HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14691, 27 May 1911, Page 9

HOCKEY.

TO-DAY'S MATCHES. Tho principal matches to-day are as follow:— SENIOR GRADE. (At. throe p.m.) Auckland v. Parnell (So. 5 ground, Remuero); referee, Mr. Hay. l'unsontiy v. (J raft on (at Victoria Park); referee, Mr. Baddilev. United v. University (No. 4 ground. Remuera); referee, Mr. Horspool. North Shore v. Chmtchurch (at Domain); referee, Mr. Cuinmiiigs. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Tho Executive Committee of the Auckland Association has agreed to the two matches, St- .John's v. University and St. John's v. I'onsonby, in the A section of the socoikl grade, being played at the end of season, if tho results have any bearing on the championship. The college players are at present on vacation. The chief attraction at Remuera to-day will be the mooting of those old rivals United and University, and a fast and exciting gamo is sure to ensue. Tho association's new rule book is just out this week. Tho publication is a very compact one. and includes the association's new revised rules, latest rules of hockey, and hints to players. All new players should purchase a copy, as the hints will bo found' invaluable. Tho association has arranged with Mr. Cole, caretaker of tho Remuera lawns, to supply afternoon tea at the hockey grounds, Remuera, every Saturday afternoon. This will prove a groat, boon to spectators and players alike, especially as the refreshment will be supplied at a moderate figure. Those old rivals Rangatira and Arawa will meet one© again at Remuera to-day, and on the present soason'-s form Arawa should prove victorious over their old opponents. The rules and conditions governing the Nordon Challenge Cup were submitted at. the last meeting of New Zealand Hockey Association by a sub-committee, and approved. Tho holders of the cup will lie decided by means of a tournament, and tho following are the matches for the first round:—Thames v. Wnikato, T«tranaki v. Wanganui, Manawaf.u v. Horowhenua, Wairarapa v. Poverty Bay, Marlborough v. Nelson, West Coast v. Bullet-, Southland a bye.

The first shield match of the season will be held next. Saturday, when Manawatu will meet Wellington, at Wellington. The following will play for the Christchurch team against. North Shore to-day:—Adams, Waters, Jones. Cameron, Mitchell, Hill, Dr. Pope, Collier. Brinkmann, Clarke, Austin. Emergencies Henry, Robinson. In the match 'Varsity v. Parnell, although tho " blues" were the better team individually, it was really their superior combination and experience that enabled them to gradually wear down the promising promoted juniors and to pile oh the points in the second spell. Tho 'Varsity forward lino is certainly much stronger than (list of last year. The wingers, Reynolds and Burton, were freely fed on Saturday, and kept the opposing backs on the alert. The effect of Whittaker's clever stick-play was partly annulled by his apparent unwillingness to pass quickly and freely at. the right time. Jacobson played his usual keen game, and King, in tho centre, "grafted" as hard as usual in tho field and, in addition, showed lietter shooting form. Of the halves Richards was very hard to beat, hut should remember that, ho is not, a wing forward: If Ximan had worried the opposing winger more and, when beaten, had fallen back to help his fullback, his game would have been greatly improved. Robinson's improvement, in hitting has made of him a good fullback, but his tendency to get up too far after stemming an attacks points to his lx-ing naturally a half rather than a fullback. Speight plaved well, but hardly up to his usual standard.

The Pa moll team has some fine individual players, but a lack of cohesion was noticeable. The backs have very lit.Mo idea ot' tackling a forward. The hitting was too hard, ami generally ill-directed. Dingle, in gout, gave one of (ho best displays seen at. Remuera for some considerable time, and I would suggest that (lie selector keep an eye on him. Jackson and Warner were erratic, but.- at times cleared cleverly. They indulge too much in flying hits. Whitting.liam was the host of the halves, his stick work being very noticeable. Turrins and Aitken among the forwards got in some good combined play, tho former keeping his place very well. Tho Cambridge v. Leamington match came off on Wednesday afternoon, the result being a win for tho visiting team by five goals to nil, almost a walk-over. Mr. H. Lewis was referee. The Leamington players completely outclassed the Cambridge team, their combination being good and tlioir passing

very fair. Those who scored were T. Keeley (4) and R. Chambers. The Cambridgo team played one man short throughout the game, and two men short for a port ion of it. They lacked combination and were continually out of position. The junior match between Cambridgo and Hautapu was played at the Leamington ground on Wednesday, and resulted in a win for tho Cambridge boys by two goals to nil, both of them being obtained by .Marcroft. Mr. Fitzgerald was refereo. The Hautapu players were unfortunate in losing the assistance of their captain, W. Oubis, early in the game. Nevertheless, they put up a great defence, in which lieange took a leading part; while for Cambridge B. Ashwin (captain), Webber, and Marcroft were to I lie fore. The Cambridge juniors have not lost a match this season.

ladies MATCHES. Tho principal ladies' matches to-day are as follow: —

SENIOR GRADE.

(At, two p.m.) Ao-tea-roa v. Kopnna (No. 5 ground, Remitera); referee, Mr. Koliincon.

Aiawa v. Ilangatira (No. 4 ground, IJemucra); referee, Mr. Ilorsprml. Rawhiti v. Training College (No. 1 ground, Hetnuera); referee, Mr. Woolford.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Training College and Rangafira had a hard tussle on Saturday, the play in tho second half being very fust on both sides. The former team won by one to nil. From the bully. College made a good start., and the ball was kept l>etwcen the 25's for the majority of the first spell. The forwards played a duelling game, uarticularly Misses Dailies, Lepine, and Mactier. but their combination might have been better. Miss Ratkin, centre-half, was very reliable, and Mioses lk'ohan and Jackson, backs, played solidly, lti the second spell Rangatira brightened up, but, the College defence was too sound for a score to Ik> made. A couple of sliots from College just missed the post by inches, but eventually Miss Daines found the net. Considering that, it is the College vacation, and some of the best players are, not available, die result is very creditable. Although Training College won, Rangatira put up a good fight, and pressed hard on several occasions. Of the forwards Miss Campbell was the liest, while both Misses Mather and vies played very useful games. Tho forward lino showed better combination than on the previous Saturday, and evidently the players aro improving. The half-backs were very weak, and they do not, feed the forwards sufficiently. The hitting is n<>or, and they do not move quickly enough when rushing. Of the backs, Miss Pavtor played well as usual, and it was only her reliable defence that prevented the score from l>eing bigger. She gets very little assistance, and clears for both right and left positions continually. The. team lias many noticeable weaknesses, but, with practise, these can be overcome to a great, extent. Rawhiti had a very even game with Ao-tea-roa, and it was only within tho last 15 minutes that t.ho latter scored. Rawhiti missed some certain shots in the first spell, owing to some of the team being overanxious, and on several occasions players s]K)ilt each other's play. These points should be remembered in later matches. Miss Little, in goal, was excellent, and she must be one of the finest goalkeepers seen here for some time. Sho is always cool and collected, and hits with felling force. Tim fullbacks are weak, and so do not clear hard or quickly enough. Miss lieighway was far tho better of the two, but did not hit; to the line sufficiently. All the halves wore very solid, but they aro slow at times in rushing. 01 the forwards, the wings played well. Miss Johns showing a groat,2 improvement on former play. Miss Dawson did well, but she should play nearer to the side line, as sho has a tendency to stray into the insideleft position.

. Ao-tea-roa made the game very fast from the start, and kept, the red and whites moving freely. They have some very hard hitters, among them being Misses Whittaker, DeLauney, and C. Norton. Those two former ladies in the forwards were very reliable, and the pick of the halves was Miss C. Norton (centre). Miss Kennedy was weak among the backs, but Miss Bennett, cleared well, and kept- the ball out. It will be interesting to watch tho match between this team and Arawa.