HOCKEY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 211, 20 August 1927, Page 3

HOCKEY.

HASTINGS WEDNESDAY COMPETITIONS.

(Notes by “Corner.”)

The Hastings hockey competitions were continued at Cornwall Park on Wednesday last under ideal conditions. Korori (2) defeated Cambridge (1) after a very keen and interesting game. Ramblers (2), United (1). These two teams also had a great tussle and the standard of hockey was a big improvement on some of the earlier games of the competition.

On several occasions previously 1 have mentioned through the columns of this paper about the talking and disputing of the referee’s rulings. It is surely up to the players as sports men, and or the good of the game in general, to play the game for the games sake. The referee has a thankless job at any time not only in the hockey iieid, but in all branches of sport, and usually gets plenty of abuse hurled at him. No referee is infallable and players should remember that the referee cannot see every breach and gives his decisions to the best of his ability.

I noticed the selector on the line on Wednesday. It is to hoped that he will be able to get the strongest side available together for the match against Wellington on August 31st, aud Wairarapa on or about September 7th -for the Nordon Cup. Wairarapa have a fine team this season, and our fellows will need to be in the best of condition to wrest the cup from them.

I am sorry to hear that the captain of the Cambridge team is giving up the game in Hastings for good. Rumour has it that this player through no fault of bis own is unable to turn out regularly on Wednesday, but Ibis should not be the deciding factor for .the course of his retirement nor, should it debar him from taking bis place in the rep. team as players of his calibre are not to be found easily. United have entered a protest against the referee’s decision, and from what I can gather they are quite within their rights in doing so, and in my opinion the game should be declared a draw.

The first penalty bully I have seen this season was awarded on Wednesday last, and 1 think it was the nest possible decision the referee could arrive at under the circumstances.

I would suggest to the selector to try and strengthen the half line. This is the weak spot in the team and the team will always be in trouble until good players can be found who will go in and break up the opposing team’s offensive.

The Hastings Sub-Association sent a team to Bridge Pa last Saturday to try conclusions with the Maori tops, and ran out winners by the margin of four goals. After the match the Maori Association entertained the visitors to a dinner and dance in the evening.

Wairarapa still hold the Nordon Cup. Dannevirke play the holders for the trophy next Saturday, and the winner of this match will try conclusions with Hastings about September 7th or loth.

M. Grenside plays a good hard hard game and can hold his own in the best company, but would do well to abide by the referee’s rulings and nut talk so much.

Spence is a real good forward and combines nicely with Grenside. Flowers is a good defender and nuts plenty of dash into his play, but is inclined to be a bit rough at times. McKcc is one of the young brigade who is showing great improvement but is inclined to get off-side.

Hawkins has at last got a chance to show himself since being moved from the goal-mouth, and is the makings of a good player.

Plummer played good hockey, and is right back to his old form. This boy can play a great game when in the mood, but has a bad habit of obstructing.

Brown played his first game of the season, but was a bit astray, and in clined to give sticks. Finch used the sweep stroke very nicely on Wednesday last, and I notice he did not give sticks so much. This is a decided improvement.

French is playing good hockey now, and it is worthy of a place in the rep. team. He stops well and gets the ball away and is without doubt one of the best defensive players at the present time.

Shaw who played goalie for Hastings against Wairoa is a new find. He came out with flying colours against the Greens, and is sure to *atch the selectors eye for the next important match.

The New Zealand hockey team downed New South Wales at Sydney last Saturday in what proved to be the hardest and fastest game seen in Sydney for a long time. The game was thrilling throughout the last 20 minutes, when New South Wales made desperate efforts to wipe out the deficit but the defence of the New Salanders was unbreakable.

Wairarapa successfully defended the Nordon Cup against Taranaki's challenge on Saturday last, the scores being 4 each, though the visitors hud much the better of the play. In the first spell the scores were 2 goals to 1 in favour of the home side, who were saved repeatedly by the solid defence of Smith, left full-back, and Tilson, in goal. Riggs opened the scoring for Wairarapa, and soon after Free, the Taranaki captain, equalised. Just before the interval, E. Smith placed the home side ahead. Wairarapa played a much better game in the second spell. Des Forges squared the score seen after the interval. Then Wairarapa shot ahead with goals by N. Goodin and Searancka. They held a 4 goals to 2 lead right till five minutes before time, when Des Forges and Pennington shot goals for the challengers in quick succession. Taranaki were hack in the circle scrambling for a well-earned victory when time was called.