HOCKEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16452, 14 June 1921, Page 3

HOCKEY.

SATURDAY’S GAMES. IDEAL CONDITIONS,

. (.By

"CENTRE HALE"

Hockey was advanced another stae® on Saturday when ideal weather conditions prevailed! both for players and spectators. It is high time the grounds committee got the roller and mower *o work at Haglev Park, as the grounds there are very humpy and the graee long. Yesterday's fall of rain will make the ground, easy to roll, and the matter should be a.tt(bided to without delay. Cranford had the bye in this round. Selwyn scored an easy win against trydpnliam at Lancaster I s ark : Christchurch, drew with YM.C.A. at Hagley Park; and Technical defeated Addington :vt Haglcy Park by 4 goals to 1. hollowing are the positions of the Senior teams:—

The primary schools competition xa well under way and many of the hoys show promise of making good players. There is still a need of coaches if the game is going to profit by introducing; it in the schools. I noticed an article in a recent issue of a Wellington paper to the effect that the game was going back in Christchurch. owing to the lack of enthusiasm by the local body. Such criticism coming from Wellington is highly amusing as not many years ago the local secretary was compelled to write the secretary of the Wellington Association four times before receiving any reply whatever : and again when Man aw atu defeated Wellington for the shield in 1919. they wore compelled to return to Palmerston without the trophy owing to bad management bv trie Wellington body. Truly. Wellington should set its own house in order before criticising others. It is just possible that the writer was referring to the New Zealand Association, and if so he only displays utter ignorance of the prevailing conditions. Possibly the article was written with the object of seen ring a. transfer of headquarters to WellingtonIt tliis L the case, then judging /ny the way the Wellington people manage their own affairs the transfer would be disastrous for the sport. Y.M.C.A. (0) v. CHRISTCHURCH (0), _ Although the game between the Y.M.C.A. and Christchurch ended irt a draw, the former team have their goal-keeper to thank tor no goals being scored against them Drayton is no doubt performing very well and in addition to stoppiug some real hot ones, he displayed fine judgment in coming out to meet the shots. Velvin. appears to be getting over his penchant; for hitting out. and his game is more interest ing. The half line is. weak. Bascaod being the only one to play good hockey. The half line is the most difficult to play as it demands great energy and stamina. The forwards and bocks get a respite occasionally, but the halves are expected to intercept and stop any rush by the opposing forwards, and to teed and assist the forwards in any agressiv© movement. Tile Y.M.C.A. forwards are very patchy, Holland and Fildes on the right being the best. The whole line should try and combine better and swing the hall backwards aud forwards across the field. The Christchurch team certainly deserved to win and had their circle work been better there is no doubt thev would have been successful. The absence of Beaton lias been sorely felt by the team. There is not his equal in the front line. Barwick, on tbo right, put in some nippy runs and centred well on several occasions, but Williams’s' shooting waa very poor. Sinclair worked hard in the# centre, but without much luck. Keys was the mainstay of the half line, 'out the strength of the defence was found' :n Martin, who is clever and safe and clears well up the field. SELWYN (2) v. SYDENHAM (0). The match at Lancaster Park was j productive of some fine hockey, especially by Selwyn, who showed a marked superiority in every department of the game. In fact there was no comparison 111 the play by the two teams. As far as. Selwyn were concerned every member of the team can tie said to have ployed well, though Cdampness had a tendency to get off-side Otherwise his game wag very fair, and will improve as he becomes accustomed to the play of the line. The Sydenham forward ime has undergone too many manges to be able to play good hockey and moreover their half line >s not strong. Roscce is perhaps the best known player in tho line but be i? not sc quick or accurate

Berry and Skelton played fairly well at back but did not clear the ball away as quickly thev might have done. Snooks played a fine game in goal, although he "was tricked a couple of times. TECHNICAL (4) v. ADDINGTON <!}. Tin game between Technical and Addington may be described as a match bet wen youth and science*, ending in a. victory for the former. Addington were one man short for the first half of the game, a. factor which weakened the defence. Technical forwards put plenty of energy into their game and are improving rapidly. A great factor towards their success was their unselfishness, very little individual play being attempted. Barwick played better than previously and centred without losing his position. Stecre and Turner put Hi more fine efforts, more, especially in tho circle. In the half tine Pearce stood out as the most energetic, but lie apt to spoil his mate’s play in his anxiety to make good. Morris was easily the best of the backs and is improving steadily. The absence of one of the backs made Morten’s gome a hard one in Addington back division, and had it not been for Lust oil’s assistant:#* the score would have been a large oiw-. Sepie was absent from the T1&1? line and Anderson was the best oi the three, although Snell was veCy fairRix was the. only forward worth mentioning and he played a very fair game. The Addington team should cut out the habit they appear to have of offering advice to the referee, and concentre&e the whole of their upon their game.

iiatcie?. Goals. P. W. D. L. F. A Fts. Selwyn - .220 0 4-0 3 Christchurch .5 1 2 0 7 52 Sydenham .3111 S 71* Y.M.C.A. . ; 2 l 1 0 1 0 1* Addington .2 031 6 93 Technical ,3102 < 71 Cranford . 2 002 1 50