HOCKEY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 174, 28 August 1914, Page 7

HOCKEY.

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. The semi-final o"f the Canterbury Hoekey Association's first grade competition was played last Saturday, Addington registering a comfortable win over Oxford Terrace, while U.R.C. created no small surprise by beating the leading team, Sydenham A. In the second grade, Sydenham A won the competition by defeating the Selwyn team, after a keen struggle, by two goals to one. This is the first time for a number of years that Sydenham has won the second grade competition. The Selwyn Club has had a very successful season, winning both the third and fourth-grade competitions, and being runner-up in the second grade. Its third grade team is deserving of special congratulation, for the fact that it is the only team in any of the grades which has won ail its games. SYDENHAM'S DEFEAT. On the Polo Grounds the powerful Sydenham combination received its first beating of the season, from U.R.C. The ground was to some extent responsible for the team's downfall, it being fairly bumpy. But the U.R.C. men adapted themselves to the conditions and registered a creditable win. This now places Addington in the lead, by half a point, from Sydenham. Jones, in goal for U.R.C., was not

called on very often. His display was not very impressive. -The only goal which was registered against him should have been stopped, but he made no attempt at it. Dingle played a fine allround game, stopping many rushes cleverly, while his clearing shots were well executed, generally with hard drives to his forwards. * The half line like a machine, playing brilliant hockey throughout. Heap,' on the right, played one of his best games this sea-

son. The way he received the ball cm his stick was very clever indeed. Haigh played at left half, and played a very clever game. His ability with the flying hit stroke upset the Sydenliamites completely. Parton, too, worked hard, and kept his position much better than usual. He distributed the play in good style, and was quick to take advantage of any mistake made by the opposition. Kiddey and : George were the pick of the forwards, both men attacking solidly. Booth, too, gave a creditable exhibition, but he has a bad habit of obstructing. On one occasion he had to be cautioned by the referee for threatening :m opponent. " U.R.C. lost many good chances through its left winger repeatedly swinging his stick round his head when playing the ball. The Sydenham men were at some disadvantage, being without their usual set of backs. Sherwood was an invalid, while Skelton was absent in Wellington. Mather was to have played but failed to put in an appearance, and so R. Hulbert was played in his place. Robb in goal brought. off several saves creditably. Bowden was disappointing; the roughness of the ground probably accounted to some extent for his poor showing. Fascoe came in for the majority of work in the half line, and got through it very creditably, his back-tackling being very solid. Snell was badly beaten at times by the rough ground, but apart from this he played well, feeding his forwards with hard,, well-placed drives. The forwards were very disappointing, especially in their circle work, many good scoring chances beingthrown away by merely bad play. Hawkins did not show that dash of which he is capable. He would do well to hit harder when passing, and also to be satisfied with "drawing" an opponent, instead of attempting to beat him before passing. It is also a bad policy to feed the winger when near the circle; several good chances were thrown away on Saturday through this fault. Huibert was not impressive, his shooting lacking sting. Throp, too, was not up to his usual standard, his shooting being very erratic. AIXDINGTON'S REVENGE.

Addington had its revenge on Oxford Terrace by defeating that team by seven to nil. In the first round a drawn game resulted. The black forwards played their best game to date, combining well, and their backs defended solidly. Moreton and Rix both played solid, safe, games, although the latter was inclined to take risks. Arnold was the pick of the halves, and was ably supported by Sepie. Chappell, Wilson, and Grammar were the pick of the'forwards. Drayton, in goal, was not as sound as usual, he letting some rather easy shots past him. . Yelvin was easily the best of the backs. Dawson still has the obstructing habit. A. S. Drayton was the best of a scratchy forward line. THE FINAL MATCH. The meeting of Addington and Sydenham to-morrow should see a very spirited contest. Both teams are powerful combinations and old rivals. Since they last met, each team has made ! several changes in its arrangement, and both claim to have strengthened their respective sides. The match will be played on the Polo Grounds. The "old-timers" will play a curtainraiser against the non-playing referees, and on an adjacent ground the Canterbury ladies will meet Wairarapa. A collection will be taken up on the ground, and will be handed over to Mr Sherwood, who was injured in the North Island. A good programme has been arranged, and it behoves supporters of the game to roll up in full force and patron- J ise the collection box liberally. The Sydenham Club's periodical Progressive Euchre and Dance will take place in the Oddfellows' Ilall, St. Asaph Street, on Wednesday next. It is being run as a benefit to Mr Sherwood, and tickets are obtainable from club members. Hockey was fairly well represented in the Patriotic Demonstration. The Sydenham. Addington, and East. Belt Clubs each had displays, while both the ladies' and the iiiei! 's associations were represented. The Selwyn Club, although not i\ presented, is making a donation to the Patriotic Fund, and Sydenham collected nearly £ls in the procession.

LADIES' HOCKEY NOTES. The trial game played on Saturday last was called the Pinal Trial Game, but probably the selectors are wishing that they could have a few more trials before the English team arrives, if the match last -Saturday is a criterion of all the team can be. However, there only remains two Saturdays now before the English match is played, so time won't allow for many changes to be made. The team chosen to play against Wairarapa will no doubt play the English team, unless, of course, some of the players prove unworthy of their positions next Saturday. The A team showed signs of improvement on Saturday last, but still the girls are prone to faulty passing, missing, and bad shooting. ' The forwards were much better, but the score should have been twice the size. S. Kruse lost the passes badly in the circle and should have secured at least six goals instead of only one. The halves were fair. The centre was ! strongly inclined to stray, and is apt to hit too hard when near the circle. The backs improved with practice, but still indulged in flying hits when they had plenty of time to stop the ball. The goalkeeper made some good saves, and I should think made her selection a surety. The B team did not play the game it has played. The forward line laeked combined play altogether, and, of course, the whole team suffered in consequence. E. Pepper had several rushes down the line, but she was too fast for her fellow forwards, who were never there to take the pass. G. Smith, the centre half, put in some good solid work, and her omission from the team may be a surprise. She is not as swift perhaps as the local girls, and I believe swiftness is one of the main characteristics of the Wairarapa girls, so probably that accounts for her absence.

The Wairarapa representatives arrived this morning by the Maori, and will play the Canterbury reps, to-morrow on the Polo Grounds. These grounds should be the scene of some varied and interesting hockey. The programme will commence with an Old Timers v. Referees match, and should be very amusing, although, perhaps, the players fondly imagine it will be instructive. At three o'clock the ladies' representative "match will bully off, and on another ground the final game of the senior grade in the men's competition between Sydenham and Addington will be played. These games should attract a large number" of spectators, which the promoters are hoping for, as a collection is to be made in aid of a player who was injured while playing in the rep. team against Palinerston North. The Wairarapa team jjromises to be a strong one, as it is composed of practically the same girls who defeated Canterbury in the final game of the tournament at Wanganui last year. The following are the players:—Misses R. Z. and N. Humphries, N. Feast, R. Bamby, F. Sage, I. Knowles, R. Neilsen, I Ordisli, B. Davidson, M. Terry, B. Orr, and G. Grigg. The Ladies' Association took the opportunity of advertising the English match, to be held on September 12 next, in the procession last Monday. A lorry was decorated with Union Jacks and Canterbury flags, and signs proclaiming the great match were stretched round the framework of the van. A pyramid ascended from the centre decorated with various trophies, around ! which were grouped the rep. girls, dressed in the Canterbury colours. The whole was drawn by a noble steed suitably equipped for hockey as far as shin pads went. The English team lias at last arrived in the South Island, and plays its first match against Nelson to-morrow. Fine weather has so far favoured the visitors, and it is to be hoped the sun will continue to shine right through the tour. They reach Christchurch from the West Coast on Tuesday, September 8, and the following day will journey to Timaru to plav South Canterbury on Thursday. The team will return on Friday (September 11) and plav Canterbury at Lancaster Park on the 12th, and will stay until the following Monday, when they will leave for Invercargill by the first express. While they are here they will be the guests of various ladies who have been approached by the associa-

tion, and have very kindly offered hospitality to the various members. Their hosts and hostesses will be amply rewarded, no doubt, as from all accounts the English girls have proved tremendously popular both on and off the field, and their visits have been of the kind that one wants prolonged and to come often.