HOCKEY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2553, 14 July 1909, Page 2

HOCKEY.

(By “Circle.”) Hockey last Thursday was of a very unipti: resting nature owing to the state of the playing field and teams being short of their full complement- oi players. City met Civil Service in the first 'game and were lucky to register a win by one goal to nil. & Civil Service, surprised everyone by their improved play and wore beaten only through their forwards failing to take advantage of many opportunities. Their chief fault was in not backing up an attack. Several times ,a wing-player would got past the City full-backs, and then find he had no one to pass to. Now that the members of this team are getting into proper methods of play I expect to see them “break their duck” in the course •of the next- few games. The Y.M.C.A.-Kia Ivaha match resulted as expected, the “Tigers” winning by 3 goals to one. The poor spirit shown by the members of the Kia Ivaha Club, who have failed to turn up in the last' few matches, apparently because they arc “not in the race,” is to be deplored, especially when the keenness of these players in past seasons is taken into consideration. The “true spor-t” is one who sticks to his club through thick and thin. The matches this week have been postponed owing to the ladies’ clubs requiring the ground for a match against Patutalii. It is to_ be regretted that as only one day more was required to finish the second round that the Association pursued this course. I am sure the following week would have suited the .ladies equally as well, and would have given more time for the men’s selector of the “Possibles and Probables” for rep. honors to make his choice. . ® The action of the Association at its meeting last week in appointing only one selector for the representative team is meeting with a good deal of criticism amongst players, and justly so. One cannot see what has prompted them to take this course, and it would be much more satisfactory to all concerned if the usual method of appointing three selectors had been followed. If the three selectors appointed last year did not give satisfaction, it is hard-, ly to be expected that one of them alone will do so, especially as the gentleman in question has not shown any interest in the game this season, having only by necessity, attended two or threo games so far. In view of the importance of the rep. matches to be played it is necessary that players who have shown by their form this season that they are entitled to a place should not he superseded by players who have gained good reputations in past seasons. Under the circumstances one must expect to see‘the latter predominating. Players will await with much interest the appearance, of the selector’s fancies.

I think it would be wise in the event of only a weak team being able to go to Auckland if the local Association withdrew its challenge for the Shield. It is useless hoping to make any shew against the Auckland representatives with anything hut the best of our /players, and as Auckland ewes a visit to this place it would be. better to wait until they have given us an idea of their play. .However, if a team does go to Auckland I am certain the experience they will gain there will show itself by an improvement in local play, as was exhibited after the return of the last rep.'team that visited Auckland in 1904.