HOOKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15673, 29 July 1914, Page 5

HOOKEY.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Another country week has been concluded, and the White Horse Cup hss again been won by the Wh&ngarei Association, which therefore retains jo&sessiort for anoi- st year. _ To state that this ananal competition is creating a great deal of interest throughout the province is only to mention a fact, and the managers of the visiting teams all said, at the dinner on Saturday evening, that considerable! progress had been made in the develop- I men,t of the game in their particuiu j countiy districts since, and as a result of the inauguration of the competition. Thai the country teams appreciate the week's hockey in the city, with its attendant advantages and opportunities of meeting other country '.earns, seems certain, and »3 the present officials of the Auckland Association 6eem determined to make the country .week a leading item in the year's prolamine, the probabilities are that the function will grow into a big event. There is every reason to believe that the Far North will be represented in future, while the formation of ft sub-association in the Goldfields, and another on the East Coast, Opotiki, would not come as a surprise. The present tournament must be regarded as satisfactory. Five sub-associa-tions were represented, and without any question of doubt the strongest team won the cup. It wan a matter for regret that the Rotorua team failed to meet its final engagement, but it is understood that exceptional circumstances arose which wMed two members of the team home on Friday, while three others were on the sick list. Even so, similar incidents must be provided against for future years, as, it would he far better for a team to turn out shorthanded than to forfeit a deciding match. Whangarei, the winning team, was comparatively strong in every department. Goalkeeper Monro was safe, the fullbacks sound, especially J. Sloane, the halfbacks were good, one of them, Colin McGregor, being easily the best halfback in the tournament, whilo tho forwards wero v.; fair and made the. most of their, opportunities to score.

Rodney, runners-up, also had a core I team in the competition, and (..n the actua* play in its match with Whangarei taero waa. Little between the two. The combination i was good, but tEo forwards lost many chances through hesitation in the circle, a complaint common to so many teams. In E. Vial, the team contained the best fullback among the country teams. Cambridge, which finished in third place, deserved better, as the Waikato Sub-Association is one of tho most enthusiastic. The team was scarcely strong in any department, although the fullbacks and goalkeeper had .any advantage that ■was going. The halfbacks were disappointing, neither Mann nor Sim playing up to country form, while both failed to keep good position. The forward line was weak, and the shooting wretched. Had fair advantage been taken of chances a large tally of goals must have been recorded. However, the team met its engagements in ** fine t-pirit, and success should come seiner or later. ./"■;

, Waipa was another very disappointing team, which' sacrificed many golden chances. Possessed .of a good forward line the team kept'its opponents busy, but failed to ' secure goals. ■ The back division was weak in 'comparison. Rotonia,' which' figiircs" last on the list with Waipa, also put up a very disappointing :, erf ordnance, and in-- addition failed to meet its final engagement, ■■ "'■'' :■'':■ (" It now remains for' tiie teams which did not play' up te> expectations ...to organise early: next year, so •as to ensure teams of more uniform strength, and thus help the White Horse trophy Ip go the rounds of the country centres, /: .:. . '.: v.,; "■ ' The annual xepmsatative match, Combined Country :•', v. K Auckland ; City, ; was. played on ' Saturday afternoon. More than usual interest was shown:by the country j players this year, and it war- also under' stood that , a set lof country represents avei caps would go with the honours. - tJiifor-', tunately the weather was shockingly bad, and the ground wore or lesii under wate This was most \ disappointing, and i pre vented a fair comparison of the teams being made, as good hotkey was almost inipossihte.. The coaife-/-: representatives, bow-' ever, gave a very i.iir account of themselves, and some '.of Heir play was really good. Although beaten by : 4 goals to 1, they .'might easily have scored another goal of two, with a iiUle luck.' Referring to the member? of the team individually, Mu'nro, the poslkeopor, w&p often kepi busy, and shaped very: well. He • stopped 'in. a -'sure. I manner. .'■*,, Tie fullbacks were both sound and showed cleverness in beating a forward, While their hitting was good. C. McQreg'H' was the best of the halfbacks, and although not seen to such advantage as in the tournament games, nevertheless checked well., Murdoch and Johns weie the best of tho ■'■forwards,- and both show**! much cleverness in turning the•'. ball into the circle, the .-last-named, player's .stickwork being exceptionally /smart. B. Sioane was , fair, as also was Morrison on the' left wirig,'but the latter phyed to?; far back oh the half, and frequently, too far in-field. •'.' /It; was not necessary for Aim to pay so much attention defe."Cfv, t

REPRESENTATIVE PRACTICE. li view: of . thfl :Canterbury-Auckland auield . match.; waich will be played on Saturday week, the: following players are requested to attend practice at Victoria Park this, afternoon,: at 4.30, ; or I?, soon thereafter as poasibie. I Failure to Attend will prejudice a player's chance'of selection:—K. C. Cotton, :C. Hallam, -J. H. Baker, H-' B. Speight, R. G. Sloman. Lj d.. Robinson, J. C. Rennie, A. C. Johns,, J, M. Alison, J. Mahoney 0. N. Ja«;^- ! B?ii, E. A, Whittaker, E. (5. Reynolds, P. I Smythe, F, Moginie, R.' W; Bat-sy, A. ; Thomas, J. Ma/ray. ' ; "

■■'• lAMBS' NOTES. v , <■;■ , -ft. ISf& pampetition will )» ©% ; -.'.''.-■ •. =i r, '.«> .\o : '-(,»<*»> 'so w \ <ttd 3- s:« >;: • b '>' p'jedp' ■■ , JL., af'« ;,«. ■« !»'« !■■ *, "~- r; - «*,-*,#*, tho ti ••'?■: " •"«?' ..' * . ■ .'. Auckln"' 1 I. '■' ,' -■' , > •■•. >■ •"'(.'111 T»..■ *> .• ■ ,-,* A < ufltlO, 11, *w ,- L'-ws-rfe".'•. -J &ne abuve ! se Tilth tie honorary secretary on Aorivh 5. Entries havi already been received from Paoroa. holders, Thames, ar,d Auckland ■ while it is expected that V,''ianf,arei and Rotorua will also eer.d Uana. Tfe* Acck-i lane! \;spr««entatiVe '."am (<;• meat tia English lea -. at Auckland on August 18 ml) i be cheso;- from town and country player* I &t the c iclusioii of the tour? anient. I