Hockey.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 9, 10 July 1909, Page 14

Hockey.

(By "Shinty.")

United has at last secured the lead of the senior chamnionship to itself. Up to last Saturday it shared the honour with V.M.C A., but tho meeting of i' two teams at the opening of the secu .a round has placed the red and white ahead. From first position, V.M.C.A. has now dropped to third place, Karori having got between it and United, there being but one point difference either way. V.M.C.A. was defeated, but not disgraced. Tho young men with a weakened team —R. Parton being away —played a first-class game. From beginning to end they held tho upper end of the stick. The scoro was contrary to tho merits of the game. Tho winning team certainly attacked on occasions, but very rarely did the effort appear dangerous. Tho. superior form of V.M.C.A. over United waa evident. If referee Carver had been up witn the play at the time ho would never have allowed Smylhe the winning goal. The player was undoubtedly ottside-. It may be stated, however, that the official was a most impartial referee. V.M.'s forward line wa3 handicapped by a weak left-wing. Loader, who played inside, was the best forward on tho ground. His effort, with tho assistance of Carde, was an ingenious piece of work. The former carried the ball up the field. Ho attracted the defence of Hickson, and at the psychological moment, transforred to Carde, badly. Ho run to Ashbolt, and then passed back to Loader, who was by this time behind Hickson. Dwyer, in goal, now tackled him, but the ball had already returned to Carde, tho goal resulting. Wheatley grafted at inside right, and young > Parton, right-wing, played very well indeed. Goode, centre-half, ami Dawson, left-half, tackled in rave_ style. They also lent fine support to their forwards. Luke, right-half, was irregular. Tho pair of full-backs —A. Parton and Holmes —constituted a solid defence. The formci was, perhaps, tho best full-back on the ground. The attack of the United forwards was quite ineffective against the solid defence. Elliott, who has been playing so well, was allowed no _ tethor. Organ, Hollis, Smythe, and Mills wcro not so well marked. The halves were hard-worked. King, In the centre, had struck a foeman, worthy of his steol in Goode. Hickson was the better of the full-backs. Ashbolt has played far better games. Dwyer, in goal, had more jto do than his vis-a-vis Colley, and did it in a move effective and finished manner. Improved form was revealed, by Wesley (0) in the engagement with Karori (5). Tho forward line was le-arranged, Birch being 'transferred to his correct position on uhe right wing and Dixon placed on tho left flank. Most of the play went in the direction of tho former, and ho acquitted himself very creditably. Dixon has not ycfc disclosed last year's form, which earned him a position in tho "rep." team. Christie, Brown (halves), Ralph 1 (left full-back), and Sherwood (goalkeeper) were tho backbone of tho defence. Karori played well to a man. The efforts of Murphy to combine were a feature. Ho has shown very consistent form, in tho inside right position throughout the season. L. Davies's goalkeeping was also admirable. He has no peer in tho position in Wellington —not oven Macdougall and Dwyer. Thorndon felt the need of a good shot in the circle in tho match against Wellington, lost by 4- goals to 1. Play was even, the black and whites being unable to turn their efforts to profitable account. Hunt (bully) has no shooting ability whatever. Otheiwiso the team was satisfactory. On the other side the forwards as a whole were disappointing. Taylor displayed form which was expected from him earlier in the season. Smythe was fair at contre-half, and Harty (left full-back) was as reliable as ever. Shirley kept a. clear goal. Vivian fell an easy victim to Victoria. College —tho successful students registering a s—os —o victory. Tho blues' defence was rather weak, R. Thompson being the only ono who made anything like a stand. His Drother in tho forwards was inclined to play offside. Somo very effective centres were made by the Collegians' right wing — Bogle. Monaghan mado a better showing at centre half than usual. Another Wellington player has been transferred. This time it is D. Elias, of the Karori senior team, who has gone to Wanganui. H. V. Walton, referee and player, will bs absent from Wellington for the next few weeks. Ho is on a business visit in the South Island, and during his stay in Christchurch and Dunedin his services have been secured as referee in different matches. Mr. Walton is one of our most capable "whistlers," under whose jurisdiction it is a pleasure to play. The latest in strikes has occurred in Auckland —a strike of hockey referees. The tWdlock was ocoasioncd by tho Auckland Hockey Association appointing a referee to a leading match. For the nonce players of clubs that have a byo are being pressed into service. "Exley is unable to play for United today. This is unfortunate for tho whites" — such is the remark in tho Auckland Herald relative to G. Exley, who was a local representative last year. R. B. Anderson, the ex-Auokland player, has been reappointed selector of the Taranaki representative teams. An Auckland exchange says that the challenge shield is proving an unmixed blessing. Last year, in consequence of so many challenges, the chib competitions had to be greatly curtailed, and the present committee, which apparently contains only a- few members who take a broad view of the subject, is determined that tho experience shall not be repeated. In this they will have th«» support of the majority of the players, but the committee must remember that while the shield is here a plethora of challenges is assured; and, further, those challenges will have to bo accepted if wo wish to reta-n the trophy. If the association show hesitancy in r>l»vin(? shield matchps the Now Zealand body will stop in, and the shield may be presented to "the next best" province.