HOCKEY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18876, 31 May 1923, Page 4

HOCKEY

By Bully.

Fino weather and fairly dry grounds were ] in favour of good games on (Saturday. City v. -OUI Boys, won by the tormer by 3 goals to 1, was a very fast, keenlycontested match. Macphcrson and Len. Ireland made things very warm at the start. These two players provided a lot of openings for the other forwards, but. over-eagerness on the part of the latter spoilt the play. L. Ireland has changed his position from full-back to forward. r I his is quite a good move, for ho is a good forward and only a medium player in the backs. Nutting put in some clever passing at times, but was inclined to be a little solfish when near the circle. Ho should remember that a, goal scored by any player of bis sido counts. The above remark also applies to Smith, whilst in mid-field, although ho passes in a fair manner noar tho circle. Gillies was worth a goal or two to his toam, liia foot work being specially good, whilst his drives wore well directed. For Old Boys, Hinton played his usual good game; in fact ho surpassed his previous play on Saturday Johnston also showed up well, and the combination of Hinton, Johnston, Gurr, Mays ton, and Butler kept tho City backs well on the defensive. Swan, at goal, was fairly safe, but rather slow to gej; the ball away. He should use his feet to betted.advantage. I noticed that the grounds have been rolled, but the roller used was not heavy enough to press out *the small mounds that everywhere abound." There was, however, a slight improvement on previous days. The ladies' match, Momona v. Ravensbourne, was very interesting, although the former had virtually a walk over.

For the winners the Guest sisters were well in the fore, each shooting two goals. L. Guest, centre forward, is. however, inclined to be a bit selfish. Misses Andrews and Provo also put in a lot of useful play, the two goals by the former being very nicely placed. Miss Balk, at wing, was not up to her usual standard, probably through not keeping her place on the field. Miss Routledge, at centre half, fed her forwards well, and the goals scored wore mainly through her fine passing. Miss Lo Brim, at full-back, had plenty of work to do and did it well. Miss Provo, at goal, was not called on to do much. I think she had only about three hits at the ball during the afternoon. Individual play seemed to be the idea of the Ravonsbourne players, and anybody who knows anything about hockey knows that this sort of play will never win a mlxtch. Elveiry time a forward secured the ball, up the field she went, perhaps beating tho half, but being blocked by the full-back. Not only once did this happen, but almost every time a forward got the ball. The consequence was that the players tired themselves out to no purpose. The Ravcnsbourne forwards are all fairly fast, and if they resorted to passing they would put up a creditable performnee. I noticed also that tho centre half played tho same sort of game. This team should secure a strict coach and go in for plenty of training. Misses Orammond and Soott at full-book gave tho forwards plenty to do by feeding them well. Miss Hope, at goal, had a tremendous task, being tho hardest pressed player on tho ground. She did her work well, but one great mistake she makes is that of going down on her knees to stop the ball. Stopping the ball in this manner is not only illegal but very dangerous, especially when a strong set of forwards oppose her. The advice which I offered in last weeks notes did not seem to have, any effect on the referees in the men’s matches, for I noticed that on Saturday both referees kept strictly lo one position almost entirely throughout the game. On one occasion I saw a player give “kicks” and the ball went over 10 yards and yet no whistle. The referee did not see it, and could not be expected to do so, for he was far from the play. There were quite a number of breaches of the rules that were missed for the same reason. Tho referees will have to put more “ginger” into their work. The refereeing in the ladies’ matches could also be improved. On one occasion the ball was hit back by Ravensboume. and the referee gave 25 yards out, but on being told by a player of the fact he altered his decision and gave a corner. When a referee gives a decision 'ho should stick to it. I would also point out that tho rules state ill at “no player may in any way intqrpose herself as an obstruction. On Saturday the Ravensboume goalkeeper went down ori her knees to stop tho ball about a dpzon times, and each time she did so tho ball was hidden by her skirt; thereby causing obstruction; yet not once was the whistle blown. A penalty bully should have been given each time. I trust that tho referees will not take amiss the references I have made to faults in their control of the game. Mistakes such as I have indicated do not make for good hockey. I received my gruelling from critics when I first took on the whistle some 20 years back, and can truthfully say that it benefited me considerably. A good old round-tho-table talk by the Referees Association, where referees could come to an agreement regarding the interpretation of tho rules, would be of great service. I have received two letters from country players asking for information. “Newohurn” submits four points, which I take seriatim: —

1. Describe a penalty bully.—A penalty bully is given for a wilful breach of a rule or when a goal would most probably have been scored but for the occurrence of tho broach. All players except those participating in the penalty bully must refrain from any play until tho finality of tho bully. 2. Describe a long and short (or penalty) corner.—A long corner ia a stroke given to the attacking side on tho goal line three yards from the side line. All the defending team (their sticks and feet) must bo behind their. own goal line, and all the attacking team must be outside of the circle, in the field of play. In the cose of a short or penalty corner, a player of tho attacking team has a hit from any point on the goal line ho may choose, the players being in tho same positions as stated for a long corner. No penalty comer must be taken at less distance than 10 yards from the goal post. 3. If a player is standing offside and takes part in the game without touching the ball is he offside or must he first touch the ball before h c is offside? —This question has been the subject of more controversy than any other rule in the book. The rule distinctly states that ” a player who ia nearer his opponents’ goal lino than the striker at the moment when the ball is hit is offside unless there be at least three of his opponents nearer to their own goal lino than he is.” In the ladies’ rule book it is stated that “ a player should not bo penalised unless she is obstructing or gaining any advantage from standing offside.” Notwithstanding this, I contend that if any player is waiting offside away from the play, he or she is gaming an advantage, and should be penalised, 4. If a player stops the ball with his legs and the ball rebounds a yard or so off them, is that a kick or an advantage?—When a ball rebounds off the legs of a player it is not a kick, but there is a limit to what may bo called a rebound. If a player is running towards a swift moving ball and jumps to stop it, and tho ball rebounds several yards, I certain would penalise this player. “Milflut” asks somewhat the same question, and states that a hot shot from the goalkeeper was stopped by the legs of a player outside tho circle and tho ball rolled about half a yard into the circle, from where the player shot a goal. My answer to No. 4 above covers this point. Another question by the same writer is: “What constitutes a ‘standard’ or certificated referee for hockey?” That question is beyond me, but in Dunedin wo have a Referees’ Association which selects tho referees for every match, so I suppose we will have to call thorn standard referees, whether they have a certificate or not. Tlayors are warned about leaving money and other valuables in their clothes whilst playing. Losses have occurred almost every Saturday at the Oval. A visit by the police would do no harm. Tho secretary of the association informs mo that all players of hockey are requested to be at the Oval at 2.30 on Saturday, as a very important meeting is to be held.