HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13235, 21 July 1906, Page 8

HOCKEY.

The following referees have been : appointed for to-day's matches: Men: Seniors Trial- match, A. and B teams, on the Domain, Mr. Burbush. Juniors (at Remuera)— Auckland v. St. George's A, on No. 1 ground, Mr. Larking; St. George's B v. United, on No. 2 ground, Mr. Osborne. Ladies i Seniors—-Kopana v. Moana, at North Shore, Mr. Madden Ladies' College v. Te Huia, on Ladies' College ground, Mr. Hamlin. Juniors Ladies' College v. Kopana A, on Te Huia's ground', Mr. Ziman. : ..."

. AH the junior championship matches were again : postponed last week on -account of the wet weather, and the practice A and B match was only played on account of the short time left for practice before the rep. team;leave for the South. .

The representative trial match set down for decision last Saturday had . its utility spoilt in a measure by the inclement weather and Soft ground. After much consultation it was : decided to proceed with the game, the A team having seven representatives and the team eight. Two full teams were made up by the inclusion of other players present on the ground. It would not be, fair to criticise the play of some of the men- who were not at home ankle deep in mud; but the.play of some calls for. mention. Sarah, who played in goal for the B team, gave a good exhibition and saved well on several occasions. I have no hesitation in saying that Sarah compares more than favourably with the majority of goalkeepers the team will meet during the Southern tour. "Anderson, at fullback in the A team, gave a good exhibition, * and Porter-and Crispe, at halfback; also shaped well. " I have seen Porter play better on - a ' drier ground. Crispe, with a little coaching, ought to maike a fair half. The forwards out on Saturday for the A team were Jessup, Young, Barry, and the two Lepines. Jessup was- not at home in the mud. Young reveiled in ,it, playing a sterling game, but he, must conquer his- habit of trying to fool a goalkeeper. Tho game when in the circle is to drive-it into the goal so that it: stops there. : Barry, at centre, was not altogether successful, losing all the good work' done in the field by erratic ; shooting,: W. Lepine plaved his best game of the season, and rather surprised some of the critics. His work was certainly very heady. : J, Lepine gave a good exhibition on the wing. In my opinion any four of these five forwards, with Mason as centre, will "not bring discredit 011 the province. Hill was the pick of the B team fullbacks, and Whitley of the halves. In tho forward line Dineen, at centre, played a serviceable game, but has- been guilty" of playing better games this season; The best forward in the B line was Doyle, who, with more attention to playing in position, will eventually develop into a fair player, having the dash-and vim so necessary in a forward. . The Auckland hockey representative "touring team, will probably bo chosen . after, today's practice match, arid next Saturday/the chosen eleven will ,be pitted against, rue strongest, team .that can bo got together; and the match will be an interesting one. The sending of a "rep." team through New Zealand is by far the most important' thing so far attempted in local hockey. Canterbury is the onlf association that has sent a team through New Zealand, and their tour was not so exhaustive as the present one will be. Hockey has only been played in Auckland a little over three years, whereas some of the Southern . associations, such as Canterbury and Wellington, have been plaviug well over 10 years. The junior matches set down for decision to-day are Auckland v. St. George's A,' United v. St. George's B, and College Rifles A v. College Rifles B. University . a bye; - ■ I think the association are "wise to play the two remaining A and B matches on the Domain. It is more like the grounds that' will be met with down South than the Remuera ground. ■ ■ - The A and B teams put in a couple of, hours' good training in the Grafton football shed last Thursday evening. The representative team will train there next Tuesdayand Thursday, so everything; possible is be-; ing done to. send the men away fit. . Mr. . McLean, secretary of . tho Otago' Hockey Club! and a prominent member of' the Otago. Hockey Association, is. in town l at present. He tells me the tour of the Auckland hockey representatives is arousing, great interest in hockey circles in the South,' and the tourists are sure of a warm welcome in-Dunedin. ; i ■ '- ■.'. '-* -\ i

The ladies' clubs in Dunedin are even;! more numerous than in Auckland. There;: are about 12 ladies' clubs-there, with -a membership of nearly 300 players." :. !■' | All the Southern, associations have VnowS agreed to. the dates-suggested by the JocaU association for the Southern, tour, and ..the; 1 programme now is ' to '■ leave Auckland on.' Tuesday, July 31, go .straight through Dunedin,' arriving there on Thursday-even-ing. Otago will, be the first match played,; at- Dunedin, on Saturday, August 4-; South Canterbury conies next, at Ashburton, Tues-, day, August 7; Canterbury, at Christchurch,; Thursday. August- 9; Wellington, Saturday, 1 August 11; Wairarapa; at Masterton, Monday, Aucust 13 Manawatu, at Palnierston North, Wednesday," August 15: Wanganui, Thursday, August 16: and Taranaki, at, Hawera or New Plymouth, Saturday, August 18,* and arrive home in Auckland on - Sunday morning, August 19. The tour will occupy 18 days, and out of that time only four days will bo taken up with travelling.; the other 14 days will be spent in the various towns. Eight matches will be played, so the team will be kept busy. ' -,