HOCKEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13637, 5 July 1906, Page 5

HOCKEY.

Br Bully. Positions of the teams at piesent:— Won. Drawn. Lost. Points. 'Varsity No. 1 .. 5 1 0 11 'Varsitx A .... 5 1 0 11 Otago Ko. 1 .... i 0 2 8 Otago A < 0 2 8 Gymnastic- No. 1.. 1 2 3 4 Gymnastic A ... 1 1 * " Y.M.C.A. No. 1 .. 1 1 * 3 Y.M.C.A. A .... 0 0 Go

The socictary of the Otago Hockey Association has received a letter from the secretary of the Canterbury Association wanting to 'know if it. was, possible to avra-nge the Gtajjo-Cantorbury 'match for the first or second week in July. Evidently the Canterbury team is looking forward to .hard matches agaii!6t, Auckland and Wellington, f.nd wishes to get a bit of practice with the Olago team before meeting the northern ream. A meeting of the local association is to lw held to consider the matter. The difficulty tfill be to get a suitable ground, for the grounds at Forbury are unfit to play rep. matclics on. As the best grounds arc used for football, it would perhaps be better to approach the Oiago Rugby Union and get the use of Cansbrook Ground if possible. Saturday's matches were not cf a very exciting naluro. 'Varsity No. 1 beat Y.M.C.A. No. 1 by 12 goals to nil; 'Varsity A lieal Gymnastic A by 6 goals to nil; Otago Ko 1 brnl (iymnasiio No. 1 by 3 goals to one; Oiat;o A beat Y.itf.C.A. A bv 5 boals to nil.

In the- match 'Varsity am! Y.M.C.A (lie 'Varsity forwards, with tho exception of Rutherford, showed a big improvement in passing from tho previous Saturday. Rutherford is inclined to play the ball too -long, and instead of passing it to tho centre forward, takes it into tho circle, where ho is not expected to bo. A wing forward, according to the. best_ hockey authorities, should never come into the circle, but keep out and hit the ball back into tho circle should it come Giro in his direction.

Among the backs JlTDonald played a good game, hut Hardy is not smart enough in getting his hit in, while Davey is inclined to roam about the field too much.

The fault of the Y.M.C.A team was chiefly in tho forwards, who would not keep in their proper places, while three or four were generally after tho ball at the same time. The forwards also appeared io Ix* afraid of the bail, for when a 'Varsity hsck was going to hit they generaJly kept, our'of the way until he had finished his stroke, instead or rushing him. Another fault of the Y.M.C.A. team, is that when hard pressed the players are inclined to centre the tall instead of finding tho out-lino. The full backs played a fair game, with occasionally good hitting ni) the line Rider, at centre forward, had to stop playintt owing to an injury to his shoulder. This was a big loss to the Y.M.C.A. team.

lii tlio first spell of tho 'Varsity-Gym-nastic match Gymnasts soon had their opponents in trouble, but missed several chances of scoring through the fonvards being out. of their proper places. Play for the fhst half hour was very fast atid even, only one goal belli!! scored' by 'Varsity. In tho second spell 'Varsity forwards showed improved form in passing, and wore continually on the attack. Gymnasts, who were, playing vr.o'.l earlier in tho game, seemed" to fall away, and found it impossible to stop the 'Varsity rushes. For the' Gymnasts, Larnach, on the wing, was fast, but. he was not backed up by his centre forward. The passing of the forwards was very inaccurate, partly owing to many of the players not being in their proper places. Among the backs, Latham played l a sterling game, and was p<vhap3 the most consistent- baok on the ground.

For 'Varsity, Madico, on tho wing, played a- brilliant game, while South, on (he opposite wing, also played well,*.but should keep out more and stop the ball with his hand. Cuttle. Goodman, and Williams played up to form.

On Saturday both 'Varsity tennis played in their new uniform. The Jersey is light blue, with white collar. It would he well if all clubs adopted some distinguishable outfit instead of having all sorts of colours in one team.

The Otago No. 'I and Gymnastic No. 1 tried contusions last. Saturday, but the only interesting play in the match was the passing of the Gymnastic forwards, who have improved wonderfully. Liggins and Beadle were continually on the ball, and put the- Otago backs on the defence on more than one occasion Austin, at. full kick, played his usual good game. The forwards could generally rely on getting the ball if Austin was anywhere near it. '

Ot.ago players seemed lo lie out of form, the backs especially, with the exception of Miller, playing indifferently. The forwards did not pass aoro-.s the field enough. They can never hope to score many goals unless they learn to pass well and accurately. Crawford, on the wing, was the only member of the team who played anything like it good game. Oiago players will have to improve next Saturday, when they meet 'Varsity No. 1.

The'match Olago A v. Y.M C.A. A teams was an easy win for Olngo, though Y.M.C.A. players arc improving. They are still, however, inclined to wander round the field, and when they do get the ball, they do not pa-is quickly enough. The wing forwards do not get enough to do. but that is the fault of the backs and centre forward, who spoulil pass the ball out as soon, as Ihey get the chance. Tho backs were often hard pressed, but played a good defensive game, but should learn to hit a little harder.

For Ola-go the forwards did not play well together, and were inclined to take things too easy. One or two of tho backs had a roving commission, and were found among the forwards occasionally. Sibbald, Moore, and Graco played well

A rorrcspondont writes:—Quito a number of players have a limiled knowledge of the rules governing off-side play. Here aro one or two points: A player who i?. offside when the ball was last played is not. put on-side by an opponent running hack. The ball must be played again before ho is on-side A player who is off-side, but not within 5 yards of the striker, nor interfering with him, is immediately put on-side by the ball touching an opponent. Again, a player being on-side—with three men between him and the goal—when the hall was last played, can ran past the backs (I am taking for argument's sake that the three men are tho two bucks and goalkeeper) before the ball and play it, and still bo on-side. A remark about u corner hit. If the ball is intentionally hit behind tho goal line Iby a defender) within five yards from the goal-post, the ball is taken five yards from the goal-post, and the comer hit taken from there. And no player is allowed within five-yards of the ball when tho hit is taken. No corner hit can be taken within five yards of the gojl-post. The North v. South Island match, the annual inter-island fixture promoted by the New Zealand Hockey Association, has been fixed for August 2, and will he played at Wanganui.

SWIMMING. The boys at .Nelson Collcgo iia.YO commenced excavating then Dew swimming baths, which will 1)0 75ft long and 35ft wide, with a minimum depth of. water of 3fc 6in, gradually sloping to a maxTintini depth of 7ft 6in. Tho 1-Xuinano grants to tho various centres havo beett allocated as follows:—Canterbury £15. Dunwlm and Wellington £10 each, Wanganui £8, Wcstlandi £7, Hawke'r, Bay £7. A sub-commitloo ot the N Z.A.S.A., set tip to consider tho matter of iccords, reported that, the records made by CaviU and La.no in New Zealand) must bo regarded as New Zealand records. E. C. Freyborg's 220 yds' record for a New Zenlantler of 2min feeo was passed at. a 1 recent meeting of tho council of llio N.Z.A.S.A. It was resolved to forward his cap and badge, and also two badges for records at Nelson. At a meeting of tho council of the Now, Zealand Amateur Swimming Association tho Wanganui Centre wrote suggesting (hat tho age limit for schoolboy championships ehoiiUl bo reduced from 15 to 13. It was resolved to obtain tho views of tho various centres It is interesting io know, that all tho swimming races at the Olympian Games were stalled without a dive, the men having to lino up in the water, touclu'iig a ropo with one. hand. This will account for Iho slow times made, but if the men. wore in the form reported I (says an English writer) have no doubt that Daniels must bo equal to tho lime reported from America, as he always had the best of tho pace of iho. other record-breakers. The suu-committco set up to consider the functions of the Humane branch reported to a meeting of the Now Zoalamt Swimming Council that it considered that the branch should bo for tho purpose of instruction in life-saving, and not in any way for the purpose of giving medals or certificates for life-saving. ; At a recent meeting of the New Zealand Swimming Association, in Christchurch, tho rough plans of the proposed tepid bath were laid on the table, the dimensions being for a. build : ng 150 ft bv 61ft, with a hath 100 ft by 36ft with a depth of from 4ft to Bft. The. ground plan provided for 56 dressing rooms, with ample" shower and private bath accommodation and ticket boxes and conveniences. On ,hc second floor there was gallery seating roonii accommodation for 1000 persons, as well as rooms for the caretakers. The cost of the building would bo about £4000.