HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15975, 21 July 1915, Page 11

HOCKEY.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. I Better conditions than those which obtained at Remuera on Saturday afternoon ' ™~ d. ,»Mreely by hoped for. The weather wasi ideal, i and the grounds, which were well ?h^ £? . • ha Ye certainly never been better in the history of the game in this city. Yet the attendance of spectators was poor, and it is a Pitj that a sport which attracts bo many Sit™! not get a fairer share of public 3™r?«*?£• J l,G i fault cannot be laid at the i7?L, * hockey Association. The pavilion «* £tu.- those who Prefer to use it instead of walking round the ground, afternoon tea «r.j£Hl lale '- and th « stick * a » is unundoubtedly interesting. On Saturday a fine R n .' raiser S as Provided by the ladies' , ?n£ rlo. teams Mount Eden and Train«nrik eße - an the same was >» itself well worth the small charge made for admission ?,,„?£? " a i ' Two "*»* games, and many junior and * other ladies' games were also I played. Yet there it is. and the committee I fi a ;i U work cut out to guard against a deficiency for the season, notwithstanding that I the expenditure must be regarded as any- . thing but extravagant. What can be done to J^hi;«.9 %UL Kame more with the general AnffifJ . erha P some of the deeper-thinking enthusiasts can solve the problem' «,'£/ resu i of the senior matches, Univeraty.hl°!,C*dJback 1 point through its defeat nilJ „1 i ,dj of Auckland, but Areta was y H« V° f d . , ; aw iT ,th Mount Ede «- so that otislv I*}, »°«. ° i b ' UeS is ™ l likely to seriS? fact the ultimate result of the championship. „< All the same, it should put heart }*«,.£„ ° ther t f-19 ,s ' and make for more interesting competitions. Generally speaking, the senior games might aV °t^ een > tter ' , and Jt is hard to account i°J'«i mediocre displays occasionally given b «n! b ) ! nlor teams i At the Present time the competition is not Ramped with weak teams, and the four elevens which comprise ™ n S Brade , hls Bcason were expected to provide not only - keen competitions, but al S°,, scientific, exhibitions of the game. «ci,,rJi ra i nb,,ng ?v. lay which not infrequently occurred during the progress of the AretnJuount Jr d i- n game •on Saturday afternoon was very disappointing. It does not at any time require five players to get the ball, yet five frequently attempted to do so. and these anv.V,;! e t? 01 ', 09 B Pod a , game Quicker than a^!L!n:r ' .jockey must be open to be worth anything: it cannot be Played with the teams n close formation. When the game is open it is generally fast, and free from breaches of the rules, with the possible exception of u ™ »' < ° neof i th foremost duties of a team captain is to see that proper formation is kept by his team, both back and forward and the next is to ensure the backs properly catering for the whole of the forwards, and not for a few at the expense of the others, or instance it is no use having a smart right wing forward unless ho is properlv ted. It not for him to com© infield looking for the ball, but. for the other forwards", half, and fullbacks to see that the ball is put out to him when opportunities are favourable and the same argument applies Jo tn© left wing player, though he is less frequently neglected. It is equally important for the halfbacks to keep place, and how often, do we find wing-halves keeping good position? A wing-half's first consideration is to stop the opposing wing-forward, and in return pay all due attention to his own outside-forward Anythi-i else is of secondary consideration the team captains] with one exception do not insist upon their' team keeping proper position, and Areta is I the worst offender in this respect. Position is scon lost, play becomes jumbled, and interest wanes Auckland's defeat of University was. from a competition point of view, a welcome change, and the red and blacks should be given full credit for the success. At the same time, Jacobsen's absence from the 'Varsity team made much difference, and in consequence the opposing backs were able to give more attention to Grice. the blue's speedy right wing, and Somers. Mahoney was not very dangerous, while Rowe. although a worker, is not the scoring unit he should be. Blake was only fair. > Sloman was not a little responsible for a clean sheet against his team, while Baker also chocked well. and Allen kept goal soundly. It was a case of very determined defence overcoming a weakened attack, for the 'Varsity vanguard did not show up in its best form. Mount Eden's form was occasionally bright, but often at fault. Some of the fast passing rushes were well executed, and it looked good to see the five brown forwards going in a line. With a little better judgment more goals should have been scored and after all it must be remembered that the object is to put the ball into the net Jansen is fast, but wants experience in taking a fast pass from the right. Ho let too many go out. The full and halfbacks again defended soundly, and it only proves the writer's earlier contention that, properly led and coached, the Mount Eden team would be fighting out tho championship, instead of being at the bottom of the ladder. Perhaps the team's day will come. I — I