HOCKEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13631, 28 June 1906, Page 10

HOCKEY.

Br Bully

Hockey players were' again fortmialo in having an meal Saturday, with very little wind, and just enough freshness in the air to make them feel Mined for exercise or for some opponent to do battle with, Tliere were still a few players who did not icll up to time last Saturday, but- if all mulches started punctually offending players would be punished by losing their Saturday's game. Tho Oiago Association have had no reply from the Auckland lloekcy Union in respect to the visit of an Aucklandteam. Should Auckland decide not to send ft team local players liavo still tlic Canterbury team's visit to Jook forward to and to keep in form for. The Soled ion Committee should set to work and pick out a probable sud a jmssiblo rep. team, nnd arrange a match between them. This with a_vicw of fdeeling the best team, and of giving the probable players an opportunity of having a little practice together before inching Canterbury. With one exception, last Saturday's mateiie; wore fairly evenly oeniestecl, when improveil form was shown. \

Congratulation* to Y.M.C.A. Xo. 1. for their drawn game with Gymnastic No. 1» tTynmastio members were playing with bad luck on Saturday. Had they had any good shooters in the team there would have been a different result to this match. During tho first spell the Gvmnaslie forwards managed to keep the hall in the. Y.M.C.A. territory most of the time, but when they got to tlie circlo they could not shoot straight. They had also tho best- of .the second sncll, but either the attacking forwards worn hitting too hard or else tho Y.M.C.A. backs were too safe—at anyrate, Gymnasts were unable to do much.

The Y.M.C.A. members are greatly improving, especially the backs, who were the mainstay of the team. With five minutes to go, and the score—Gymnastic 2 goals to Y.M.C.A. 1 goa., -it looked very much like % win for Gymnastic, but tho ball was taken np by tlie Y.M.O.A. wing, and a good goal was scored, thus equalising scores. The match between University Xo. 1 and Otago No 1 was lite keenest game of the day, besides being the most destructive, for Otago were unfortunate in having their eentro forward, lvitt, and their right half back. Moore, injured so that they had to leave the field. The former received a nasty hit. on alio ankle from the stick of one of tho Varsity backs,who it about somewhat recklessly, and the latter was hurt by getting in the way of a rising hall, which made a nasty cut on his face, ihe captain of the '\arsiiv team proved himself a sport by lolling the Otago captain replace one of the injured men. By losing two men Olago were placed at. a disadvantage, but tho remaining members played a good defensive game, and can congratulate themselves on the smalltiess of tho score against (iieni. . l'°f" the 'A aisity. M'Ketizie at goal was safe, lloliey, at full back, was far superior to any of tlie other backs; while Goodmaiu at centre half, made a few good openings, but was not playing as good a game as usual. Anions ihe forwards Cuttle was Ihe strongest player, and showed good form all through the game. Madill, on the wing, played his usual fast, game, while South, on the opposite wing, was also fast—in many eases too fast, for he was inclined to play off-side. All the Olago members played a good, game, with, perhaps, Kitt. Adams, and Jannin standing out for fine individual play. Crawford, on the wing, was playing an improved game, and' is likely to be a good man for this team. The backs had plenty to do, and were fairly safe, but Vanes would play a better game if he were to hit harder.

The Otugo A team managed to beat Gymnastic- A b.v 4 goals to 2. This was a fairly even game, though Olago were playing with only nine men. Gymnastic wore strengthened by the addition of Siodcberg, but- hp was not playing up to form, the Gymnast io forwards have not picked up the passing ?atne yet, The sooner tlicv learn to feed the wings the better cli3nc'e they will hare of winning matches. Larnac-li, wing forward, was good, but was inclined to over-run the ball. The backs played a safe game, and bad plenty of work to do.

]'or Otago Sfidgerley plaved his usual good game, and was continually on the ball. He Was ably backed til) bv Jjewifeiiain, inside, a new plaver, who is coming on well. Among the backs Sibbald was fair, though he is inclined to speculate too much. Grace was safe, while Hoove was always eager to be in the thick of it, and played one of the best back games on the ground, Tlie remaining match, University A T. 1.A1.C.A. A, resulted, as was cxpectcd, in an easy win for the 'Vareit-v team, but the nature of the game practically excluded »in>tninjf in the shape of brilliant play on cthor side. Though 'Varsity scored nine «oal.«, their forwards showed up very badly » i passing, and the iiieides especially bad a tendency to hit the ball aimlessly forward inlo.the hand 6 of tho opposing backs. Pettit, on the right wing, luts improved considerably in liis passing, but Rutherford, though lie shot 0110 oxceplion* ally good goal, often lost the hall through attempting to dribble too far up (ho field. MacDon-ald did not have much opportunity for the hard hitting up the line which usually characterises his play. During tho rc-eond spell the halves dropped back too far, and' left- the forwards • unsupported thus causing many of the players to lose their proper places.

The Y.M.C.A. team showed t.iat members wanted more practico in manipulating tlioir sticks. In many instances any attempt at sinking ihe ball was a mere fumble. J. Shaw did i*ood work as contre forward, but was unsupported by the halves fiiut loft inside, and the Blues pot. Ihe ball on nearly occasion. Miranlj can stop a rush, but is much too slow in getting hi? hit in. The best, game was played by CI. Shaw, _ at- full baek. This player is very sound in defence, and saved his side many times by accurate line hitt injf. The oilier full back was moderately safe. Willi the oxccptioii of I he.-e four, however, the team lacks anything like combination.