Hockey and its Players

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16782, 11 July 1922, Page 2

Hockey and its Players

Notes by “Centre-Half”

Fine weather but very rough grounds were the conditions on Saturday last. Cranford again defaulted to Christchurch. but 7 fear that there is a possibility of their turning out again. Y.M.C-A., is the only team that has met Cranfdrd in the second round, but the two teams have yet to meet to decide tho match that was missed in the first round. It is quit© * possible that Y.M.C.A. will be awarded the match without playing, but no action has been taken in tbe matter; Following arc the positions of the senior teams: Goals.

YM.C.A. (3) v. SYDENHAM (2). The rough state of the ground at Hagley Park militated against good hockey. The game was very patchy, but there were glimpses of brilliant individual work. No doubt Y.M.C.A. deserved their win. but. Sydenham were unfortunate in being without t urnings in the forwards .and Duffield in the halves. S. French replaced the latter but evidently lie is not at homo in the half lineT. Butterfield occupied the right wing, with Sheriffs inside. Tho latter was responsible for-some fine solo work, his goal being a brilliant, effort. Taylor and Mather were very fair, but have been seen to better advantage. Tli© half line. Pascoe, O’. Butterfield and French, were kept busy, as tbe M.C.A forwards showed plenty of pace. Neither Skelton nor Gav was at his best, and tho bumpy ground mad© clean fielding difficult. Franklin was missing from the M.C.A- front rank, as the injury he received at TLmaru is still troubling him. Farrell filled the gap, and gave a very fair exhibition. Bnsoand was out again in tbe halves, nnd, although very sound, he has not regained his fbrm of some years ago. Ford, on the left wing, is improving, and is very fast, and will make a useful left winger. Holland and Faulkner also showed improved form, and combined better than previously. and Dickson put up a solid defence in the backs, the former evidently having found a congenial positionSELWYN (o) v. TECHNICAL CI V . Selwyn again proved their superiority on Saturday bv easily defeating Technical. After tli© draw in the first round Technical were expected to make a close game, but from the commencement Selwyn took command, and with the exception of a few brief spells Technical were continually on the defence. Tbe Selwyn worked together

admirably, and were much toe clever tor the Technical back*.

Squire, on the left wing, made some brilliant runs, and t-enrred with a. correctness and precision that was greatly admired. The work of th© three Bells i« well known. W. Richmond played a very fair game on the right wing, but is not so clever with his stick as Squire. The half-line was one short, as Down had to go off shortly after the game started owing to hack trouble. Morris played a sterling game, but wa* frequently penalised for sticks. There were other players equally at fault, but they were very seldom brought to book. Both Grose and Hore were sound in the back line, but were uot overworked. especially in the early stages of the game. Line in goal seldom saw the ball. The outstanding player in the Technical team was S. Morris, at left hack, and his fine defence kept the score from mounting into double figures. Hi* only fault is that he is inclined to play the hall a- little too much, and so allow the defence to concentrate and intercept his hit. If his forwards kept further up and he got the hall away emartlv ho would keep the gam© more open, rmd bring the attack nearer to his opponents’ circle. Locke was very fair, hut does not. possess a vast amount of speed. Turner and Pearce were the best of the halves, hut the latter is apt to 4 roam about too much, and also go up to his forwards more than he should. Turner play* a steady game, and although Squire wa4 too fa-tTfor him he accomplished a lot of useful work. JTh© forward lino is the. weakest in the team. Gracie was tbe best, hut he got very few opportunities, a* the inside right. Watters, who, T understand, comes from Timaru, was very poor. He may he strange to his'positon. hut on Saturday’3 play he is far below senior form. V .JOTTINGS. Despite the absence of Auckland players the North Island team for the match on July 29 is a solid one. »Sher* woodland Perrin, the backs, are well known to local players, th© latter being admittedly the best of his day. Jacobsen was in the Hawke’s Bay team that played against Canterbury three years ago, and Heaphy and Hood were tho star pair in the Wellington team that * met Canterbury last yearOnly thirteen players were nominated for the South Island team, so that the local selector forwarded the lot to the other specters, and as no reply has yet been received from them the team is not available for pubbeation. So far only one half-back (Mander) has been nominated, the local selector haring taken the -precaution to ascertain if a player could make the trip before nominating him. This account* for the absence of Morris and Pascoe from the nominations.

W. D. L. For A gal. Pta. Pelwyn . . fi 2 1 21 11 7 Christchurch . .522 30 a o y.M-C.A. . .433 20 10 5'. Sydenham . . 3 3 3 21 15 4* Technical' s . 2 2 5 16 21 3 Cranford . .0 0 8 5 28 0