HOCKEY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1039, 11 June 1924, Page 9

HOCKEY.

notes. ; (By "Halfback.") The men's teams ventured out on Saturday last, and thus the long de'ayed conpetition matches were "om.nenced. It was a beginning, but Pirates B and United A coutcl only held seven men a-sido. l'tom the remarks on Saturday, it- is l c.-siuio that neither of these two tearis will title the field again, though it is to be hoped they will continue. Certainly, it is hardly fair to expect country players to cine ill week alter week and sit 0:1 the strnd waiting for ether players who fail to turn up. it these teams withdraw, the competition, as far as the men ara eoin.eri.ed, will almost certainly collapse. The executive, however, is making efforts to keep the contest going. It i: certainly jcculiar that a town of this size cann' t find enough players to keep the game going. Lack of enthusiasm is apparently responsible and perhaps older players 111-iy fill tlie breach and Help the yonngjr fijlowt-rs of the game; tl.eso boys an; quite kfc<-n. Want of practice was evident in the men's competition matches on Saturday. J. B. liostick had trouble with his knee and this good player thinks that he »il. have to give up the game. Tantrum ■ind Kr.cwiea both played good games on Saturday and kept the pace fust. H.S.O.G. lost some opportunities true ugh faulty work in. the circle, the players showing a tendency to bunch and indulge in wild swiping, will! the res'iit that liie ball was o.erlxAcd in the ruck. A lulls practice in 'snooting'' wG'tli! do J.;ocd. However, "he laa : <?3 ere taking a keen interest in the mine and will nupiove us the season progresses, * NO AUSTRALIAN TEAM THIS YEAR. At a :neetia;j of the New Zetland Hockey Association held in Ohristchurch recently, the visit of an Australian team was discussed, and it was decided that, owing to the number of counter-attrac-tions, it was not advisable to extend an invitation this season. THE USE OF THE STICK. Real scientific hockey should see the ball kept on the ground, then there is less danger of injury to head and limb. The scoop stroke, however, cannot be penalised (excepting in a free hit). This stroke (says a writer of hockey notes in an exchange) is a lofted raising of the ball, usually high over the head of an opponent standing between the ''scooper" and a colleague, who thus prevents an ordinary ground stroke. The scoop stroke is often seen when there is a bevy of players in the circle and the ball is scooped by a halfback into the circle over the heads of opponents, may be, to a colleague. There are many who would like to see this stroke penalised as bringing about too much of the playing of the ball 'in the air. The scoop is quite distinct from undercutting, which is prohibited. The scoop stroke is done by putting the stick right underneath the ball. The stroke cultivated in English play which has made Manseagh (England's champion centre forward ) and others famous in hockey for goal-scoring, is the "flick shot," known better in New Zealand as the thrust or push shot. This is the goal scoring shot for forwards and also is very common amongst first-class half-backs. It keeps the game moving rapidly and prevents a forward from slowing up.if receiving such a pass from any ot his forwards in certain circumstances. In the thrust stroke the ball often leaves the ground, but not above a few feet. This thrust stroke is a piston-like action of right arm and viLrht shoulder and is entirely a thrust delivered with the full weight of the body behind it. It is easily mastered and the method of control over the direction in which the ball is to be placed is obtained by the rise of the left hand in turning the stick during the thrust. The point of the stick is therefore raised or lowered and this determines the direction of travel of the ball to the left or to the right of the direction of the thrust. Herein lies the deadliness of the stroke as the goalkeeper tends to follow the direction of the thrust, while the direction of travel is not disclosed until the ball finally leaves the stick. It is particularly useful in close dribbling and passing to the right. By comparing the thrust stroke with the normal hit or drive brings out the following points:—(l) The thrust can be delivered instantaneously and is therefore the ideal first-time shot. No time is wasted in the drawing back of the stick as for the drive. (2) Continuous control over the ball and concealment of its direction of travel are maintained until the stroke is completed. In drawing control is temporarily lost and it is very difficult indeed to avoid giving some indication of the general direction of travel. (3) Elimination of the possibility of hooking. (4) Little or no warning is given of the exact point of time of delivery of the stroke, and, in consequence, the goalkeeper is denied the opportunity of getting balanced to meet the final move. (5) Reduction in tho use of the reverse stroke drive, which is a very difficult and weak stroke except to naturally gifted players, 'these advantages are so Overwhelming that they should eliminate almost entirely the use of the drive within, say, ten yards of goal. Players are urged to use this well-nigh unknown and yet incredibly simple type of stroke. In first-class matches in Great Britain fully 50 per cent, of the goals scored are obtained by the use of ihe thrust stroke. Ihere is too much undercutting though few seem to appreciate what is really meant by the term. Although referees have difficulty in detecting wilful from unintentional undercutting' the danger is there just the same. Forwards are often guilty of it. Undercutting is caused bv lying the face of the striking surface of the stick well back on impact with* the ball, and as a result the bull flies into the air. It is a most dangerous and careless stroke. Players, try and hit the ball squarely in the middle of tho stick head.

Reverse stick, or left handed play.—One often witnesses a fair amount of play directly against the spirit of the rules of hockey, which is therefore wrong. A reader has not to search far back into hockey to realise that the makers of hockey laws were always combating and ruling against left hand play, caused by inclining iho stick from right to left in front of the player, so as to keep the front of the stick to the ball, but yet using both hands on the stick. Naturally the habitual dribbling on the left hand is alluded to here for loft hand dribbling is mostly finished by "turning" on the ball, which is done by the player dribbling the ball in front of his left shoulder with stick reversed, so that in the act of running the player is to all intents and purposes covering the ball and guarding it from the approach of any other player coming

in from tho right. To go" in from the left is barred by the rules, but how can you hit at tho ball or hook the stick of a man dribbling on tho left to right system once ho is past you? His body is between you and tho ball and so is an obstruction, just as much as if ho were playing with a lefthanded stick which is also debarred. Phis playing left to right reversed stick dribbling fashion may be clever and pretty, it certainly lakes somo doing, but it is not tho game or in accordance with tho rules, put it how you will. ' Much harm and danger to tho game of hockey will result 'if this is not stopped by players or their referees. If the rules need alteration let us take the proper course. This left to right play is often just as much body obstruction, preventing an opponent from gaining the bull, as for a back to allow the ball to be hit past him and deliberately place himself with his face to ms own goal, "crabwise" between the opponent and the ball. Those using these methods know they are gaming an advantage else why is it done ? The old rule used to read "no left hand' play will be allowed."-