HOCKEY

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 24 July 1913, Page 24

HOCKEY

(By

RIGHT WING).

Alter getting through the first , round without interruption, the association found it necessary to postpone the opening matches of the next round, set down to take place last Saturday, on account of the inclement weather. It would have been impossible to play the matches, notwithstanding that time is limited, so the association acted wisely in cancellingall engagements. * * ♦ *

The senior grade has been divided into two sections, and the four leading teams will meet each other twice in the A section. The B division will only consist of one additional round, as five teams are engaged, and it will finish one week sooner than the two rounds in the A section. * .

Auckland lead by two points from University, but it is quite likely that some more surprises will occur. The other teams in the A section are Areta and Mt. Eden, and although Areta have not been successful against University or Auckland, they cannot be reckoned too lightly.

During the first round of the premiership matches the exhibition of hockey did not attain that high standard of. excellence of former years, and it was not until the closing stages of the round that an appreciable improvement was noticeable and that the spectators were'roused to a glow of enthusiasm. The programme of matches, whether by design or ballot, did not bring the stronger teams together until recently, and, therefore, there was very. little need for the champions .in prospective to utilise their abilities to the fullest extent in order to gain victories. When the toughest propositions did eventuate the clubs' suffered to some. extent on account of prominent players being on the sick list. University were -without the services of Reynolds in a couple of matches, and in the most important of all he was a spectator. Mt. Eden ‘ had ’ Alexander and Bartlett away, Areta lost Thomas and McDeod for a match, while Auckland missed the services of Baker.

The state of the grounds has been in no small measure responsible for the indifferent expositions of hockey, /..and it was a great pity that the association was unable to get the grounds in order. When the season commenced, however, this was as the turf was too hard after the long summer’s sun, and' when the rain did come it was not considered advisable to entail the expense of cutting and rolling on account of the horses grazing upon it. The cutting of the grass prior to the match between Auckland and University, made a wonderful difference, and the hockey was more satisfactory. The forward and half lines suffered most-on account of the indifferent grounds. In these two lines stickwork is essential, and players are expected to control the ball at top speed, but this could not be accomplished under the existing circumstances. For instance, a pass is sent to a forward on the move, the pace of the ball is diminished by the long grass, and the player overruns the ball or a rut changes the flight and the work is undone; Besides there Is another phase. After losing control of the sphere, the players make efforts to retrieve their position, and a scrimmage ensues which is frequently; the result of the many accidents reported this year. Apart from the ground the forward play has not been up to the mark.

Circle work suffers in comparison with former season’s doings, and hardly a senior forward can be summed up as a first-class shot. I don’t mean that the ball has not been hit hard enough, but there are very few forwards who can shoot without sparring first for position. At the present time Reynolds and Barry are about the only pair that can let blaze at any moment. The former

is the more accurate, Barry being rather reckless, although the force is tip-top. Forwards of the type of Fletcher, Collman, King, Moginie, Mahony, Alexander, Smythe and others have notched clinking goals, but usually when the ball has come just as desired. On the other hand, numbers of opportunities were lost owing to the preliminaries required before the final effort.

It may be argued that passing in the circle is a common feature in England, but sparring for a - shot, unless the forward is as tricky as Smythe and the ground smooth, is a different mattei- entirely. Of course, the shootist is not always to blame as he takes up his position in eager anticipation of the ball being sent to him accurately, but direction is often wanting. Wing forwards, too, have their faults, and perhaps the most conspicuous is hanging on to the ball too long before centring. Moore and Jacobsen err in this respect, while Drower is inclined to be the reverse. At present, take the

two older vanguards, Auckland and University, and compare them with Areta and Mt. Eden. We find that the dashing and bustling methods of the latter two counted for nearly as much as the more methodical movements of Auckland and University. Again the grounds come into the question, and this state of things will continue so long as players are unable to control the ball. The association has now the matter in hand, and with the advent of better conditions the fast dashing forwards of the younger generation will soon develop the branch so necessary to once again place Auckland upon that high pedestal which was held for so many years.

At present only three forwards catch the eye for representative honours, and the selectors will have some food for reflection in filling the two vacancies. The half lines are not so much to blame for the present state of affairs. They contain plenty of material of the right quality. Certainly some of them have looked ■cheap at times owing to the antics of the ball upsetting their calculations, but put them on a smooth ground and there will not be any cause for complaint. When it comes to selecting the rep. team, Auckland should be well represented by a formidable trio.

The full-backs have had all the honour and glory up to the present

stage, and I doubt if there is another association with such a promising lot. The performances of the pairs in the four leading teams have been of a high order, while Jacobsen and Farquharson have shown splendid form. Out of the nine or ten goalkeepers taking part in the competitions, the form displayed has been varied. Allen leads the way, and at present his only debits are two goals, and the selectors need not lose much sleep over this position.

A brief glance through the performances of the juniors shows that the future of Auckland is rather promising. Training College conduct their play on orthodox methods, with just a shade of individuality at times. Kiatere endeavour to work on scientific lines, but are hardly capable of carrying it out. A lot of good work is spoiled‘on account of the forwards handling the ball. This remark also applies to Tui, and Auckland. The Tui backs are a solid lot, and do not spare the wood, 'while they are clever speculators. Auckland are

a greatly improved team, and possess a couple of players of more than ordinary ability. St. James, too, are a bustling lot, and with the exception of two or three are not too scientific.

I have only seen University perform on one occasion, arid they accomplished some clever work, both in the forwards and backs. Three players, whose names I did not ascertain, played like veterans, and the pass back is seldom seen in senior hockey.

The country} week comes to an end on Saturday. Six teams are competing, and some exciting matches should be witnessed towards the end of the week. The competing teams for the White Horse Cup are, Rodney (holders), Cambridge, Rotorua, Waipa and Whangarei.

Wairarapa successfully defended the Norden Cup against Nelson, winning by three goals to nil.

It is rumoured that a Southern representative fullback is now in Auckland, and will don the jersey for one of the Auckland teams.

The first match of the season for possession of the New Zealand Hockey Association Challenge Shield, or rather the “ashes” as the furniture was destroyed by fire some time ago, takes place next Saturday, July 26.

Hawke’s Bay are the challengers, and as a rule fully extend Wellington. Southland are next on the list, and make their final attempt at shield lifting, the match being set down for August 9.

Otago are due in Wellington at the end of the month.

After the invasion of the South Island teams nearly a month elapses before the Auckland team will be given an opportunity to make another attempt to lift the trophy.

The Southland men’s hockey repre-

sentative team has been selected since July 9, and has been putting in some training work in view of a Northern tour (writes our Invercargill correspondent). The combination leaves Invercargill on August 6 and in turn play at Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch and Timaru. The male hockeyites in Southland have not been as active as would have been, wished during the past two seasons, but the ladies have kept the flag, flying in an enthusiastic manner. In. addition to running several intejresting competitions,' the fair sex have just managed a very successful carnival, the proceeds of which will be mainly devoted to sending a representative team to Wanganui to take part in the annual tournament of the New Zealand Hockey Association. Therewas some disappointment here when it was decided to hold the big ladies’ fixture in Wanganui instead of Auckland.