HOCKEY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17879, 22 June 1926, Page 3

HOCKEY

NOTES AND COMMENTS

The result of Saturday's round of matches leaves Selwyn two points ahead of Technical and Varsity, who have plaved one game less. St AJbails arc half a point behind these two and Sydenham have gathered only half a point. Few supporters of Selwyn expected them to win by a margin of seven, as Sydenham had a much strengthened team. The winners were an improved team , and their teamwork was largely responsible for victory. Sydenham plaved well, but lacked the combination 'of the winners. The ground at Lancaster Park was in very poor order. Varsity had a reshuffle and effected a surprise by drawing with St Albans, who have improved greatly in their la-t few matches. SELWYN (B*)* v. ‘SYDENHAM (1). Selwyn had a day out against Sydenham. running up eight goals to their opponents’ one. In putting up the biggest score in the senior competition this season Selwyn gave one of the best displays seen at Lancaster Park this year. The combination was excellent, and it is evident that they have learned a lot from the touring Indian Army team. The ground was in poor order, being greasy and bumpy. 55 »•; The Selwyn forward line worked like a machine. S. Bell, at centre, was, as usual, the general of the line, and he had a day out with his shooting. Some of his shots gave Snooks no chance. D. Bell played his best game to date. Ilis following in was good and he was clever in the open. J. Squire showed all his old form as a left winger, and put in some good shots. W. Richmond, on the right wing, got through a lot of work in good style. Ilis following in was good. P. Richmond, at inside right, displayed plenty of dash and gave a steady exhibition. The Selwyn halves were not overburdened with defensive work, but they proved a good attacking • force. 11. Here was his usual clever self and his recovering was brilliant. Never flustered, he always placed the ball to the best advantage. F. Squire was not overburdened with work. C. llore, on the right, took things quietly and his game improved in consequence. He is a player who should go far if he is properly taught, and he is in a team in which to learn the fine points of the game. Mahoney and Grose made a fine pair of backs. Mahoney's tendency to dribble may his side into trouble if over-indulged in, but except for this his display was faultless.

Grose is a player with a wonderful eye and a good pair of wrists. His “ speculators ” usually came off and he flyhits the ball with amazing certainty. Robb, in goal, had little to do. The Sydenham forwards, if they possessed combination, soon lost it when they struck the Selwyn backs. R. Sheriffs was the best of the line, and he made some good runs. 55 j 5 I) Ward was the best of the half line, though he had too much to do. Dash was outplayed, though he was a worker all the time. 55 55 55 Macdonald, got through a hard afternoon's work with credit. Tie used his reach and pac eto advantage. Skelton was back in his old place, but he was playing his first gaffie this season, and j did not show up very much. 25 K 55 i Snooks was well peppered, and he j brought off some good scores. The Sel- j wyn forwards gave him little respite and scored several times off the re- 1 bound. u ST AI»BANS (1> v. VARSITY Cl). fi r It was fully expected that St Albans , rould defeat Varsity, and they were j 02 at her unlucky in not notching an- ; jthcr goal as they had several chances. Varsity re-shuffled their team, Ford play mg centre and Cameron playing on the left wing. Ford was the best of the line and with Holland led the team well. He showed a lot of dash, but Soper often proved too much for him. 55 55 55 Hill was the best of a poor half lino, lie was not very impressive. J. H. Williamson went back to the halves, but his display was little better than his work in the forwards, though he showed a good deal of energv, 55 Xewton and Loney made an efficient pair of backs and the former cleared well. Mackie.saved some hpt ones, though j he made a weak attempt to stop the one that beat him. 55 55 55 Soper was easily, the best of the St Albans team. He held up the ing fofwards well and his relieving hits were well placed. :5 S Moore was steady and backed up his partner well. Luxton. in goa>, showed good judgment in coming out, though he had little to do otherwise, a re Small played a good game at right ha'?, though the opposition was not «trj strong. 55 m 55 S. Graham and Lucas completed the trio of quiet but effective halves. The latter was not up to his usual standard, but he gave a useful dispUy‘ x Brown was the outstanding forward, and he made some useful runs. His control of the ball could be imitated t,v d good few senior ptayerr. 55 55 55 IT. Ilale, despite a tendency to wander, gave a good display on the left wing and his goal was a good effort, :: Ouartermain was off" Ins game and gave a poor display. Adams, who

filled a gap, did well, except for a tendency to one-handed plav. 55 55 55 INDIAN ARMY TEAM. The trip to Dunedin of the Indian Army team has resulted in their adding two more scalps to their belt, and to-day they should have little difficulty in running up a fair score against South Canterbury. The Geraldine team provided little 1 more than a practice match for the visitors and the team would not extend a local senior eleven. The local association lacked nothing in their treatment of the visitors, who were made honorary members of the association and presented with silver badges while at a Queen-crowning ceremony. Captain Cowan was created a Duke, together with his brother officers. The officers were also treated to a hare drive, and ninety-four hares were secured. 55 55 55 The Dunedin game was a fine exhibition of hockey-. The ground was in poor order, sand having to be laid and rollers put over the ground before the match. The Otago players put up a strenuous defence, but were often beaten by the cleverness and tactics of the visitors. Ireland and Barrett were a great pair of backs, while Butler, at centre half, was in great form and a hard grafter ail the time. The wing halves were not up to the tricks of the visitors. Edson was the pick of the home forwards in the first spell, and Johnston and Mayston also did well in the second, when they' adopted the tactics of the Army team. Woodfield was rarely in the picture and his Style was too vigorous to succeed against the visitors. 55 55 55 Francis was outstanding in the Army team. Ilis play was brilliant and he always passed to advantage. Captain Cowan shared the honours with the centre half and played one of his best games to date. Kishan Singh was the better of the backs, the ground not suiting Dhian Singh. 55 55 55 Diancband was evidently nursing himself, though he participated in some pretty passing. After the match it was found that his ankle required bandaging. 55 55 35 Captain Cox was excellent in his circle work and scored one goal from a spot a foot from the goal line and near the circle. 55 X 55 NOTES. The selection of the eleven to repre sent New Zealand in the first test against the Indian Army on Saturday is a difficult matter and any member of the fourteen picked to assemble mayget a place. The writer selects the following:—Goal, S. Fletcher (Waikato) ; J. Soper (Canterbury), K. Perrin (Wellington), A. Mahoney (Canterbury), 11. 11 ore (Canterbury, E. M'Leod (Auckland), E. Burton (Auckland). E. and C. Watts (Auckland), S. Bell (Canterbury), and N. Jacobsen (Wellington).