HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 126, 29 May 1915, Page 12

HOCKEY

(By "Sticks.") POSITION OF TEAMS.

Just now the championship is in a very interesting position, with the chances in 'favour of Karon. That team is only one point below United, and has played a game less. The suburban team's prospects are decidedly encouraging (to themselves), although it ie very difficult to forecast what may happen. ' If there are going to be any more , games like those witnessed last Saturday, it seems that the position will be ' altered considerably, and the weaker j teams are likely to lower the colours of I those now on top. United, for instance, had a narrow escape last Saturday, although it must be admitted they were without tho services of N. Boyd, a strong player. But his absence Bhould . not have made all the difference it did. Perhaps, as was the case the previous Saturday,, United did not take the game seriously, but if they continue that way they will find themstelves powerless against a strong eleven. They must go all the time. They must be "all out," I practically, on every occasion, or they i will quickly get out of condition. Col- ' lege played scrappily against Wellington, and Wellington certainly did not cover themselves with glory. ' But the notes this week are going to mainly concern St. Augustines, and, incidentally, all hockey players. ST. AUGUSTINE'S SUMMED UP. That St. Augustines have good material is certain, and this fact has been , commented upon before. There was nothing extraordinary in their match against Karori, except it be the large number of times the Saints were within an ace of scoring. However, the forwards always failed to drive home their attack. Their field play was quite as good as that of Karori, but at the business end of the assault Karori topped off with a few goals, while the others invariably lost the ball to an opponent. They might even have drawn the game had they instilled into their circle work a little more and not quite so much of _ the "bang-and-chance-it" j method. "Sticks" does not suggest this ' in relation to their shootihg— every for- j ward must risk something at times, for "golf" shots (where the aim can be well prepared) are not frequent in t senior j hockey — but in connection xvith the ' somewhat ' indiscriminate passing round thp circle. Both wings (J. Webley and L. Foster) made a nnmber of terrific drives from within a yard or two of the circle, straight across it, when the insides were in position unmarked. A short pass to them, followed by a quick drive, would possibly' have meant a goal. Centreing hard is alf very well, but it is more important to see that your own | man gets the ball. The right wing, , Fester, made the same mistake. Posses- | pion is nino points of the law, and while your side keeps the ball, your opponents can do but little. Keep the ball on the , movp from one to the other. ALWAYS HANG ON THE BALL. It is obviously best to retain the ball as long as possible, even at the expense of a few yards of field. These remarks apply to all teams — not merely St. Augustine's. If the forwards keep the ball zig-zagging about the opposing defence cannot array forces to meet a special attack, because they can never judge whence it may come. Here is another " aspect. It was noticeable o.n Saturday that the centre (A. Webley), when blocked, made a couple of passes to the wing or inside, both of whom were in a much worse position than he, with more opponents to deal with. Admittedly, the situation was awkward, but he evidently forgot he had a fine centre half, a pass to whom would ha.ye relieved the pressure in the circle. A quick return to anybody in the forward line would have made the situation serious for the defence. These facts are instances of mistakes in combination, so apparent in many of our games. Always pass well forward so that confreres may take the ball in the stick with greater ease. A ball coming acutely in the direction a player is running is much simpler to take, and its direction from the rebound more accurate and easier placed than the square pass. The reason for passing too square seems to lie in a forward running too close to an opponent before passing, thus necessitating a square hit to beat him. The same also simplifies the backs' attempt at interception. THE BACKS INDIVIDUALLY. The comparatively low scores put up against St. Augustine's indicate that the , backs, on the whole, are good enough. They certainly tackle and hit well, and what is most notable, they know the rules. In goal, Andrews made one or | two fine saves. H. Martin is a. hefty I right back, who is excellent round about the circle. In the Rev. G. Stephenson they have a centre-half who plays a j sure, heady game. He feeds both wings judiciously^and tackles better than most. He was never once idle, and with little effort he obtained the maximum effect by keeping his position. He never wasted either time or energy with any display of superfluous cleverness, and despatched the ball to his forwards on the instant with clean, placed hits. He . plays well up the field, and evidently realises that an attack in its infancy is much easier to stop than one that has matured. His wing-halves, Cowie and Clout, could play well up to him with advantage, and follow fairly close to the forwards in attack. In short, they are a good defensive back team, and it behoves their forwards to prove their versatility by developing an attack in keeping with such a fine defence. NO TIME TO "LOOK ROUND." Forwards (this refers to all) should recognise the stimulus they would give their hard-worked backs when they net a goal. They should consider the effect on the morale of the team when the attacks are continually broken up, and , the ball brought back into the danger i zone. "Sticks" overheard this remark ' on Saturday : "We don't have time to look 'round, now." That's it. Where there is good combination there is not much need for "looking 'round." Each man knows where his fellow should be, and acts accordingly. Opportunities for looking 'round do not occur frequently, so a player, if he is to be successful, must acquire a style which does not necessitate it. Confrere's methods must be studied closely, positions must be kept, and actions mwt be of an unselfish nature. Then, and not till then, combination is sure to come. Just talk about the difficulties which crop vxt, and watch the improvement. Combination does not mean being where the ball is most likely to come by accident, but being where you know the ball will come by design of your fellow players in accordance with tht knowledge of ono toother* play and tho plan of attack.

THE SPORTSMANLIKE SPIRIT. "Sticks" desires to stress tho sportsmanlike act of Captain Stephenson, whereby he allowed Karori to play a substitute for R. Murphy, who left the field injured. No doubt he represented the spirit of the whole team, and, if so, congratulations to the St. Augustine's Club ! It was he who suggested the expedient. Evidently the "Saints" are out for the "real" game, and it is more important to play that game than anything else. They play for the gamers sake* and not for the trophy which is handed out at the end of tne season. THE ENGLISH LADIES' TEAM. The latest number of the Hockey Field contains the official report (written by the captain, Miss 0. J. Gaßkell), of the tour through New Zealand of the All England Women's team last season. She discourses at some length upon "the most beautiful and varied scenery in the world," and also' upon the hoßpitality invariably shown the team everywhere it went. There are also some pertinent remarks regarding their games and hockey generally in the Dominion. "The games, the grounds, and the refereeing," she says, "were very varied, 60me being far worse than anyone would meet in representative matches in England. Some quite as good. . . The spectators at the matches were frequently' very numerous 5 we started off with a record crowd of 5000 in Wellington for our first match, and we ' reckon that altogether at least 45,000 people must have come to see »s. M play. .Our audiences as a rule got keenly excited, but knew very little about the game, and were clearly not composed to any great extent of its followers. . . . Generally speaking, the New Zealand teams snowed any amount of pace and vigour in their play, but little science, but they were sporting and joUy to play against, and the best team representing All New Zealand was a really good one, playing a good game in good style. This was largely due to the high stan-' dards of its sole selector, Mr. Manning, the hon. secretary of the N.Z.L.H.A. He accompanied us throughout the tour, and it is difficult to adequately express the gratitude all of us, and myself particularly, fell to him for his excellent arrangements and remarkable kindness. ... At the end of a long and tiring journey he was to be seen cheerful and patient on the platform surrounded by mountains of our luggage, and a crowd of local- hockeyites clamouring questions about our programme and our play. . . I think I can < say without boasting that we left behind a good impression of the A.E.W.H.A."

United Karroii _ University 3t. Augustines.,, Wellington Insurance ... S s g q £ £, o 5 4 1— 16 8 8 4 3 — 1 13 8 7 5 3 1 1 19 9 7 5 2 3 — 9 10 4 5 1 4—lo 13 2 4 — 4 — 3 16 —