HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 62, 10 September 1921, Page 12

HOCKEY

TEAM TO MEET AUCKLAND

GOOD ALL-ROUND ELEVEN.

(By "Sticks."-)

There remains one important event in tho presant hockey sea-son—the Shield challenge game between Wellington and Auckland, who, by their records so far this season, are entitled to be regarded as fhe two strongest teams in New Zealand. Wellington and Auckland have already met this y«ar, and Auckland won -by one goal to nil, a result thai did not altogether indicate. the respective merits of the two elevens. \ On their showing Auckland Should nave ■won fey a conrfJorttable margin. It, therefore, follows that, in order to deieat Auckland on their own ground, ■Wellington will naed ,& much stronger team. .The selector has 'dhosea his eleven, and the only material changes made are in.the positions of several of th« players. Prior to the match a fortnight ago, it was (generally considered that Wellington would come near to accounting for the Aiucklanders, h/ut after the poor display of the local men in the "preliminary canter," opinions have altered slightly. However, *he" writer is still of the opinion that the Wellington eleven will rcake a good showing in the Shield game. The sole selector (Mr. W. Manning) has done his work well, and the team he has chosen is,: in my- opinion, th« ■best available. A few weeks ago, in this column, I advocated the alteration of the forward line by placing Eteaphy bully and putting Stratton inside-right. This alteration has been carried into effect, and it is one that should make a considerable difference to the play of the team generally. Without a doubt Heaphy is Wellington's star forward, and his usuaL place is bully. Of course Stratton also play* bully for his club, but he is not such a strong man in the centre as Heaphy. ' He is a heady player, however, and -a dangerous man in the circle. He should make good as inside-right .. '. . ( . , . Breed (outside right) Ms a solid man for this attack, and there is little cause for complaint about his: centreing and! shooting. He. is a little inconsistent, however. Hood (inside left) has proved his worth on numerous occasibns, and could nob very well have been left out of the team. The left-winger, A. Smith, has. earned" his place by a series of good all-round displays. - ■ , . The half-back line has been a source of considerable trouble to the selector throughout the season. Many 'changes have been, made, but the result* have. not been satisfactory. The ■• main weakness has been in tho centre, and Mr. Manning has "now sought to remedy this by placing Martin in the middfte. Martin !is probably the best halt in Wellington, at the present time, and' no doubt he will strengthen the defence considerably^ Trilford (right half) is a goodl man, but is inclined to wander from his place. He seems to. have a liking for the forward line. ' . . . s ■ ■ Jones (left half) has played consistently well for Wakatu this season, andi should materially strengthen the defence. The two backs—Harris and Sherwood —may be relied on to give a good exhibition,- and Moore is, without doubt, the. best goalkeeper available. . Judging, by the game at the Basin Reserve, he will have plenty to do. ,