HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15613, 20 May 1914, Page 6

HOCKEY.

'•''' NOTES AND COMMENTS. '' . • Hockey players, ' in; common with kindtied: sportsmen, \\\fstf; ; doomed 'to disappointment on Saturday, and ;the : 1914* sea- : son opened in most disagreeable weather conditions, for steady rainfall r continued almost unbroken throughout the afternoon. The effect on = the grounds '\ was'? bad, and jjghen tho senior matches started, tho,playsurface were both : heavy and greasy, so that there was"a;lack; of erispness about the play, which might' have been expected Hinder, more ■ favourable': - conditions. In Erich circumstances little fault could be found with senior exhibitions, and it would also be unfair to, criticise the new men..' 'It is reasonable to say that nothing, brilliant was done by the newcomers to .the different clubs, although judging' from jibe • general play a very .interesting, and open competition should result.. '■' Tliobcst hockey was provided by Areta and v Ponsonby, -,' at Victoria '■;■ Park, whero ' the '. ground,: 'though ; slippery, was much | faster than at Rcmuera. It .was a good fast game with occasional glimpse* of good combination on 'both ■ sides, Areta's forwards -proving too "strong for'. Ponsonby lii !i the second spell.. In' this respect the advent of E. Whittakcr in the.centre position was ' a ; noticeable improvement, and lei , held the ■ line together. well.;"': The left :Bahk was , the strongest. Thomas, being probably tho. best forward on the; ground, indeed ho excelled himself and took advantage of openings made by Whittaker. Coltraan on \ the left-wing also ; played \a clever game, centering well. 'On the other flank Moginie in tho .inside position ; did . not play right up to form, and was a little apt to get out of position. Preston ■ did some good work on the outside, but almost' invariably spoiled his efforts by going too far before centering. Why so many rightwings make this fatal mistake is Hard to understand, sometimes it .is. pure ; selfishness, aud-other times happens through over anxiety, but' it is undoubtedly bad play . for an ; outside ■: forward to retain the ball until the opposing ; backs have regained position, and until a winger understands the knack of centering at tho proper time" ho can never be a, first-class , player, The half-line was' tho weakest spot in the \. team. 'When L. Whittaker look the centre half-way through •: the game, the position '.'.-was , strengthened. ; Richards' appeared strange to the centre position and failed to feed his forwards to advantage, but in the outside position passed out much better. Stainton tackled well but should get the ball away.more smartly. Both England and Ellison ,defended soundly. The: former, however, is. rather inclined to wait a ljttlo too long before tackling; while Ellison on the other hand made no mistake about going to meet ; a .forward. ; Sparrow made a very satisfactory entry into the senior grade, and his work was cool and sure. He should greatly strengthen tho back's defence. ; _ The Ponsonby custodian, Mackie, again proved that he is a difficult man to beat, arid his work was of a very high order. That ho helped materially to keep down Areta's score there is no doubt. Mincher reaped tho fullback honours, his work being particularly safe. Alison stood out in tho . half-line, and his work was gpod. He used- his feet well, and was principally noticeable in spoiling tho opposing attack. Collins and Mills did not support him too well, their work being rather on the slow side, while they failed to follow up. The forward display was quite equal to expectations, . though tho work was sometimes patchy. Snedden on the right wing was the best, and 'his play was very promising.' Osborne, inside-left, started many attacks. Caitcheon was not impressive at the bully, while Smith, late of Wellington, did not catch the eye frequently, i Murray was fair on tho left wing. Poosibly with one or two runs tho fine -will ! show up rather well. , . . > • At Remuera Auckland and College Rifles ', provided the best tussle, and the result certainly came as a surprise. The red and blacks were heralded as • a very strong combination, and the general opinion had gained, ground that they would take a lot of. stopping. The result—a draw—was a fair indication of the game, which, on the conditions, was a good one. Auckland i was (.without; Mason./ in the forward \ fine, S and played four forwards and four halves, Kavanagh taking the field. This combination did not help them; it undoubtedly weakened the attack, while it is'doubtful if it strengthened, the defence, as , the halves were frequently in one another's way. However, the defenco of both teams was good . and more than equal to the at-' . tack. Murray was the • most dangerous i forward for Auckland, but ho found it ; difficult to keep his feet on the slippery • surface, and thus lost chances. Welhain • on the right wing made some fair runs • but very seldom got in a useful centre. > Smyths started off the ; line well, but the handicap was too great and the attack was. held up before it became too dangeri ous. In the half line Swan was [ noticeable for clever reverse stick work, and if • he. does not overdo it he sh6uld prove a , very good left-half. Roberts, Kavanagh , and Parker ail, made the mistake of hitting too. hard when feeding tho forwards, and thus many: chances were lost. Baker at fullback was safe, and, now,, and again camo through, cleverly with tho ball at ; stick. Allen's display in ■ goal was:good. He need both ; stick and feet., well,, and mado no mistakes. \; ..-

College Rifles played with . determination many of. the attacks .being well 'sustained. Barry seemed to give the vanguard confidence though he was not overworked himself. Mark en the left-wing got through .'a lot of work satisfactorily. Ton Sturmer was the best of tho halves and-defended solidly. Sloman in the fullback lino maintained a . clever defence throughout the whole game.: He ;, was scarcely over beaten; and his clearances wero well: judged. O'Lougblan assisted well, while Cotton in s;oal turned aside several shots judiciously. : The. defence was very sound, taking it all round,, and each of the College. players rose to tho occasion. ...:.'/;,..

( University ; comfortably .; defeated. -Mount Eden in a game that was not brilliant, but good work, was. witnessed on both sides. Obstruction was not infrequent, and this the, referee treater rather leniently. University more frequently drove homo their attack, whilo Mount Eden often got to within striking distenco and failed. Occasional runs by the brown forwards wore fine, and ,it would not lie very surprising if ■ they do well on a dry ground. It is/difficult to individualise. Johns, , a promoted third-grade plavor, shaped . very well at centre-half, and when he learns the finer pints of tho position lie should do very well. Hunt was prominent in good work at times, 'while King and. Colo defended well. Laird's goalkeeping -was "good. ' . . '• ; University's 1 forward play was not spectacular, though the; vangua'rd did its work well. Menzies performed satisfactorily for his first senior game in the centre position, • though! Mahoney and .lacohseii did tho best work. There was little to choose between the halves. Both Jones and Speight defended confidently,- and their clearing was good. Wilks was sound. 'Tho Waikato Association'; has "been offered a shield match by the local association on July 4, and it is expected; that lit will accept. If Auckland retains the shield it is probable that ' Wairarapa will bo met on July 25. •

FOURTH GRADE COMPETITIONS.

REDRAW NECESSARY. ;

. Owing.to Mount Eden and Gordon Clubs being unable to place teams in the fourth grade competitions, a redraw for the seapony matches Mr been necessary. Matches will : now be played ; as follows, commencing with the- second round next Saturday' (Matches played in first round last week remain as nlaved) :— ' .; - ■, Second Round.—Moa' v, Training .' Collego, St. Luke's v. Tui, University v. Imps, United v, College' Rifles."' . * v /Third Round.—Moa v. < University, St. Luke's- v..;Training V. College, . United "'■<■ v. Imps,, College Rifles v.. Tui. •■,■ ■ '■Fourth ; Roiind;--J>j[pa v. ■' United, ; St. Luke's : v. University/Training CoUego v. Tui, College Rifles v. Imps. J ' ■; Fifth. Round.—Moa v.;;; College -'Rifles, St. Luke's: v. United, 'University.v. Training College, Imps v., Tui. . '.' ; ." ■,-•■.:., • ;■ Sixth. Round;— v. Imps, St.' Luke's v. 'College Rifles, Training College: s v. United, University v. Tui: ,:<■■: '■', ■ ; :', Seventh : : Round.—Moaj. Tui,' St, Luke's v; Imps. Training! College v.; College Rifles, .University v. United. ' J v. i:.■■"■: " ; . ■'.;',■ •:.-:■■' • ]■ - '.-.'■; "■'■.:"*: 'I