HOCKEY INTEREST REVIVED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 12 September 1914, Page 10

HOCKEY INTEREST REVIVED

THE "REPS." REVIEWED. (By "Sticks.') In its dying hours the 1914 hockey season has taken a. new lease of life ; the interest has .beon awakened, and if the middle part of the season lapsed somewhat, the end is not going to follow suit. In meet respects it has been a dull, uninteresting season, but players have looked at the untoward circumstances in a philosophic spirit, and there has been no grumbling. There has been considerable activity- of late, this being mainly in view of the premier game of the season, North v. South Island, ■which is being played on the Basin Reserve to-day. This will probably bo the only men's representative game here this season, a fact "which has tended to heighten the interest in it. Already the cln&h bet-ween Wellington and Auckland for the Shield next Saturday is being looked forward to with eager anticipa* tion, and shortly eyes will be turned upon tho first teet between, the English and New Zealand ladies' elevens. So it will be seen there is no dearth of big attractions during the next few weeks. WHAT OF THE TEAM? Again the selectors have justified the i confidence reposed in them. Even a hockey selection committee, however, is not infallible, and in the writer's opinion at least one mistake has been made. ■This is the inclusion of Shearan as out-, side right. It is admitted that Shearan plays a sparkling, attractive game; that is, ho usually does so when playing for his club as .bully. The writer had hot, previous to last Saturday, seen him play in the position ior which he has been selected, and is doubtful if he will chine against Auckland. Usually his play in the open is bright and spectacular, but not consistent. He is a great man in the circle certainly, hence his value as bally, but is it not risky to play him out of his place in the big game against Auckland ? We must hope for tho best. Comment on the other forward positions is not called for ; they give universal satisfaction, and that is enough. Coming to the halves one is at first surprised at the exclusion of Martin. No one ever thought this player brilliant, while his inclusion would Have meant putting M'Gregor on the outside. It is satisfactory to hear that this has been averted without weakening the line. M'Gregor is the pick of the halves, and can be depended upon to do well at Auckland. Rountree has striven hard for representative honours, and no one can regret his inclusion. Thompson^ selection was a foregone conclusion/, although he is not playing the game of previous years. The full-backs are M'Eldowney and Jacobsen, whose play is too well known to need commenting upon. Dwyer, of course, is the goalkeeper. The claims of Hunter for this position were very strong, but, no doubt, the selectors remember the many sterling performances to JQwyer's credit. Hunter"* playing 1 remarkably well this year, and had he been given a chance Wellington would not ha.ye felt any the less confident. By the way, Auckland is reported to Have a good team to contend with the invasion and a close contest may be expected. DELINQUENT LADIES. It appears that the Eketahuna Ladies' Association is deserving of a vote of censure. Some time ago they wrote stating that they were anxious to send a team; to Wellington, and, jumping at the opportunity, the local association agreed to play the Wellington-Eketahuna game as a curtain-raiser to the interlsland match. The game was duly advertised, although no further word had been received from the country association. Whether or not the Eketahuna Association knew that Wellington expected an early reply, the writer is oiot in a position to say. The fact remains that the reply did not come until Wednesday last and the intimation was that the trip was oft. This has caused great inconvenience, which would have been prevented had Eketahuna been a. little more business-like and thoughtful in their methods.