HOCKEY HITS.

Observer, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1, 14 September 1912, Page 22

HOCKEY HITS.

[By Link-Out.]

THE curtain was rung down upon the local championships last Saturday, when Areta met and defeated V.M.C.A. by five goals, to one for • the second grade premiership and Coleman Cup. The match was a strenuous one, and the pace a cracker throughout. The winners were all round the better team and opened the play more—V.M.C.A. -were content to keep matters close and lo3t repeated opportunities through bunching. Both teams when approaching the circle indulged in too much hard, straight hitting. The result was innumerable 25 bullys instead /Of a steady bombardment of the net. The ground was first-class, tho ball ran true, and the players greatly appreciated the privilege of for once being placed in the best playing area. The first spell was very even, and the most ardent of each team's supporters would not venture an opinion of the result. Midway through the second spell the black and whites movements told and they . rattled on the remaining scores in a brisk fashion. Dryland had but little to do in charge of the winners' net, but several times he conceded penalty corners when to have allowed the ball to cross the line would have been more profitable. England and George were a splendid pair at full-back. Their stopping was very fine, and the powerful, welldirected drives always placed the ball to advantage. c »Of the trio in the half line, Graham, Ford and Hirst, the centre-half was best. He had an elusive individual in Thomas to watch, yet managed to cater well for his own vanguard. Hirst was often inclined to obstruct through turning. The forwards were the most even set seen this season. Not one could be singled out. Each recognised he was but a connecting link of the Areta machinery. Coltman, left wing, kept splendid position and centred well. His goal was a beautiful effort from an acute angle—certainly the best of the day. Munro's experience in past seasons with United enabled him to shine. He snapped opportunities by evading his opponents and was greatly responsible for so drawing the blacks' defence. Howard in the centre is of the bustling type, and keeps his place well. Moginie is a player of the lengthy order, his great reach enabling him to get a ball and open attacks that to the average player would be impossible. He captained the team in fine style. Burton completed the line on the right wing, and while doing splendid work could often have done better by centreing sooner. He would draw the opposing full-back out" and then nullify his efforts by trying to go too far. The losers played a plucky uphill game when the odds were right against them and should have notched another goal. The forwards can attribute failure to bunching, crossing and the over-indulgence in one-handed play. Thomas was the star performer, a player of the stamp seldom seen in junior competitions. • His entry into the senior division should be strongly advocated, for only with players of his ability can the centre forward position in future rep teams be- filled.. He places his passes, and no wild indiscriminate hitting dominates his efforts. His goal came as the result.ot exceptionally smart, nippy work. Glass and Wells were willing, but were not sure in their stick work. Both were the principal offenders in one-handed play. The former is dangerous, but should try and avoid jumping so much when in close quarters as it leads to accidents.

Bailey crossed the field too much, often forgetting his right wing. Edmunds had but little to do, but what came his way was fully availed of. It would have been much better if V.M.C.A. had directed more operations • from the right. t , Stainton is a centre half to be heard of in the future. Undoubtedly the best player in the position in f this" grade, he nipped many of Areta & attacks in the bud and gave well-directed passes. In the opening portions he showed an inclination to wander and too much reverse stick work. . - Richards, on the right, gave the opposition no quarter. McCliskey was weak in hitting. Both Collingwood and Roberts were to easily drawn and were not too .safe i nclearing. Mills, who for- some six weeks past has been on the sick list, was in brilliant form before the net. His was a heady display and kept the total down. In footwork he was a treat to watch. The second grade, championship has been productive of'a most interesting competition. The fortunes of the various teams fluctuated and towards the closing stages four teams,- Mt. Eden, Training College,.Y.M.C.A. and Areta all had a winning chance. The issue was narrowed down to two teams that met on Saturday, being level when tbe second round was completed, thus making it necessary for this last match. Areta's record is that their supporters can feel well satisfied with, and reads : 16 matches played, 13 won, 1 lost, 2 drawn, with a total of 57 goals for and 23 against. Rumour states that the best of Areta and V.M.C.A. will combine next season and enter the senior grade. While not- wishing to advocate the breaking up of clubs, the foregoing certainly gets over a big • difficulty. Neither of the teams mentioned are strong enough for the senior grdae, but from their ranks a splendid team can be welded. Although Canterbury felt somewhat doubtful of success in the Shield match against Hawke's Bay, they managed to notch a goal and retain the trophy. From information received, the challengers had all the best of the game and were unfortunate in being defeated. The following is the complete list of the various grade champions for the season : — Senior A. Section—University. Senior B. Section—North Shore. Second Grade—Areta. Third Grade—St. James. Fourth Grade—Tui. Fifth Grade—Edendale. Ladies' Seniors—Training College. Ladies' Juniors—Technical College. Next Saturday comes a long-looked-for event—the opening of the pavilion at the Remuera Grounds. The afternoon will be devoted to a sports program me and a seven a-side tournament game*. • Saturday week two territorial teams, A. Battery and College. Rifles, will try conclusions at Remuera. A visitor to Auckland is Mr P. West, the ex-Auckland club player, who is now a resident of Invercargill. LADIES. After five days of hockey under the worst possible conditions, the first Auckland Provincial Cup > fixtures were completed. Notwithstanding the circumstances, keen interest was shown throughout the competition. The Hamilton team proved the winners of the tournament, and after display last Saturday, it was not a surprise. They clearly demonstrated that they knew far more about the finer points of the game than the other two country teams, and that they knew how to play 1 the game. They seldom indulged in the hard hit and follow-up methods, but invariably hit the ball where one of their own side had some chance oi getting to it first. The New Zealand Championship is progressing at Christchurch. Auckland, at the time of writing, had played but one match and suffered defeat at the hands of Hawke's Bay. Today they meet West Coast, and should record a win. The accident to Miss Ross is unfortunate, but. Miss Piper wall fill her place.

The cost of the work in the present Parliament House grounds which was so hurriedly put in hand is estimated to reach .£63,000—a total of .£162,526. That this is a shameful waste of money, on a scale which is amazing, even for what was the most extravagant and improvident Government the country has known, cannot be disputed. Wellington "Dominion. * * * It is all very Wl to talk.as people sometimes do about the "immorality of speculation in Crown land, but no ethical distinction can possibly be discovered between the transfer for consideration of land held in fee : simple and land held under a lease which the essence is that the lessee is entitled to the goodwill of his Property in the same way as the freeholder.— Wellington "Times." * * * Councillors must make up their minds that the country really wants a, revision of the Upper Chamber, and that there is no hope of the old nominative system being indefinitely continued. We are not much ny love with certain provisions in the Bill. We dislike the extravagantly large electorates ; but if the Bill, is wiaely anumded. and proper provision made for dealing with possible conflicts of opinion between the two Houses, we see "no reason why the measure, taken as a whole, should not prove a workable and beneficial enactment—Blenheim Lxpress."