HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 103, 2 May 1914, Page 15

HOCKEY

(By "Sticks.") SENIOR.

A table prepared after the first round of the initial series does not give much information. Last Saturday's games were <all " first of the season " brand, and gave but a slight indication of the probable champions. One' thing appears Suite plain even at this early stage, and r!> is that Wellington will have ample P t-class material to draw upon for a t. presen'tative team. The selectors will have to be very careful this year— they will have to know their men thoroughly, and they would do well to take less notice of reputation. As. has been said before in this column, there is much new blood in Wellington hockey, and most of it is apparently good. < A TEAM- FULL OF PROMISE. In last Saturday's Sports Edition The Post stated, in reference to the KaroriMymi game :—": — " The Mynri team is likely to develop" into a very fast combination before the season is over. . . The teanvis not one of novice?." These remarks have been generally endorsed, and 'ft has been admitted that there was good ground /or them. Mymi played splendidly. The team is likely to develop rapidly, and the development seems sure to go along on the right lines. It is apparent that the players have been taught to keep the game open— a rule which it is safe ( for any team to follow. The nippy passing was not at all bad, and is an idea which should be encouraged. On the whole, the forwards played well, although two or three were inclined to do too much wandering. The halves would do well to keep closer to the forward line, which last Saturday appeared in need of a little more backing than it received. The majority of the players gelded the ball before playing it, and it would-be to the team's advantage if this lead was followed by all. With the exception of J. Keall (late of Wesley) and Bey (late of Wellington), none of the Mymi men have figured in senior hockey before. However, several have kept out of the senior ranks only b'eeaugfe they were staunch' supporters of junior clubs. They have now come into their own, and will do well. The last two goals were obtained after clever combined movements, which indicates that the team, when prac tisifig, has made a specialty of combination work. Ayres (on the right wing) was among the most prominent. He dribbled well, but he must learn to centre sooner., It does nOt^pay to be' at all selfish. 0: Martin (centre-half) fielded Well, and fed his forwards to'advantage. He kept his place like a veteran. Fear proved a- very promising 'keeper. He is extremely cool. Both Keall and Bey did Well. THE "ALL BLACKS." Karori played a fairly good game, but were not over-brilliant. Really, the all blacks were better on the defensive than in attacking. T. Spiers, A. Parton, and C. Campbell were very strong, and played games only to be expected from experienced men. Campbell, however, was not nearly up to rep. form, but this was hardly to be expected in a first game. The "forward line 'waeTbatfly balanced, and yet it is difficult to suggest any improvement. It would be impossible to move the players round without detracting from 'the' "general strength. The fact is that Loader and Daviag are mtich_too strong for Spiers^ M'Killop, and Brooker. "Sticks" would like to see M'Killop substituted by another, as he is' far too selfish. Last Saturday he spoilt many a nice opening because he would hang on to the ball. Gr". Davieß was in excellent form, and his backing up was splendid. Loader did some excellent passing work, and should soon get back nis old form. Henderson, as ( left half, occupied a position new to him. Last year he played in the vanguard, and eventually it is likely that the half line will suit him just as well. WELLINGTON AND INSURANCE. The Wellington-Insurance encounter was a vety slow affair— tiring both for pla-yerd and spectators. There was not enough "go" in the match. A regrettable lack of enthusiasm was apparent, and the only care players had was for an early whtetle. Wellington just managed to win ', that was all. They need a scoring man badly, and perhaps he exists in Fletcher, the new bully, who was unable to take the field on Saturday. Fletcher, who has an Auckland reputation , for being an exceedingly smart front-fanker, will be available when Wellington play their next match. A'gainsb Insurance, Murrell, a- junior, acted as substitute, and did well. Heis rather light, however. None 'of Wellington's halves covered themselves with glory, and most of the defensive work' fell to Morrah and Schlaadt, at full-back. 1 . They were equal to many of the on-, slaughte. It would not be a bad 'plan to try fcwo of the halves as forwards, and put two of the forwards into the half line. This experiment could be made next Saturday. "Sticks" would suggest moving Fauvell and Holland. For Insurance, Cleave. v Schulenberg, M'Clintock, and Robie did best. Kiiox was hardly Successful as left full. SHIELD CHALLENGES. The following challenges for the New Zealand Hockey Association's Challenge Shield have been received ;-^Wellington, Waikato, WairaTapa, and Canterbary. The Nordon Cup is patronised still more, six entries having been- received for that competition '.-—Nelson, Ta-ranaki, Manawatu, Thames, Wairara.pa, and Wanganui. AN EARLY WATERLOO. It is somewhat significant to have to record so early the fact that University, the predominant team of last year, havo failed badly in their first essay this season. The event took place at Karori Park on Saturday last, and the guilty ones in this successful routing of the once redoubtable foe are those sturdy players comprising the Metropolitan eleven. That the gamo was won and lost on its merits is beyond doubt, and the only conclusion we can arrive at is that Univereifcy 1 is 'a vastly inferiors-team to that of last year,' and that Metropolitan, good ; last year, is now second to none. It may be pointed out that the ground was somewhat slippery, but 'as College (then, so-called) had one of their biggest wins on a much worse' ground last year, there is no excuse to offer in this direction WHAT THE MATTER WAS. On hearing, the result of this encounter last Saturday, many exhibited, mild surprise ', other critics thought such would be the Case, Of course, we all knew before that University had lo>st a number of prominent players^-Thomp' son, Cleghorn, Griffiths, and Burbidge—and consequently expected that Metropolitan would extend them. But who dreamed of ««ch a defeat as five goals to one? If anything- seemed improbable that did, and a Metropolitan player would have been thought somewhat impertinent to imagine such a thing. On paper, University looked anything but strong, and" the absence of the- names

mentioned above did not make things look any more promising for the greens. Take the position of outside left, for in-, stance. Jones, who has the appearance of a beginner, ie but a poor substitute for Griffiths, and, while he is undoubtedly a trier, he is a weak link in the chain of forwards. There is no doubt, however, that Jones will improve with careful coaching Then, why promote Salek to senior rank? Necessity demanded this step, no doubt, but really Salek is weak-— very, very weak. Then we come to the Strack brothers. Remember their deeds last season and compare. No 'one would suggest that these fine forwards have lost very much of their brilliancy, hut they did show that they were not happy with .-so many new members to play -with. Last year the forward line worked like machinery, biit then the Stracks combined well with Griffiths and Cleghorn. New blood takes a lot of working up, and until this is done it would be unfair to criticise tou harshly. As to the half-line, it was fairly safe, but by no means perfect.. , M'Dowell was perhaps the best, and at times he made some very serviceable openings. The opposition proved all too vigorous for the full- backs, Gaze and Bowler, while Cockerill, in-goals was every bit as good as the late custodian Monce. WHERE PRAISE IS DUE. Metropolitan deserve all the praise possible, not only because of their fine win, but also On account of their general enthusiasm, a factor which must win for any team in the end. Last year this eleven, which has now been strengthen* •ed by new players, were runners-up to College, having come within seven^ points of the champions. Although this was a good way from the top, the team never lost an ounce of enthusiasm, and have come out this year still stronger, still pushing towards the desired goal. Having said this, let us glance at the personnel of the team. The forward line comprises Legge (late of Karori), Cavill (also a Wednesday player), Keys, Sheeran, and Taplin. On * Saturday these men showed surprisingly good form, and made no race of it with the Opposing vanguard. Sheeran, especially, was in a great mood, scoring four of the five goals. Sheeran is a splendid shot, and hits with the power of a full-back. M'Gregor (centre-half) was the "star." He was right at the top of his form, and nothing was too difficult for him. Pttllyn was not so slow as usual, and his hitting was powerful and sure. On the whole, the team combined well, and promises, at the time of writing, to develop into a brilliant side.

Carori „, Hetropolitan Wellington tfymi insurance University United ... « HI 1 l l 1 1 1 o a \ 1 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 £< 3> i % % i 5 12 10 2 15 0 ,0 10 1.5 0 0 0 0