HOCKEY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 205, 13 August 1927, Page 3

HOCKEY.

NOTES BY “CORNER.” The Hastings hockey competitions were continued on Wednesday at Cornwall Park under ideal conditions. Karori had no difficulty in defeating United, having matters much their own way throughout. United put up a good fight in the early stages of the game, but the weak links were the backs, who showed very pool defence. Ramblers and Cambridge both took the field shortiianded and the display was not of a very high standard. The players lacked the dash that is necessary to good hockey. » * » The United backs have adopted a bad sysffem in dribbling the ball instead of getting clean shots and giving their forwards a chance to attack. The Cambridge team have fallen away considerably. Whether this is due to lack of interest owing to the team’s position in the competition or not is hard to say, but it is regrettable from a hockey point of view, and is not very encouraging to the younger members of the team. Buck up, Cambridge! Symonds is getting into a very bad habit of passing the ball across the goal-mouth instead of finding the line This fault, if not corrected, will probably be the cause of many lost goals. B. Grenside turned out for his team again on Wednesday and was a tower of strength in the back line, stopping and passing beautifully. Bert is the best back in Hastings. Stan Russell took the field again on Wednesday, fit and well after a brief spell, and played a very fine game. Stan can always be relied upon to stop anything that comes his way, and, barring accidents, should be a certainty for the next rep. team. Doree played his usual safe game but last Saturday was inclined to take things too easy. With a little more vim into his play the score against his team would not have been so high. Pearson is a good' forward and in a better team he would get more chances. This player is one that the selector should give a trial on the wing for he is both fast and nippy. Hunter showed up to advantage at full-back. He is inclined to speculate, and this is very dangerous for a full-back to indulge in. Slop the ball with your hand and then get it away, that is the play. I notice Karori have moved their goalkeeper (Hawkins) to centre-half. This player is one of the keen' men of the competition and 1 congratulate him on earning such an important position. De Frere is a young player and with a little coaching will develop into a good stick man. His weakness at the present time is failure to tackle in tight places. Go for your man, De Frere, if you can beat your opponent foi the ball so milch the better for youi side.

The Hastings Association is to be congratulated on being allotted the match for the Nordern Cup. This match will be played at “asterton about the end of the month. It is to be hoped that the Hastings players will work in unison and endeavour to bring back the coveted trophy. It will be a big boost for hockev next year if they do.

The New Zealand team in Australia are playing great hockey, their latest triumph being against Kenmore Hus pital at Goulbourn. To-day the team play New South Wales at Sydney New South Wales, who have a vastly superior side to that of last season, should provide an interesting contest. In Sydney the New Zealanders will find grassy grounds awaiting them, and under these conditions should display their best form.

Brilliant combination characterised the play of the New Zealanders against Victoria’s clever individual player- :n Melbourne. when they played a draw, 3 all, with Victoria. Time and again a bright chain of hits carried tne New Zealanders through to the opposing net, but luckily for Victoria offside breaches neutralised many such efforts. The New Zealanders' expressed disappointment with the condition of the ground. They contended that, as grassy grounds were necessary for scientific play, their passing movements and stick work were spoilt.