HOCKEY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2529, 16 June 1909, Page 2

HOCKEY.

(By “Circle.”)

The first round of the championship competition concluded on Thursday last, when Y.M.C.A. defeated Civil Service by two goals to nil and the match between West End and City ended in a draw.

It is pleasing to find that there is an increase in the clubs competing this year and a consequent increased interest in the game. The different teams are of a fairly even nature, and it would be impossible to predict with any certainty the ultimate winners, vc this stag*,, however, one is able to see in what state the game is in, and it must be admitted that- it is not showing much improvement. There is a noticeable lack of combination in any of the teams, whilst at the same time there is some splendid individual play. The only team approaching to combination is Y.M.C.A., and Pine, their captain, ih-as evidently inculcated the proper methods into his forwards.

It is useless for any team to hope to be victorious that neglects this most important feature, and still more futile for any representative team to hope for any chance against Auckland in the shield competition. The Auckland players are noted for their superior combination, especially in the forward line.

City • and West End, with forward combination, should prove hard teams to beat, but apparently' the chief objective of the forwards of these teams is to shine individtially and bv hard hitting towards their opponents’ <roal. There is not a team, perhaps excepting the Y.M.C.A., that _ makes any pretenco of using their wing forwards or of gaining an advantage by short passes across the field. The lack of combination amongst the forwards loses many chances of scoring, and time and again one sees a team surrounding an opponents' goal but no score resulting, simply because each mau Is trying to score -himself and imagines his sole duty is to “biff,” when a pass right across to either side would be more profitable. This causes me to look for the reason and to consider the question of “shooting.” So far, a good wing-forward player or even a fail* “shooter,” has not developed in any of the teams, and this is where our representatives will find their weakness when meeting outside teams. Every forward line should have a “shooter,” one who “ deputed to receive passes in the circle from any quarter and one to whom the other players should always pass, and then, if he cannot get his shot at goal in, he passes on to one who can. Another bad failing amongst the forwards of all teams, except West End .is off-side play. I am sure some of the offenders in this respect are not fully acquainted with the rules. I would advise them to be carefully studied. An off-side player is a hindrance to his team, and spoils many likely rushes, and upsets any combination the other forwards may have attained for the time being. Some players imagine it is good play to try* and gain an advantage by off-

side play on the chance that they will escape the referee’s notice, but for perhaps one such advantage they spoil many other opportunities. These few defects that I have pointed out are not all, buff it is to be hoped that -what I have written -about them, will bo of benefit generally. Later on I shall have a few words to say about the of the bac J k division of the different teams.