HOCKEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12687, 8 July 1919, Page 2

HOCKEY.

NOTES ON SATURDAY'S GAMES,

By ,£ CENTRE HALF.” With the defeat of Christchurch on: Saturday the competition becomes very interesting and the next match between Sydenham A and Christchurch should be well worth watching, although judging by the- improvement of the former they should have no difficulty in pulling off the competition. The. results of Saturday’s games leave the Sydenham A team half a. point to the g'ood, the position of the teams for the shield being as follows, with one match to go in the first round:— ...

CRANFORD v. CHRISTCHURCHCranford’s victory came as a surprise to a great many .-'but I think Christchurch made a big mistake in altering their front line to the. extent of two players, especially against a. team like Cranford, as their back line is a good one and hard to pass, 'particularly so .when Soper is at his best as he was; on Saturday. He certainly played the best; game 'on the field. As well as being clever in fielding the ball he was cutting out the opposing forwards and, clearing well and kept his place better than lie has been in the habit of doing in the past. If he continues on the same game he will run any player close for the position of right back in the Rep. team. Mander in the half line is another player who deserves special mention for- his -game, as he was nn‘backbone- of the team as far as the half line is concerned. He showed - remarkably fine ability "in fielding, the ball and tricking his opponent, while his hits were all made with a purpose and to the benefit of his team. Cameron was very fair in goal, but the goal'scored was from a simple sli'ot, which should have been stopped without any trouble. An unfortunate incident in. the game was the ordering off of a Christchurch player by the referee for striking a Cranford player. As to the actual occurrence there appears to be some doubt in the minds of the players as to whether the 'offence was deliberate, but the referee, who is an old player and a referee of. long standing, must have regarded it in this light, otherwise he would not have ordered, the player off. The outcome was reached at the meeting of the committee last evening, when the offending player was ordered to stand clown for one Saturday, a penalty which by its leniency leads one to believe that there was either some provocation or that the player had made a legitimate stroke at the ball and unfortunately struck another player instead. Dozens of like cases occur every Saturday and it is quite possible that such was the ease. . The Christchurch front lino was a bit ragged owing possibly to the inclusion of two fresh players in H. Key and .A. George. Palmer was not playing his usual game and would do well to get rid of the ball quicker instead of hanging on until the opposing half boats him for it.

SYDENHAM A v. SYDENHAM B. ; I hear that Patrick has definitely decided to relinquish the: game, which is unfortunate cm account of his proficiency as right wing, but judging by the result of last Saturday’s game the Sydenham A team is well able to afford the loss. Jacobs and Harrington-make a good pair and fit in well together, ■and the fact that every player in the forwards notched a goal showed that the combination must have been excellent.. Rix a.s left half played a. tiptop game right through and has improved remarkably.. Berry is playing much better and is consistently improving. The B team, who were up against a hard -proposition, stuck to their game. and Mather <uid Gooclall deserve a. measure of praise for their defensivework. The forward line have plenty of paco and vigour, but their circle work it weak, and they want to take' a lesson from the A team’s forward, line, who go in and hit when the circle is reached.

BELAY YN r. Y.M.C.A. Selwyn had much the better of their game against Y.M.C.A., although they acted_ foolishly in persistently feedinothe right wing, more especially as the ball was Jut too far up and Smith was kept on the run for no purpose. Hav ! played a good game at right hack and was very solid, as Hale found to his cost. L. Morris at centre half was better than usual and fed. the forward line well and with great judgment. J jig x.31.G.A. front lino a.r© vory ragged.. Drayton in centre needs to keep his place better and look after nls own game. Wood on the wine; is playing well and his centring is neat and clean.

TRIAL GAMES. 1 believe the selectors have aaked for trial matches on July 19, and it is quite, possible that .trials of both senior and junior -grade will he held ton that date out the ground has not vet been decided on.

left, but both missed easy chances to score. Frickleton found his now position at outside right entirely to his liking. Has centres were well placed, and he had hard luck in. nob scoring at least one goal. vT. BWo, ' d encounter between x.J1.0.A. and St Albans provided a very close game, and both teams hart to be content, with a division of the Y.M.C.A. are experiencing great difficulty m putting their strongest eleven m the field each week. Although they have a large number of players signed on, several show little or no interest in the dub’s welfare, and every Saturday sees numerous changes m the personnel of the team. The English Oup matches will soon he approaching, and it is up to all the players to see that their club is represented by the strongest possible eelven.

STRAY SHOTS. Lieutenant Sara Frickleton, Y'.C. who has been playing in Wellington this season and who scored! two goals for that province when playing against Canterbury on June 3, was an interester spectator' at English Park on Saturday. Lieutenant Frickleton has been transferred to the Canterbury Military District, and during bis stay in Christchurch he will assist the Nomads Club.

A good deal of barracking-was indulged in at English Park oV Saturday, and both clubs had numerous supporters in the stahd.. The personal remarks of one individual, however, were, very unsportsmanlike and found little favour from those around him.

Air W. Ramsay has undertaken the reorganisation of the United Club, but wag unable-to put a. team in the field to meet Rangers last Saturday. The latter, however, filled, in with a j-)lat-tice match at Sunny side.

The abattoirs report to the ' City Council last evening stated that the stock .slaughtered had been as .follows, the figures for 1918 being given in parentheses:—Cattle 1033 (869), sheep 10.762 (8060),. pigs 1011 (940),: lambs 2611 (771) and calves 282, (204). The stock condemned were:—Cattle 14 (5), sheep 83 (20), pigs 15 (3), lamb's 11 (nil), calves 6 (5). For Bronchial Coughs, take Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.

31 H §' 'i ■;g 2 £ Points. Sydenham A. . ft 0 -1 0 5 Christchurch ft •t i ], 4?s Solvyn . 6 4 - ■ 2 ' « 4 Technical . ft « 1 ft 31 Cranford . ft a 2 2 3 Addineton. ft : ' u ft ft 11 T.M.CA. . . : ft • i 4 '.I 11 Sydenham B . ft 1. 6 0 I