HOCKEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12711, 5 August 1919, Page 2

HOCKEY.

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM.

(NOTES BY CENTRE-HALF.) Now that the. shield team is finally selected, and the consequent postponement of Senior matches, it is doubtful if much interest can be revived in tho competitions. Should Canterbury be successful in bringing back the shield it tv ill mean a shield match every alternate Saturday until tho local team is defeated, as Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson and Otago have challenges in for the shield.

The team selected to play tho match against Maimtvatu is a good one and should have no difficulty in scoring a win, as, judging by the accounts of the match between Wellington and Manawatu, the former leant was far below th standard of pre-war days. The local selectors have spared no pains to secure the best available players, and their task has been no easy one. Snooks in goal is a good custodian, hut he would do well to prevent that little knock-on that occurs when stopping with his pads. a,s it is likely to get him into trouble if the opposing forwards are following m, I have heard him criticised for fielding the ball with his hands, but knowing him to he a sure Held at cricket I do not anticipate much danger from that fault so long as he makes sure that he has time to recover and get his hit in. Hay at right hack is the man that should have been selected first, as ho. is a trier all the .way, and in addition to good defence places the ball to advantage. I question jf Martin* who was selected as right back in the first place, would have been any improvement. Tn selecting Soper for the left back the selectors are taking a risk in playing a man out of his regular position, and while admitting that Soper is a good right hack I doubt if he will be as good in the left position as, say, Berry or Smith, who regularly play there. Tho half line is as good as can he got, and not one in. the line could be replaced to advantage. Scple, perhaps, had a claim, hut I do not. think he would he an improvement on; any one of the halves. I am just a bit doubtful about the front- line combining perfectly unless the two insides completely adopt the -Sydenham style of attack. Holland'is inclined to pass hard and well across, and I am afraid that his inside left will be handicapped- by this style, as ho is more used to* short, nippy passes front both centre and swing. Throp should do well alongside W. Bell and Beaton, as the latter’s style is very similar to Throp’.«• ■ Patrick on the right wing is undoubtedly clever, and it is a pity that ho was not playing last Saturday, if only for Beaton’s benefit. Mander, who was picked as reserve back, -is unable to make the trip and Crawford has been' selected in bis stead, and well deserves the selectors’ notice, as he has'played' both iir tho half, and hack lines. - Evans is the reserve forward, and is a Useful playep I would have preferred’cither I). Smitlv or .Cummings, 'hut 1 understand that neither of these playerswas available. ,

Next Saturday, two matches against visiting teams were to hare been' played—a Senior' against South Canterbury and a Junior against Wellington. This meriting,' however, a telegram was received stating that owing to the dislocation of the railway service the South Oautdrhury team Avoulcl be unable to come up.