HOCKEY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18469, 22 May 1928, Page 14

HOCKEY

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Record scores for the season were registered in two of the senior games on Saturday when the fifth round was played. Sydenham and Selwyn, neither of whom has suffered defeat this season, were against the two weakest teams in the competition, hence their large totals. St Albans’ bad luck reached a climax when H. Hale sustained a broken leg as a result of a collision with another player of his own side. The mishap was purely accidental and in no wise due to rough play. Hale is one of the oldest players in the competitions, commencing his hockey in the Avon Club after which he played for East Belt, Cranford and St Albans. Always reliable Hale was a steady, clean player and while never up to interprovincial form was very useful as a left wing. Inquiries made at the Hospital this morning showed that Hale was progressing favourably. j.j The result of the Sydenham v. St Albans and Selwyn v. Trinity matches being certain, interest centred in the Varsity v. Technical B match which proved to be fast and willing, although neither side §howed scientific hockey. Varsity were again handicapped by the absence of M. Newton and W. Houston for the second time played a man short. :: :: SYDENHAM (10) v. ST ALBANS (1). Sydenham appear to have settled down in earnest and their play on Saturday was of a high standard. The youthful front line is maintaining a high standard of efficiency and with a little improvement in short nippy passes they will be hard to beat. W. Rushbridge is showing splendid form and has adopted the practice of following in that makes him invaluable as a scoring asset. R. Sherriffs, who is under transfer to Invercargill this week, was out for his last match and his place will be hard to fill. Sherfiffs has represented Canterbury on several occasions and always has been a valuable member of the Sydenham Club to which he has belonged throughout his hockey career. In addition to Rushbridge, Sydenham have promising front rankers in N. Spiers and E. Langridge. The lastnamed is playing his first year in senior hockey, while Langridge played one or two games last season. Spiers is a hard worker but has not yet achieved the tricky stick play of Stan Bell. In the half-line, J. Anderson is a fine example to the two young players, S. Wells and T. Upton. Anderson obtains the most advantage with the slightest effort, mainly by anticipation M. M’Donald is a safe back, with

plenty of reach, and a speed that enables him to cover the ground easily St. Albans were again forced to call upon their younger players, and while the older members of the team—W. Williamson, P. Quartermain and G. Graham—work hard, it is impossible to secure anything like combination when there is never the same eleven out twice in succession. In Ham’lton, St. Albans possess a back of more than outstanding ability. He is only a young player, but he nas speed and enthusiasm, and is a solid defensive player. His only weakness, perhaps, is his habit of hitting too hard. x TECHNICAL B (2) v. VARSITY (0). Plenty of pace and hard play made this game interesting, as the issue was ever in doubt. Up and down, backwards and forwards, went the play, and no score was registered during the first spell. The winners should congratulate themselves upon the fact that Varsity were one short, as otherwise theje might well have been a different result. As it was, there was little to choose. H. Archer, who suffered a slight strain a week or two back, played in goal for the winners, and was an improvement on Ilarvey. R. Wear was fairly safe in the back division. L. Notts, E. Bastion and V. Hahn were the pick of the forward line, which is lacking in the finer points of stick play, especially in the circle. In the Varsity team, the work of the goalkeeper, 11. Mackie, stood out above the average. The forward line makes the mistake of concentrating the attack in the centre instead of passing the ball out to the wings. There is little to complain of in the work of the halves, and N. Loney, at left back, is playing better this season, as he is more certain in his clearing shots. SELWYN (9) v. TRINITY (1). The weakness of the opposition can detract nothing from the merit of Selwyn’s big win against Trinity. The whole side gave an exhibition of team work that was worth going a long way to see. There were one or two weak links in the combination, but these did not affect the general merit of Selwyn’s play. Any young player who carefully watched the unselfish game played by S. Bell and Co. in the forwards or the general excellence of the back division could not have failed to profit. Selwyn's attack was the most promi-

nent feature of their play, firstly because they held the initiative for a large part of the game, and secondly by the well-judged short passing which the whole line indulged in. S. Bell and B. Morris were in fine form and if Bell is a little the cleverer of the two Morris is more dashing. Each was absolutely unselfish and passed with rare judgment. J. Squire on the left wing had plentv of opportunities and made good use of them. He was not worried by the opposing half and made good use of his pace. W- Richmond is not a spectacular player but at inside right he fitted into the line and made the most of his chances. H., Hore at left half, was as graceful and clean as usual. He is a pretty player to watch and his sureness allows him to do things few other halves would risk. On. Saturday he secured the ball at the twenty-five, and instead of passing to the left wing, who was well marked, made a quick dash into the circle and scored with a shot placed just out of the goalie's reach. Hore is still in the developing stage, but if he continues fulfilling his early promise he will be a topnotcher. A Mahoney is very solid on defence though a tendency to go too far may get him into trouble against a fast set of forwards.

One thing may be placed to Trinity’s credit—-they were always a team, and they did not let the game become a rout. Outclassed they certainly were, but they were still battling at the finish. One or two of the players showed a tendency to play wildly, but the team generally were going better at the end of the game than at any previous period. Compared with Selwyn the forwards were poor with too much hitting to the opposing backs. The weakness on the wings was still apparent. R. Colling battled hard and scored one beauty from a free hit. The forwards bunched too much and did not keep position, while the wings were weak in fielding the ball. The half line buckled badly. . Neither of the wing halves chased the opposing wingers enough and allowed them to get away too much. R. Burbery was tried on the left and showed flashes of good play. R. Davis, at right, wandered too much and allowed Squire to get away too frequently. C. Rogers, at centre, had a hard job and though the opposing insides were too good he was battling all through and was solid in defence. F. Berham was not suited by the hard, fast ground, but H. Norris did well against more experienced players. » X « Representative Team. ' The selector’s team to play against Nelson on Saturday was submitted and approved last evening, and little- fault can be found with his choice. In H. Snooks, A. Mahoney and M. M’Donald the selector has provided an excellent defence and all three have had experience in big matches. In the half line both B. Morris and 11. Hore have had international experience, and B. Rogers played his first interprovincial fixture against the Indian Army team. The forward line calls for some brief comment as .the selector has put L. Coffey in the left wing position in front of J. Squire and 11. Ford, both of whom are speedy and used to the position Coffey has usually played inside, but is playing well with Teague and is a clever stick, player, so that the selector’s experiment may prove a success. R. Sheriffs, as right wing, S. Bell and W. Rushbridge are well worthy of inclusion and need no comment Taking into consideration that the match is a friendly one and not a shield fixture, it was suggested that a colts’ team should be selected, but as the selector received no instructions he selected the best team possible. In connection with the matches at Ashburton on June 4, the South Canterbury Association will provide two teams, Geraldine one and possibly Ashburton one, so that there will be four

teams required from Canterbury. In view of there being a likelihood of a team travelling to Auckland for the Junior Cup it has been suggested that a junior representative team be selected prior to June 4 so that the team can be tried out together. Players able to make the trip to Ashburton are requested to hand in their names at the Sports Depot as soon as possible. x x JOTTINGS. The question of financial assistance to H. Hale, who sustained a broken leg last Saturday, was discussed at the meeting of the Management Committee last night, and those desirous of contributing are requested to forward •donations to the secretary, J. H. Williamson, Hereford Street. “It is more blessed to give than to receive”—forwards could very well adopt that text for a watchword. Selwyn showed it on Saturday, when they tossed the ball about in fine style to score nine goals against Trinity. Many players seem to think that if they pass the ball in the general direction of a man they have done well. Selwyn did better than that; they passed to a team mate’s stick in such a way that he could not fail to take the ball cleanly and without waste of time. THE NEW MENAGE. FRIENDSHIP IN MARRIAGE. “ Jane is up in town for a couple of days and I am taking her to dine at Taglione’s on Tuesday evening.” Thus modern Eve, and her husband replies: “How amusing! Tuesday is the night I have fixed for a jaunt with George and Peter, and w*e had thought of Taglione’s also. I shall see you there! ’* Shades of our forefathers! Could such a conversation, conducted with the greatest of friendliness on either Side, have occurred, in any year other than this one of grace 1928? This particular Eve and her husband are the most truly devoted of couples. 1 say “ truly ” advisedly, for the devotion is not a matter of lip-service, but a very real thing, based upon complete understanding as well as on mutual affection. But long, long ago, even before their marriage, they decided that it was both difficult and dangerous for husbands and wives to share friends uni eservealy. Mutual friend.s usually find the venture a perilous one, and why should married couples be any more successful ? The “ Two’s company, three's none” adage holds good’ equally in their case, and the triangular meeting often ends in nothingness with them as with others. Married iclk who recognise th ; s fact, and act accordingly, are surely avoiding a dangerous rock in the ocean of matrimony. So far from showing detachment, a conversation like that quoted above testifies to a complete and sane understanding of what constitutes friendship, both within and without the marriage bond. Happy the couple that can achieve so complete an understanding.