HOCKEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12086, 15 August 1917, Page 3

HOCKEY.

NOTES BY CENTRE HALF. As far as the weather was concerned, Saturday was the- best day for hockey we have' seen this season, and the two (Senior games attracted a fair number of spectators. In the match Sclwyn v. Sydenham, the latter treated the. onlookers to an exhibition that lias rarely been equalled for the season. The result of Saturday's matches leaves the Una I issue still in doubt, although AddingtonTechnical are favourites, and if they defeat Christchurch they will win by half a point even if Sclwyn defeat Cranford. Considering that the Cranford team mainly consists of young players who only entered Senior hockey in the middle of last season, they have done remarkably well, as they have gained 8i points and are equal with Sydenham, who at present are nearly all experienced players. Should AddingtonTechnical and Christchurch draw next Saturday and Sclwyn win, a play-off will be necessary between Sclwyn and Ad-dington-Tcchnical, as each will have 1(>1 points. The second grade competition appears to ho sale for Sclwyn. as they arc equal to .Sydenham, and have a match with Oxford Terrace to play, which was missed early in the season through no referee being present. Should the latter team win, however, they will secure the shield by half a point, as they arc now only half a point behind the leaders. The third grade competition is equally interesting, as Cranford lead with VI points, Technical A being one point behind with a match to play against Oxford Terrace also, who are Bi, and therefore have no chance even should they wiin. It will be seen that a win by Technical will mean a play-off with Cranford. The fourth grade have two more matches to go yet to complete the round, and, as Christchurch are only half a point ahead of Technical (with a match with .Sydenham to play) and a point ahead of Selwyn A, they can still bo beaten for the coveted honours. T hoar that there has been some trouble between the. Sydenham Junior team and the referee who officiated in the team's Junior match with Selwyn. It is rather a coincidence; that on each occasion on which these teams have met this season trouble has arisen. After the first match thero were persistent rumours floating round about the fairness of some of tho player.?' methods, and the committee held an inquiry for tho purpose of ascertaining tho true position. Seeing that nothing came of tho inquiry the committee were quifco satisfied 'that there was more wind than substance about +u ~ :Z'-., -■•« •*- '■■' peculiar Lhat again in this match

trouble should occur. The Sydenham Club started tho ball rolling by entering a pro'test against tho referee's action jn disallowing a goal alleged to liavo been scored by Sydenham. Many conflicting .statements were. made, before- tho case reached tho Management Committee, and judging by tho ac- , counts of .some of the Sydenham players thero seemed to be sufficient grounds i for an appeal. I understand, however, that the acting-chairman ruled that tho referees' decision on all points of , fact is final and refused to admit the ; evidence of the Sydenham Club. No ■ doub't. tho chairman was quite right in ■ his decision, but the unfortunate point, 1 about the case in question is that the Sydenham Club should havo been led ' to understand that any evidence rt ' brought would be heard, and it appear- ' ed'as if there was a change of opinion in th 0 interval between the permission being "-iven and tho holding of thu ' mcetin". However, the resuk m ait ' probability would have been tho same ! on the decision I have stated above. It transpires that had Sydenham been allowed the goal tho score would have given the club a fighting chance and a ' good one, for 'tho competitton, as it ' would hav 0 put the team «. point ahead of Sclwvn instead of level as it turned ' out Now Sydenham are right out of it no matter who wins next Saturady between Oxford Terrace and Selwyn. If Sydenham Seniors had had last Saturday's >team out all the season and showing equal form it would havo been ! one. liorse race the competition, as. they fairly ran all over Seh\y. . Sydenham got off the mark very.Party, W -mneared to be up against Duel ' h.ck Scve »1 shots, both by Harrmgon and Throp, just while Itobb stopped some real hot ones, while Hay and Smith were putting up a. good defence, especially the former, who was very quick in stopping the ball and getting his hit in. The Selwvn half-line had a merry time marking the Sydenham forwards, as Harrington, Jacobs and Throp were right on the job, and were- equal to their top form, while TVoodfield and Duflield were not far behind. Morris, in tho Chocolates' half-line, gave a very good exhibition, cutting in and beating his man well, while Crawford and Henley, the right and left, put in some good work, but tho Blues were too fast and tricky. Bell was easily the best of the Selwyn forwards. He frequently left his mates Tar behind and put in a. few solo runs. Evans was absent on the sick list nntt Sinclair let his team down at tho last moment. Down does riot appear to havo recovered from his holiday, and was far beloAv his usual' standard, and neither Hill nor Smith war to his usual form. Possibly the pace and good stick work of the Sydenham team robbed tho ' Selwyn forwards of many chances, but

when they did get the. ball tho Blue half-line, consisting of Pascoo, Snell: and Hall, were quickly at them and back .it went. Rarely did tho hall get through to Snooks, the Sydenham goalie, as Berry on the left three-quarter was patricularly good; but Luxton was tho weak spot, and Berry had to back him up more than once, as his flying hits did not como off as expected. Tho Addington-Toehnical and Cranford match was disappointing from a true hockey standpoint, as thero was far too much running across the field on the. part of both sides. Players should learn to keep their places regular. The teams were very evenly matched, and tho luck one way or tho other made all the difference. The combined team's goal was the outcome of a mistake by the Cranford forwards in advising their goal-keeper to let a. ball go that had been hit outside the circle, but unfortunately for Cranford T). Smith just managed to touch it as it went by. \V. Ternpleton, however, made no mistake about the Cranford goal, as it came in like a streak from tvell out. Quartermain and Giles were the best of the other forwards, the former playing the best game a.s far as hockey goes as be kept his place hotter and made Roo( use of his speed. ] n th„ second spoil he was unfortunate enough to stop one of S. .Morris's shots with his nose, but he is getting used to knocks . L J , ! Pns . "J, tho only consistent plavor >n the half, as Pearce possesses' more energy than science. Sopor played tho best game on the ground. Ho put up a great defence, and used his fine judgment in getting after tho ball and cubing his man out Mat and Bob Ternpleton showed good defence, and the latter in goal "had some hot shots to stop. Addington-Techntoal College have one or two weak spots which conic out occasionally, and Saturday appeared to bo one of those occasions. ( D. Smith, S. Morris and E. "\V. Smith are tho best of the forwards, as both Turner and Hooper havo a lot to learn. Tho latter lost an easy chance through waiting in the second spell. Sepie was 'the best half-back on the ground. He. is very consistent and very clever in tackling his man. Craeio is not for behind his mate, but he is not so persistent as the former, while M'Cracken cannot stand up to a bard game like the older hands. ' Buckman was the better of the two backs. Moseton was off colour, and was altogether too slow. Bellamy- in goal stayed very well, and showed good judgment in his work. I hear that Sepie will not be available for the combined team again, nor Harrington for Sydenham. News has been received that E. HulbeM and S. G. Holland are leaving for

home immediately. The former has l)oon wounded in the hand and. the latter, ai'tor a spoil in hospital, is now convalescent. \ext Satnrday will see. the last of the, ordinary competition match's. Unless 'there is a play oil" hookey will bo over, and also unless the committee continue, the fourth grade. May f suggest that a match he arranged ei'ther between the referees and old timers, or between the old timers and the Senior winners. I am sure such a match would create a lot of interest.