Hockey

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 15

Hockey

(By "Hoquet.”)

This afternoon will see the competitions under tho control of the Wellington Association brought another step towards completion. So far as tho senior competition is concerned this will bo concluded to-day, and if all goes as expected the championship honours . for 1911 will go to tho Earori eleven. It is about twelve years since tho Karori Club last iron tho senior championship, and_ after being tho runners-up on so many occasions their victory at last is all tho more deserved.

Of the three senior games this afternoon that which should attract the most attention is the Karori-United game. So far this season tho red and whites have not shown anything like previous form, but there is no telling when they may come out of their shell and win a game. Seeing that Karori, tho leaders for the championship, are tlioir opponents to-day it is more than likely that tho unexpected will happen. The other game at tho Bay will bo between Wesley and "Wellington, and should prove a hard tussle. At Karori Victoria College are to try conclusions with Y.M-C.A.

The junior competition, after to-day, has yet another series of fixtures to be played before the first round is concluded. United are non- leading in this competition by a fair majority, but there are a good number of teams following close on one another’s heels. Tile competition in this grade this year has been very keen and the standard of hockey of a high order. The third grade competition, too, Ims proved interesting aud tho winners are yet hard to select. To conclude tho second round of this competition two more days’ play will be necessary.

At a meeting held in connection with tho Young Men’s institute of All Saints Churchroom, Kilbirnie, during the wees, it was decided to form a hockey club, and the support received will probably enable at least two teams to be placed on the field next season.

Tho .names of Dr Morpeth, Messrs C. S. Falconer, G. Carver,- and J. Gendall have been submitted by tho Wellington Association to the Auckland Association to select a controlling body for next week’s game. A suggestion lias also been made that two referees should ho appointed.

The trial match becwoou A and B teams last week-end provided those present with an enjoyable display of the stick game. Play throughout was fairly fast and interesting, both teams putting plenty of energy into their work. The most conspicuous feature about the play was the excellent combined play of the representative forward line. Hitherto this season Wellington's vanguard have been sadly lacking in combination, and when the selector -made some changes in the positions it was all tor the best. By placing C. Struck in the right inside position and G. Davies back in that of left inside it has not affected the former’s play as was generally anticipated. Those who were reluctant to put Davies alongside of Loader, owing to Davies being a purely individual player and therefore likely to spoil Loader s play, had those doubts diddled last Saturday when they saw these two men's useful combined efforts. Dvery opportunity was made the most of, and Davies was generally equal to the situation. The two Stracks and Salek also’helped materially to the forwards brilliant play. The front rank is now nicely balanced, and if the team's play next Saturday is as good as it was last week Wellington will not have much to fear about losing the shield, although Auckland are sure to make a big fight for it. vvy Since the last shield game two alterations have been made in the local back division, .but it is just questionable whether much more strength has been added to the team in this respect. Kibblewhite’s position as left full-back has been given to McEldowney. It must bo pointed out that no fault could be found with Kibblewhite’s previous displays, but JlcKldowney being equally as good, and a club mate of Hickson (thus knowing more about bis play), probably prompted the selector in making this change. Including It. Parton in place of P. Burbidgo as. right-half is perhaps a wise move, and the display of Parton last week quite justifies his inclusion. To speak of the other players in tho local eleven is quite unnecessary as each has on more than ,one occasion demonstrated his abilities. Salek is perhaps the only indifferent player in the eleven this time, but in every game he shows improvement, and playing nest to a club mate no doubt /will strengthen his work.

The Auckland University hockey team are touring with .the Auckland representatives, and play off with the local University on Monday morning following the representative match at Day's Bay. The visiting 'varsity have captured the championship this year, at Auckland, and a game rivalling the representative match should result between Auckland's champions and Wellington’s. The visitors have four members of the team in the - reps, and Victoria College has three. The probable list of the 'vaxsity team is: Bunkhall, .Speight, Jackson, Richards, Rowe, R-obinson, Burton, Whittaker, King, Jacobson, Itenolds. No trouble m being spared by the local college to give, the visitors a good time and to insure a good game on ,the 14th. All the visitors are being billeted out with the. local members. ‘ .