HOCKEY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 144, 3 June 1936, Page 3

HOCKEY

Comment on Mid-Week Matches in Hastings HUIA HARD PRESSED, (By “Goalie.”) A breakdown to their transport which was conveying members of their team to Hastings, caused Waimarama to forfeit to United Gold, thereby robbing the games last Thursday of much interest. Huia, who were without the services of their hustling forward Staples, had to go all-out to snatch victory from Karori, who fielded a good team, but made the mistake of playing no goalie,

Huia had several new players in their team ami in consequence their combination was a trifle “iffy.” Ritchie was very safe in goal, and the I’ineha brothers with Hanara and Tau Hemapo were the hardest workers. Karon showed great improvement all round; they have got together a fine young team who will upset calculations when they meet the leading teams in the second round. Curtis is fast-deve-loping into a good half, and with Cowley and Rummery in support, they form a trio that will keep any forward lino busy. Taylor is showing great aptitude lor the left wing position; his fielding of the ball with his hand is a feature of his play. Rowlands, Shuker and Walker are included to nullify a lot of their good work by bunching when nearing the circle. Respite the fact that they had to play with two men short. Pirates offered a solid resistance to United Whites, and with their full compliment it would have been a different story, io go down 4—o against such a strong combination was no disgrace. O’Neill was again in the limelight as a goal-getter, notching three out of tho four, McNab securing the other. Sid has a bad habit of appealing with his hand up, which should be checked by the umpires.

Alahoney, veteran as he is, can still show the younger players many points on dribbling and ball-control. Jack Barden is a great battler for his team. Clarrio McKee played his best game this season. Cook still continues to show improvement on the wing. Hunt will bo knocking when tho rep, halves aro being picked. Joo McNab finds it harder playing inside-left, his brilliant runs along tho wing aro now missing. Bob Tutaki played a sound game for Pirates; his flick shots were a source of annoyance to tho opposing forwards. Treacher and Walsh had a busy day on the defence, and they came through well. Pat Walsh missed a sitter through puor shooting. In tho junior match, United Blue put up a great battle against Karori,; they looked like scoring on several occasions, but Gosnell, in goal for tho Reds, said “No.” Horton managed to steer one in for his side and this was the only score in the game.

Points Worth Noting. The grounds committee would be well advised to see that the goal posts and nets receive the necessary repairs; at present they are no credit to them. Early matches should be started on time to prevent the later games from finishing in the dark. Umpires would look better if they turned out in some costume which would distinguish them from spectators.

Teams should provide a white ball for each spell of the game. The St. John Ambulance men arc performing a wonderful service to the game and the players, it is to be hoped that the public, the players, and the Hockey Association will recognise this when any appeal is made for funds lor the “Brigade.”-

An Umpire's Sole Duty. An umpire's duty is to look out for infringements ot tho rules, keep the score, tho tune, and his temper and nothing else. (Hockey World). lb is most important lor an umpire to bo in the collect position to see any breaches of the rules and m particular to determine accurately whether a player is onside or offside. Probably the best position for him to take up is level with the third defender. An umpire must, therefore, be constantly on the move as an attacking movement develops, and train himself not only to bo in the correct position, but to judge instantly the relative positions of the various players at the material time. As an attacker can be offside when exactly in line with the striker, or the third defender, it is obviously impossible for an umpire who remains stationary to give correct offside decisions.

ft is a mistaken idea that it is the duty ot an umpire to penalise every breach ot the rules, as this causes undue delay and irritation, f'or example, the “sticks” rule was framed mainly to prevent danger to players, and it was never the intention that an umpire should, on every occasion, penalise the raising of the stick above the shoulder. In this case, an umpire should use his discretion where there is no danger to any other player. On the other hand, umpires must cheek the persistent oifender, because he is a potential cause of danger. In such cases a word of caution to the offender is frequently effective. Other examples ot minor breaches of the rules, which it is not necessary for an umpire to penalise when no advantage results to the offender, are: Slight handball rebound or knock-on with no opponent within some yards of the otlender; tho catching of a hard hit in tho air, where the ball is not dropped absolutely perpendicularly to the ground. The awardable penalties, being limited to a free bit, roll-in, penalty corner, or penalty null,”, have greatest significance, if umpires restrict their use io breaches of tho rules which materially affect tho game. An efficient umpire is not, however, one who is over lenient, and rough or dangerous play and obstruction must, in the interests of the players and the game itself, be severely dealt with.

In general, players should be given the impression that, if they try to cooperate, an umpire will interrupt the play only when this is essential for tho conduct of the game. Questions and Answers. What is the minimum distance between the seven-yards line and the nearest point where the circle meets the goal line’--Answer: I'lnce arid aliall yards. Is it correct to place flag posts where the centre line meets tho side lines?— Answer: No. They must be one yard outside the side line. Huie 3 (b). What height should the bottom el' the cross bar be from the ground?— Answer: Seven feet. Rule I (a). What is the distance between the ■ outsides <>l a pair of goal posts?—

Answer. 12 feet 4 inches. 12 feet inside measurement, and 2 inches to each post. Would Hag posts six feet high comply with the rules?—Answer: Yes. 3 'h) provides they should be of a minimum height of four feet, but it gives no maximum. Would a bleach ol rule 10 (general details) occurring on the goal line 10 yards from the nearest goal post be treated as a “breach in the circle” ? — Answer: Yes. 31 yards of goal line and the. circle line and all ground 1 within them constitute the circle. Huie 5.