LACROSSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11692, 29 June 1901, Page 7

LACROSSE.

« _ Tho championship matches will be continued this afternoon on tho Auckland Domain, tho contests set down for decision being:—Grafton v. North Shore, Grey Lynn v. Suburbs, Parnell v. Ponsonby A. Tho various matches on Saturday last proved to be of a highly interesting nature. The game between Grey Lynn arid * North Shore, which resulted in a. tie, was ought out to the bitter end, and then neither sido appeared to bo satisfied with an equal distribution of the honours. Ponsonby B clearly proved that they were foemen worthy of Grafton's steel, by the manner in which (hey fought against defeat, only being beaten after a keen contest by tho narrow margin of two goals. Tho match on No. .1 ground between tho Ponsonby A and Suburbs teams resulted in a closer contest than tho scores—eight to one—would indicate. The great fault to bo found with the Suburbs lot was their utter lack of cohesion in the attack. Heriokl, Morrin and Kendall. proved very useful men; they played . hard grmes and were well " fed" by Somerfiold, but there was no concerted action in their attack play, nor was there any effort mads to " draw" the defence. No attacking division can hope to attain successnot even a measure of success —if the individual players persist in "going on their own." This applies equally to all teams. After the match with Ponsonby, a member of the Suburbs team expressed regrot that their forwards were so tight, interring, of course, that if the attacking division are light and tho opposing defence heavyweights, the latter will have the "best of the deal." This conclusion is a fallacy, because, . in tho game of lacrosse, physical strength is not in it with dexterity or nimbleness.' For example, take some of the successful attack players, notably Atkinson, Cummer, Wynyard, Graham. Bartlett, E. McCoy, Short, Latta and C. Hay, all of whom aro able to successfully' contend against any heavy defence that may be ranged against them. The reason why tho heaviest men usually play on the defence is simply because they are, as a rule, slower of movement, and consequently would be of little use on attack, thus verifying tho theory that the attack should always beat tho defence. ...

Brown played a fine defensive gamo, his throwing being quite a feature of the play. Peacock catered very efficiently for his attack, both himself and Somerfiold making the midfield play very merry. All - lacrosseurs ore pleased that TV. Noton is quite himself again, and is wielding tho crosse as of yore. hat wo wish to knovr is whether It-. Noton is going to follow his brother's example? 'W. "Wynyard had hard luck in not shooting more goals. A little more target practice is wanted, "Tabby." Parnell will suffer a. loss through the absence of R. Mason, who, owing to pressure of business, will bo'precluded from assisting his team.

The following is culled from the Adelaides jObservorMessrs. Felt bam and Co. have ur.earthed a small book dated 1860 on tho game of lacrosse. It was printed in Montreal. One or two points: are interesting and amusing. I?o™ instance: "A long erosse is to bo preferred to a short one, as enabling the player to throw the ball to a greater distance, and check with more facility." "Cheek ♦with more facility" is distinctly good. Again : " The length from on 13 goal to another should not exceed half-a-mile, and they should face each other if possible." On the matter of tho "ground" the book says: "Tho larger the field is tho better, and where grass is short, and no trees are on the ground, it is always found best. An oven field would bo much better than ono otherwise, but this .is not necossary." Elaborate instructions are given for "bagging the crosse,'.' and it is naivuly added : " A crosse slightly bagged i 3 preferable for catching." A baggy crosso is disallowed nowadays, mainly because correct shooting and throwing are thereby rendered impossible. Tho book breathes of long throwing and long running, but passing was evidently not understood in 1860. One other quotation, which contains advico for the players of to-day as much? as those of years ago: " Practice is the forerunner of perfection, and if tho player would attain skill in any' department of lacrosse ho must practice as often and as long as possible."