HOCKEY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22366, 13 September 1934, Page 4

HOCKEY

By Cextbe-halp. THE TEST MATCH Local hockey enthusiasts have no reason to regret the first test match that has ever been played at Dunedin, much though they might have, bewailed the circumstances under which it took place. After a fine week, it probably would have been too much to expect the rain to hold off on Saturday, but it is to the credit of the players that, despite the conditions, they provided an excellent game, and ohe which should do much to popularise the sport in Dunedin. Indeed, hockey enjoyed the unusual distinction of being one of the topics of discussion among sportsmen over the week-end, and when this occurs in a community where football is so solidly entrenched it says a good deal for the “show” provided by the test match. For to attract public attention a game must not only be good, it must also have the merit of being spectacular, and it may be justly claimed that Saturday’s game achieved that end. One of the most attractive features of hockey is that it is a fast game; movements are started rapidly, the fortunes change in a flash, and although a team may be hot on attack one minute, a few seconds later it is back in its circle defending against the thrusts of the opposition. Persons whose experience of winter sport might not have extended beyond a realisation of the sanctity of the law forbidding the forward pass in football might perhaps have wondered at the long drives from the full-backs to the forwards and the subsequent movements, but befoie long they would grasp some of the cardinal principles of hockey, and would be able to appreciate the significance of the events that were taking place on the field. Nobody could have blamed the players on Saturday if they had failed to reach as high a standard as they did; not only was the ground extremely greasy, but the steady rain also interfered with the play to a certain extent, and it was fortunate that they were able largely to disregard the conditions and to provide a_ sparkling exhibition in spite of their disabilities. “ What a magnificent game it would have been on a fine day,” is a remark that has been passed many times since Saturday.

It was the seventh test match played between New Zealand and Australia since visits between the two countries were inaugurated in 1922, and it was the sixth victory for New Zealand, the other match, played at Brisbane in 1927, having been a draw. It could be said without exaggeration that the better team won on the day,, although it must be admitted that the Australians, who are accustomed to a different class of ground, were handicapped in experiencing such a soft treacherous surface. One Australian speaker at the dinner on Saturday night said: “We will never beat New Zealand on their ground; we must wait to meet them on the harder and faster grounds of Australia.” Taking into consideration the great show put up by the Australians on Saturday, it would, perhaps, be flatterign to take that remark at its face value; father shoujd New Zealanders prefer to accept the statement of a speaker from this side of the Tasman, who said that if the two teams met again during the present tour he was sure it would be a very even struggle. It was an even struggle on Saturday, with the All Blacks just slightly superior, and no one would have harboured a grudge had the advantage _ lain the other way, and the Australians snatched victory for the first time. The test match was one in which tactics playqd a large part. The goal New Zealand scored duriji" the first half minute of the game was typical of their tactics throughout the spell. They had the Australians bustled with their forward tactics, and it was some time before the visitors settled down to the conditions. They displayed an extremely solid defence, however, and had it not been for that the score against them at half time must have been greater. The second spell was one full of action, which may be proved by the fact that four goals were scored in a space of about five minutes.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM A detailed criticism of the New Zealand team as given below should prove of interest. C. M. Moore, the goalkeeper, is up to as fair a standard as any of his predecessors in this position, but did not have enough work probably to prove his full ability. T. A. Ewan, right full-back, is undoubtedly one of the finest backs New Zealand lias ever had. He shows very keen anticipation when the ball is coming at him from a hard attack, but has the gift of meeting all opposition without becoming bustled. F. S. Clark, left full-back, while not playing as good a game, as his partner, proved that his standard of play would be hard to surpass in New Zealand. R. Vercoe, right-half, unfortunately did not have enough work to allow him to uphold his reputation, and it was probably the lack of opportunities that tempted him to get out of big place now and again to look for chances. He has a very good playing reputation, however, and many regret that we did not see the best of him.

H. G. Hore, centre-half, was a Trojan for work; so much so, that he was also found out of position at times. Two of the Australian attacking movements that resulted in goals probably owed their initiation to Hore being out of position, but it must be remembered that the forwards were not doing the amount of hack-tackling necessary, and it is difficult to blame Hore for all his wanderings. Those who saw the North Otago match on Monday declare that he played one of the best games of his career in the face of almost overpowering odds. C. Hore, left-half, who was playing for New Zealand for the first time, gave a very fine performance indeed. His actual positional play was the best of the three halves, and it is quite likely that more will bo heard of him in test hockey. 0. Dey, left-wing, also represented New Zealand for the first time. While playing quite a useful game, he took too long to settle down, but his play on the

whole was far ahead of any of his provincial performances. Some of his centres .were too square, as.it; took him some time to realise that the inside forwards were faster than those he has been used to, but it was pleasing. to notice that he settled down better as the game went on.

M. J, Bay, right-inside, who has ,played for Otago, and is fairly well known here, showed that he is still a wonderful fol-lowing-in forward, and in most of the New Zealand movements which resulted in. goals he was a participant. E. S,. Watts, centre-forward and captain, was the veteran of the team, having represented New Zealand since 1922, but he proved to be absolutely the best player on the field, and considering the state of the ground, played practically a faultless game. His fast following-up methods should have proved an eye-opener to local inside forwards. When he received possession of the ball he knew what to do with it, and it was very rarely after he had the ball that the Australians regained it through any fault of his. S. Betts, inside-left, was apparently handicapped more than any other member of the team by the playing conditions owing to his style of play. He was inclined to hang back at times, but nevertheless did quite useful work. F. De M. Wellborne, left-wing, played a wonderful game considering the state of the ground. He came with a good left-wing reputation, and accustomed himself to the conditions perhaps sooner than any other member of the team. His goal from a corner hit after the ball had been shot across the circle proved that it pays the wingers to keep handy to the edge of the circle during either corner or a penalty corner hit while the inner forwards are attending to their duties. Taken all round, the team performed very well considering that it had not been assembled until the day of tae match, but it would be wiser in future to have the members _ together two or three days previously in order to allow them to practise together. As it was, all the practice they had was threequarters of an hour on Saturday morning, and before that time some of the members had not even met each other. As far as the team itself is concerned, however, it is considered by competent authorities to be one of the best that has ever represented New Zealand, while the full-backs were undoubtedly the best we have ever had playing together.

THE AUSTRALIANS* RECORD The following is a record of the matches played by the Australian team: Against Waikato.—Lost 2—3. Against Dannevirke.—Won s—l. Against Horowhenua. —Won 4—nil. Against Wellington.—Lost I—3. Against Nelson.—Won 4 —2. Against Motneka.—Won 4—nil. Against Marlborough.—Won s—nil. Against Kaikonra.—Won 6—nil. Aganst Canterbury.—Won 2—l. Against Malvern. —Won 6—nil. Against Geraldine.—Won B—nil. Against New Zealand. —Lost 3—5. Against North Otago.—Won 4—2. The following matches have yet to be played:— September 13.—At Hastings. September 15.—At Auckland. September 18. —Match to be arranged. September 19. —At Te Aroha.