Lacrosse.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1910, Page 14

Lacrosse.

(By "Third Man.") For th© last two Saturdays there has been no play, and .this will probably be repeated from time to time throughout the season, if th© Reserves Committee of the City Council, or its delegate, chooses to suspend operations upon, the city reserves every time a littie rain falls. Wellington is about uhe only city in the world that has decided that play on damp turf does the turf great harm. I have been informed that in Auckland play is never stopped on account of the dampness of the turf, and I know that ooi' some of the world-famed cricket fields of England winter games are played under th© worst of weather conditions. I do nob suppose- that the players themselves are unreasonable, and I have no doubt that -when the turf is co damp that the ground would become muddy with the play, the- players would prefer tahat the matches were postponed, if the choice lay with them. The cup fixtures are arousing much interest among followers of the game. The Proud Cup, generously donated bj a brother of a well-known, local player (Mr. E. 1. Proud), has created a spirit of healthy rivalry amongst the various clubs. Just now it is difficult to say which club is the strongest.. The date of the interprovincial match with Auckland has not yet been fixed, but an early reply suggesting a suitable date (probably at the end of July or the beginning of August) is expected from the Northern Association. A reliable selection commititee of three has been appointed, and judging by the keennees j displayed by many of the older players, and the creditable and promising showing of several "recruits," the task set tho selectors -will be no light one. The selection committee may, no doubt, be depended upon to watch carefully the form shown not only in. the later stages of the championship matches, but aleo in .the earlier games. The best of player.s have an "off-day" which, it occurring in the later matches might mean blacker marks against them than if such "off-day" occurred in ttte earlier matches. And yet, were these earlier matches not witnessed by the selectors, an evident injustice might, however unwittingly, be done to those players whose form displayed in the earlier matches would have merited the high approbation of the selectors. Again, the knowledge that the selectors are carefully watching one's play, and that the form shown in only a few concluding matches is to decide the iespcctive claims of the players for places in the representative team, is oftentimes responsible for a poorer display than would othex-wiso have been given on the part perhaps, of a highly-strung yet efficient player. From my knowledge of the personnel and ability of the selectors, I have no hesitation in assuring all players that the Selection Committee will duly appreciate the points expressed above, that the selectors will give every player "a fair field and no favour," and that the selection of the representative team will bo made upon no consideration oi "reputation form," but upon the exposition given by all alike throughout the whole of the matches (whether at Duppa-street or the Basin Eeserve) played this season prior to the Auckland match. An interim selection will, no doubt, be made a few weeks before the. date fixed for the interprovincial match, but alterations mny even afterwards be made if found to b» warranted. I wonder whether any of the clubcaptains have given lectures to the members of their lespective teams. If this has not been done, it should be attended to witnout delay. There is little difficulty in the way of a. captain calling hii men together for five minutes before a game begins, and telling them, more particularly the younger players, of the legitimate us© of the crosse. There is i no good in mincing matters. Until play-1

ers know how to use the cross© they will increase a hundredfold the risks of the game, they will court rough play, and, human nature being human nature, they will get it; they will convert lacrosse from one of the cleanest, swiftest, and most skilful of games into one where roughness is a distinct qualification. I have written of this before. In future, I may name teams that offend in the direction indicated. To-day, at the Basin Reserve, Columbia were set down to try conclusions with Capitol, and Kelburne were to meet Wellington at Duppa-street grounds.