out of form, but at times flashes of his former brilliancy wero notice able Beero and Fulton also deserve men tion. Of tho halves Reid was tho promi nent man ; he is not as great an assistant to his full-backs as ho might be, but ho is a groat support for thp forwards— and, perhaps, a player can hardly bo_ expected to oxcel in i both theso most important duties of 'a naif-back. Blackwell playod a very good full-back gamo ; he not only did his own but also much of his colleague's work. Had it not been for tho elevei manner in whiclj Blackwoll backed up Brewer the College score- would havo been greater. Shulcy stopped well — he novor attempts anything- olse. t

Tho Wellington team selected fo play against Otago is Hi htrong one, and is fully representative of all the clube. Tho United team has secured the greatest number of places. Tho team is composed of five United players, Smytho, Elliott, Organ, Ashbolt, and Hickson ; two Karori, Davies and Campbell: two Victor/a College, Beere and akolley ; and two Wol lington, Reid and Shuloy. One would think from Karori's position* in tho championship that more players' from this team should have found places. Murphy, Willis, Cathie, and Campbell, goslkecpei, havu played good games throughout the seaEon ; any ono of those men might havo boen included without materially weakening the selection. It is unfortunate that Karori have so many men who must have just missed their respective positions in tho team. Two very good representative teams could easily bo chosen from Wellington players There must always bo some slight differences of opinion an to the respective abilities of various players. Tho Wellington selectors however, are, presumably, hockey oxperts, and the writer would hardly caro to suggest any alterations to a team selected by throo of Wellington's oldest and most ardent followers of tho gamo. Otago mutt havo a very strong team indeed if they avo to bo successful in their match against Wellington. They will have tho advantage of having playod a numbet of mutches , toguther, whilst Wellington has been rinablo to have oven a trial match, but, on tho other hand, most of the players chosen havo previously playod together.

Replying to a "welcome home" at Pretoria, General Botha said he was assured that the British (Jovernment and people meant well to the people of tho Transvaal. lie was convinced that they would not only have their sympathy, but their help to build up a .united South African nation. His being there was like being at school. It was a great privilege to him to meet such great statesmen as tho Premiers of the other colonies, and to hear the silver-tongued jipeech of men like Laurier and Deakin. lie was sorry to learn ut Capetown that new, difficulties and troubles had arisen at Johannesburg, but he was very satisfied with the step.* taken by, and tho attitude of, tho Government. Ho hoped that the people on strike would use ' common-sense," and the strike would soon be at an end, because, in South Africa ho trusted things would happen, not through force, but by justice. "What'll you take for that pipe?" "Oh, you wouldn't caro to smoko this old pipe." "No, but I'd like to buy it and jiuQvv. it .away A '-