HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1926, Page 22

HOCKEY

By "Sticks" TWO SIDES

TO THE GATE DISPUTE

EXPLANATION OF THE N.Z.H.A,

The sale of the gate on 3rd June to the W.H.A. seems to be an absorbing topic with other associations at the present time^ and is one on which the Taranaki and Wanganui Associations, in particular, are feeling rather disgruntled. When the tour of the Indians was being arranged, la circular was sent round to the various associations, asking whether they favoured pooling the receipts or buying the gates outright. Evidently, the few associations in favour of purchase were overruled by a majority of other hockey bodies who saw, or thought they saw, a greater chance of profit by the pooling system. Now, in view of Taranaki's grouch, it would be interesting to know which method they favoured. They were given very little time to make a decision when Poverty Bay refused a match with the visitors, but it has to be remembered that it was not until Wellington made such an outstanding success of the bought gate that the protests were made. The view of the N.Z.H.A. was expressed at Geraldine recently by Mr. Holland, a member of the executive. In the first place, he said, the £200 obtained from Wellington was not to be retained by the New Zealand Association, but would be pooled along with the other gate money which, after expenses, would be distributed pro Tata amongst the other clubs. The gate at Wellington was £800; out of this the New Zealand Association got £200. A 25 per cent, charge was levied for the use of the gro.und, and the other expenses, such as billeting the teams and advertising, would' amount to £100; thus the Wellington Association would probably have a balance of £300. On the other hand, if the gate, had not been bought, the association would have retained only 10 per cent, of the money after all expenses of the match had been met, and the amount to be refunded to the Wellington Association when the final disbursement was made would be in the vicinity (of £450. On the faco of this the Wellington Association did not seem to have had the best of the deal.

Still Unbeaten.

Including last Saturday's Test, the Indian Army team have now played sixteen matches in the Dominion without a loss, and have scored 262 .goals to 15 which have been scored against them. Matches yet to be played are as follow: Saturday, 3rd July, v. Auckland, at Auckland; Thursday, Bth July, v. North Auckland Sub-Associ-ations, at Whangarei; Saturday, 10th July, v. New Zealand (second Test), at Auckland; Wednesday, 14th July, v. Franklin, at Waiuku; Saturday, 17th July, v. New Zealand (third Test), at Auckland. Berths have been booked for the team on tho Aorangi, leaving Auckland on Tuesday, 20th July, for Sydney.

Over the' Top.

Several of the tactics introduced to Wellington by the Indian Army team were seen in use last Saturday in one senior B game. The pass-back was particularly noticeable, and'it seemed very useful, but "Sticks" was amused when a forward, with an open goal and the ball at his feet, used the Indians' push shot —and lifted the leather clean over the top of the net.

At the Hutt Bee,

If the quality of the game at the Hutt Recreation Ground last Saturday failed to impress the onlookers, there was something else that did. Wakatu, realising that they were up against a team that was too strong for them, set out to make the game as interesting as they could, and indulged in certain antics that were not lacking in humour. One player, who was either very short-sighted or who could not control his speed, put the finishing touches to a fast dribbling rush by charging, into the net and bringing the whole structure down on top of him. Accordingly several interested spectators were, obliged to hold the goal up for the rest of the game. Wakatu.'recruited a new player, who appeared to know more about shoving in the Rugby scrum than wielding a hockey stick. This player, however, did not altogether prove to be a passenger, and at times .showed promise of developing into a quite useful forward, although to commence with ho was placed in the full-back line. There was quite a lot of hard hitting, and it was not very wise for the oulooker to be watching anything but the game, as both the ball and players were noticed occasionally, to attract rather forcibly the attention of somel--one who was thinking of other things. Such occurrences can be taken in good part, but the game as a whole was far from senior standard. Doubtless influenza had a lot to do with the poor exhibition that was put up by both teams, as quite a number of the best players were absent; but one does not expect to find rank disregard of the fundamental rules in senior hockey. There were far too many weaknesses shown, and there is no excuse for them. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the next time Hutt meets Wakatu a better game will result.

School Competitions.

Positions of teams in the various schoolboy grades are as follow. — SENIOR. P. W. D. L. Pts. Hataitai ■ 5 5 0 0 10 Newtown 5 41 0 9 Lyall Bay 5 3 0 2 6 Karori .... 5 3 •'• 0 ' 2 6 Island Bay 5 1 1 4 3 Berhampore ..-.'. 5 II 4 3 Clyde Quay .... 4 0 1 3 1 Miramar 4 0 1 31 JUNIOR A. P. \Y. D. L. Pts. KhandallaU 5 5 0 0 10 Hataitai 5 4 '0 1 8 Northland 4 3 0 1 C Wadestown ..... 5 I 1 3 3 Terrace ....:... 3 1 1 3 3 South Wellington .3 1 0 2 2 Lyall Bay 3 0 2 1 2 Kavori " 4 1 0 3 2 Clyde Quay 4 0 0 4 0 JUNIOR B. P. "W. D. L.Pts. Hataitai ..' 4,4 0 0 ' 8 Newtown 4 2 2 0 6 Berhampore 4 2 0 2 4 Karori 4 1 2 1 4 Khandallah ..... 4.1 2 1 4 Lyall Bay 3 0 1 2 I Island Bay ...... 3 0 1 2 1