NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10966, 30 July 1921, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS

THE REPRESENTATIVE GAMES. (Bv “Bully” for the “N.Z. Times.”) With the final result of the eham.pionship put beyond all doubt, interest now centres upon tho forthcoming representative games, the first of which 1 will be against Wanganui on the Barin Reserve next Saturday. To meet the rr.en from the “river town” a fairly strong eleven has been selected and a fast and vigorous game may be expected. Tho local team, being somewhat of a “colts” eleven, Is not the strongest which the selector could put m the field against, say, Auckland or Christchurch, but then, the standard of hockey in Wanganui, though by no means low, is not quite as high as in the larger centres. The pitting pf two moderately good teams makes a better and more interesting game than a contest between two evenly-matched sides. Also, it tends to improve the- standard of the game generally, when the younger and less experienced men are given a chance to gam representative honours. According to Mr Manning, the selector, tlie team which makes the Christchurch trip on August 13th, will bo, so far as possible, the one to play Auckland in September for the shield. The “touchline critics” regard our chances of winning the coveted trophy as most favourable, provided, of course, tho 1 test team is available. The junior team, which is also to play Canterbury on August 13th, for the Zanol Oup, has not yet been announced, and “Bully” has it on good authority that the team will not bo made known until after August 6th. This, in the writer’s opinion, would bo a great mistake, as tlie team should, if possible, have a game together, and in any case should be given sufficient time* to get. in some eolid training before making tlie trip. The association should also see to' it that the junior team s dispatched south on the Thursday evening before the match, so as to minimise danger of the eleven being disorganised through seasickneys. If the junior “reps.’ tins year succeed in bringing the championship back with them, it will do the stick game an immense amount of good locally. AMONGST THE JUNIORS. The standard of hockey in the junior grade this year'has been particularly high, and quite Up to the form exhibited by some teams in the higher grade. The championship is *n a very interesting state, three teams all having excellent chances of coming out , on. top, namely, Wesley A, Hum, and Karori. All these teams are very evenly matched, and contain some very promising players who should prove acquisitions to the senior grade next season. The University A team also has shown ranch improved form sinoe the season opened, and may yet upset the* calculations of some of the leading teams. THIRD GRADE. The third-grade competition, which was revived this year, has proved a success, and shows promise of.obtaining many more teams next year. Hockey will be the richer in time to come far the many promising boys wbo have been introduced to the game this year through tho establishment of this grade. Teams who have shown marked superiority and improvement during the season are Karori' and Huia, and the championship will go to one of these, with Y.M.C.A. a good third. SCHOOLS. Karori, as in years gone by, have hod no difficulty of disposing of all the other school teams, ainl have placed some big scores to their credit. The only opponents to extend them at all were Lyal! Bay, but the result of the competition lia-s never been in doubt. Mr Burns headmaster of the Ka.rori school, must feel proud of tho fact that the first year it has been competed for, the ' boys of Karori school have won the oup which bears his name.

STRAY JOTTINGS. It .is interesting to note that the sc ndor championship has finished in tlr order prophesied by the writer ear' in the season, namely, "Wakatu firs?- - and United and Ramolers second an> third. * Since the war a dozen shield game** have been played, with the result that Auckland are at tho head ol the list-. ha»vinjr figured in seven games, and each time were successful. Canterbury have had five engagements, winnin three, losing and drawing one each Nelson tried twice, drawing with Gan teerbury and losing to Auckland. Wellington played and were defeated ir two games after holding the shield dur ing the war. Manawatu captured tlv trophy in the contest- that restarted tlv shield matches, and then went undo to Canterbury, after being in saon of the trophy for a fortnight. At present Ireland is the chamuitv hooker nation of the' world, having heV that honour s.ince 1914 The Ifimernfi Isle survived again at Beckenham th: season, when in the presence- of th King and Queen and some thousands o spectators, who rendered His Majestv r memorable reception, they drew w:tl England, the score being one goal each Tlie occasion marked the last game o x Shoveller, England’s famous forward, who contained tho British side. Shoveller has been England’s pre-eminent forward since he made his dehut in in temationai games in 1902, and it is r. remarkable fact that, although havinc represented his country So times, hr has never failed to score in an inter national match, and his total of goal for the series is little snort of the c-ev tury.