HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 26 May 1923, Page 17

HOCKEY

[■V •'STICKS"! STANDARD OF PLAY * VISITOR'S REMARKS ON THE GAME AMONG THE CLUBS. The first thing that strikes an outsider »bout New Zealand hockey is the wonderful keenness and enthusiasm displayed by everyone connected with the game, remarked a visitor from England, while in conversation with "Sticks." "In •very way," he said, "the game is being taken seriously and for this reason the standard all round should remain very bright. As an attractive game, hockey is pogressing everywhere in the world of sport by leaps and bounds, and I do not think that any other country can surpass the keeness displayed in New Zealand. . . "In England, at present, the stick game has a universal hold on the young athlete and. it is being increasingly fostered at the public school^ and at both Universities. Indeed, so great is the . interest, that the annual inter-varsity game vies with the Rugby match and tlie boat race in popularity, and a very large portion of the sportipg Press is devoted to it. London and the southern districts provide the greater portion of the international players, and there are many more clubs in and around the metropolis than anywhere else in the country. Also, as a rule, here the grounds are more numerous and muchbetter kept.

. "A good ground is the first necessity for good hockey. In the early history of the game, any field which contained the area required ,by the rules was considered good enough, and the match usually resolved itself into a series of hard hits—the hardest hitter was the best player. Now, fortunately, it i» realised that a. hockey ground should) be as flat and as well kept as a cricket pitch, and most of the London cricket grounds are used for hockey during the ■winter. They are kept well mowed, particularly well rolled, and it is very rarely that it is necessary for a ball in play to be' itopped with the hand or foot. The stick can be used instead, with a consequent huge speeding up in the pace at which the match is played.

"English hockey to-day, as played by men like Mansesgh, Marcon, Savill, Light, and Price, is almost jugglery, so complete is the control over tho ball and the accuracy of passing and hitting. The game is now a fine art, and played at a very fast pace is most interesting to watch and most exhilarating to take part in. I consider that at present hockey in Wellington is handicapped owing to the shortage and poorness of grounds. True, the badl weather we have experienced since the commencement of the season has hardly given the grounds' staff a chance to improve matters, but the graßS is far too long and much heavy rolling is required' before the true finesse of the game can appear. Also, on a damp day, it is found that an early game hag been played on the ground allotted and it is much cut about in consequence. ' ,■

"Bad grounds make for wild hitting— a distinct feature of most local club games. The ball is constantly out of play and being retrieved from neighbouring grounds, while the forwards, who in most cases should, have received the leather from the backs, are often unable to get near it. To keep the ball in play as long as possible should be the general rule (of course, when closely atacked, backs have to clear to touch), and if this is intelligently and reasonably interpreted, the ball will be directed to the forward line at a pace calculated to allow this latter to swing away with it, at top speed, without having to waste a tremendous effort in-' reaching and stopping a hard stroke from the back division.

Another fault, to my mind, ia the most dangerous lifting of the ball. To begin with, when hit into the sky, the direction of the leather cannot be accurately controlled, and it is harder to "gather" if it does reach the forwards. If properly aimed, a clean smart ground hit ia far better—and 'lifting' is dangerous. How many times does a 'screamer' from a back cleave its way chin-high through a mass of players. It is certainly not hockey, and referees should* be constantly on the watch and penalise anyone who 'lifts. 1 In first-class hockey it is the exception and not the rule for ah accident to occur, and if one does it means that bad hockey was being played at the time.: In Wellington, players are damaged far too frequently, and six or seven stoppages for injuries to players in one game are not at all uncommon. The presence of the two nurses and the firstaid station on Karori Park speaks for itself. I have never- before seen an official casualty station on any ground. "When speaking of 'lifting,' I am of course not referring to • the 'scoop' or 'push' shots, both of which fend to 'lift' the ball, because neither are delivered with sufficient force to do much damage. The danger lies in the back who takes a flying hit at a rapidly approaching line of forwards, with little or/ no idea of where the ball will go. This only tends to spoil the game. Backs and halves should endeavour to hit the leather clean away and on the ground, so judging the shot' that the forwards, who after all score the goals and win the match, can easily .secure and open a rapid attack on the opposing goal. For this purpose, ii feeble hit is even worse than one which is too hard. The correct pace is a matter of judgment.

"The very prevalent and reprehensible practice of obstructing is another blot on the stick game in Wellington. It is a frequent occurrence to be 'ridden'off' the ball by an opponent as one is at polo, and nothing is more inclined to bring bad feeling into evidence. Hustling and generally banging an opponent, off the ball with the body is responsible for the greater part of the referee's work in an average club game. I have seen a half 'ride off' an attacking forward though the forward had no chance of getting to the ball while calling out to his bank to 'make hay while the can shone.' He was quite hurt when the referee gave a free-hit against him. A little thought and a little determination to carry out the rules would obviate all this. Referees can do a lot In the matter and no breach of it should b« allowed to pass. Hitting between tbe logs, and not standing square at the 'bully,' but "half left,' and then swinging the body around to the left at the third stroke, ore. botli very common infringements, as is also running down the field "sing the stick left-handed and with tho ball on the left-hand side of lljc body. This should invariably be penalised.