HOCKEY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25, 29 July 1911, Page 14

HOCKEY.

(By "Left-Wing.") Once again, for the third time thie season, Wellington has stalled off a challenger for the shield, and is patiently, but after 1 last Saturday's display perhaps not too Confidently, awaiting the next opponent, Auckland. The match last Saturday gave point to the statement that Wellington is a most erratic team— a' Combinatiori unable to "play" until it is fairly on the road to suffering defeat. This has been evidenced in practically all the shield games-*the local team seldom, if ever, opens the scoring account. It would be hard "to assign any special reason for this, but the fact remains that it is always so. Local supporters, therefore, have become accustomed to it, and even if the score ,at half-time stands two against Wellington, they are still confident of ultimate success} they have faith in the yellow-jerseyed players being able to predominate in the second spell. Wellington players have invariably greater staying powers than the visitors, and this makes up for their lack of dash in the initial spell. Last Saturday's game was, to a large extent, a repetition of previous games played here, though the excitement was perhap3 not so intense as, for instance, that against Canterbury or against Hawkes Bay last year. Tho display given by Wellington was certainly not edifying in the first t spell, and may even ba termed disappointing. There were numerous changes in the team, and there were many who adopted a pessimiatic attitude as to Wellington's prospects. Ihe combination, however, taken, generally, justified, itself; individually it was at periods brilliant, but the combining properties were weak. There are several who would favour no changes, but it is to bo hoped that the selector will not take the same view. A forward line, to be as effective as it should be, must combine well. This is one essential to success. Therefore, why not try an alteration ? There is no denying the fact that G. Davies waa greatly missed last Saturday, _ and the selector' is counselled to give him a chance against Auckland. He has the reputation among Auckland enthusiasts of being the best left inside in New Zealand, but even if he is unabl© to get that position his services on the right,, as has been proved, cannot Well Be dispensed with. Some would very much like to see the forward line composed as follow*!— Loft wing, Loaders inside left, Q. Davies; bully, G. Strack a« i e m gh f ( , Cl ' £ track ' f te hi wifl g> Salek,_ To-day's trial match should give some indication of the wisdom or otherwise or this, Let it not be inferred that the vanguard last Saturday was altogether unsatisfactory. All eyes were otf Murphy, anxioUß to see how he would shape in the position of inside right. Of course, in comparison with G. Davies, he did not shine, aalek, on^he wing, played much better than against Canterbury, and he was faster than usual. In future he should be more prepared for thoss long crossfield shots from Loader, which should be encouraged. The last-mentioned player got more to do during the latter part of the game than he usually gets, and Wellington benefited. Loader is fast and always willing. The two Straeks worked in well together, but in the. first spell were perhaps a little inclined to keep the ball to themselves. The halves were quite satisfactory, Burbidga played a better game than before. Thompson was a battle?, but left hie place now and again. Campbell, as previously, was the mainstay of the line. Hickson was a useful full-back, although the i clever Hawkes Bay forwards got past him more than once. a He gave ample support to little Burbidge, who is rather too light for the position in which he plays. Kib* blewhite was good, in the defence, but he, too, ia a light-weight, and none too reliable. How 1 about trying Alec Parton' in this position? The goalkeeper (Dwyer) showed splendid judgment, and it was not his faUlt that either of the two shots went through. The display given by the visitors was of tha cleanest, and there is only one player agaidnst whom exception could be taken. If the shield was awarded on a basis of merit instead of on the number of goal-scores, tho trophy must inevitably have left Wellington for Hawkes Bay. M'Goldrick (righfc half) was the mainstay of the defence, and on the attack Atkinson, Shattky, and Hallett were most successful. Hallett, though he does not play such a heady game as Atkihson, was Very fast. The player, who is not a stranger, having been here last year, gave Wellington many an anxious moment, as ho ruahfct 1 down the wing, Fraser and Mathewg were only fnir, while . Fear (left-half) "carried" too often, and gave "sticks" too frequently. Bottrell and Anderson gave an example of how fullbacks should play. Both hit hard and true, and they know how to lay the wood on. gave a very ordinary disElay in goal, but in this direction it may c pointed out that he was only a, third choice. To sum the game up in a few words: On the day's play the better team did not win.