HOCKEY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2596, 2 September 1909, Page 6

HOCKEY.

(Notes by “Circle.”)

Hcckey for the season practically concluded with last Thursday’s match, when West End, by beating City, again proved themselves the premier club of the district. These two clubs have been running neck and neck throughout the competition, and, of course, both went out to win the championship on Thursday, and in consequence a very strenuous game resulted, tho opening and concluding stages being very willing. West End thoroughly deserved their win, and, but for the slowness of several of their forwards in backing up in several rushes, they would probably have increased their total. City seemed to be nervous and completely at sea, only occasionally showing anything like, the usual combination of their forwards. - , '

Taken all through, however it was a very poor exhibition of hockey, tlie eagerness of both teams to win spoiling the play. Tlie ground (No. 2) was utterly unfit for hockey and in close proximity to the western circle were several large sand holes, where the ball would become occasionally lost for- a time. It would be a good thing for tlie Association to ask the Rugby Union to at once try and improve the ground so that it may be better next season. West End’s skipper, “Sailor Roderick,” easily stood out’ from the rest of bis team and played his best game. His passing and accurate hitting was very effective. He was ably seconded by “Gin” Pirie and “Scotty“ MacLachlan, who both showed good form, although the latter was inclined to roam a bit too muchri Ralph Morse, considering he has only played a few times, also played a good game, and was always in the right place. McLean and Coleman, the two players transferredfrom the Kia liana Club took the field witli the West End team. The former was evidently out of his position playing centre-half, hut nevertheless gave a good display. Coleman was good on the line ,and when lie didn’t give “sticks” was pretty safe. In the concluding part of the game, however, he had to retire, after being cautioned by the referee for his rough and dangerous play. There is no doubt Jack is a dangerous man with’his stick, and is pretty reckless when hitting amongst a crowd and doesnt’ always aim for the hall, as. I noticed. Sim-, Olsen and Burke were not worked very hard, and usually managed to keep the City forwards out of their twenty-five. Amongst the City team all worked hard to gain the coveted honor, but the odds were too great against them. It would be unfair to say one worked harder than another, but they utterly failed to initiate any attacking movements, and only rarely managed to get into a scoring position. The goal they notched, however, was tlie result of a fine passing run among the forwards. Armstrong, as usual, played a good solid game, his defence being particularly sound. Fox was too slow, in such a fast game, in getting rid of the ball, with the result that he was usually beaten for it. Bull played a rattling game at full-back. This player has improved this season perhaps more than any other, and with a bit better stick work will make a first-class fullback. Jimmy Doyle was. not up to his usual form and Joe Martin was also defective. He wanted to do too much, and in endeavoring to do this left his position between the posts and gave the opposing forwards a clear shoot. On the day’s play, West. End certainly deserved their win, but in the interests of the game in this district it would, no doubt, have been much better if they had taken the field with ;a team made up of old members of the club, and had omitted the two most recent,, additions to their ranks, w r ho became members at the eleventh hour, owing to the defection of the Kia Kalia Club. ' "V

Now that the competition has concluded a review may be made of the season and the play. It is to be regretted that what gave promise of being a most successful season has not shown ■good results. It has witnesed the defection of one of the oldest clubs, and a good deal of bitterness and an unnecessary amount of antagonism have been' caused by the passing of two of the late Club’s players to another team in the last round. To obviate this difficulty and others in the future, -which are caused mainly through the Association not having adopted any rules for thb conduct of its affairs, I should advise the Association, instead of leaving unil the commencement of another season,- to proceed immediately .and formulate its rules. Another thing That is necessary is to provide players with rules of the game.; ; There , has , been such a number of alterations brought out lately that players are to.a great extent ignorant of. them, and in consequences do not understand the. reason of many of the referee’s decisions! It is rumpred that several prominent players are giving up the game and do not intend to take part next-year. It is to he ’hoped they will change their minds, as there has been/ eifSiign disruption already. On considering the standard of play rone must confess that it is showing no improvement. Playj ers do not seem to endeavor to bring into practice any of the finer points, of the game. All their energies seem td be devoted to th© sole purpose of scor- , mg. a win,' and when successful imagine they, .have nothing-.to learn.. A .viAit of., some of the larger associations’, teams would, show, them how far short they are in their knowledge of what the game of hockey really is. ! i No definite information having been, received as to when, the Hawke’s Bay reps, are'coming here I think it would be advisable for the local Association, in the meantime to get together its; team so that players may h.ayd.an opportunity of practising, togethey. The! Auckland trip will fall through I think,; but if .there; are sufficient' players anxious to make the trip it would be advisable to send them, but I hold out no hopes of this district’s reps, beating theNortherners, although as in Rugby: thev would. pot disgrace themselves. > | Civil Servants’ team is expected to leave for Napier on Sunday to play the j Napier Civil Servants, and I wish them success in ’ their game against the Hawke’s Bay crack team. - .

TO-DAY’S MATCHES. The following, teams have been chosen to take part in a practice match this afternoon, in view, of the forthcoming representative match between Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay:—Burke, Garrett, Bud. Olren. 'Hargraves. "Payne.; R"dorick. Day. Grinlint-on. Pine and Pollock: versus Pettie, Doyle, . McLean, Simms. Armstrong, Grant. Ellison, Friar. Davey. Corbett...and McLachlan Errercreheies, Conner, Pine. Dayev, and., Au’d g Ro-oi. R-rW. a”d Coleman. The G’>borne Ladies’ Hockey Club’s team to play Buehmere .this afternoon j

will be: E. Fromm (capt.), N. Smith, C. Walters, V. Walters, E. Black, . Moorep L. Robertson, E. Wallace, A. Hird, B. Osborne, and M. Winter. Mr Olsen will act as referee. WANGANUI AND SOUTHLAND PLAY A DRAW. [Per Press Association.! INVERCARGILL, Sept. 1. The first representative hockey match between Wanganui and Southland was played here this afternoon, and_ resulted in a draw, with one goal each. About 500 spectators were present. The ground was somewhat heavy, and the Weather occasionally drizzly, though not at all unpleasant. The game was largely a contest betweon the Southland forwards and the Wanganui backs, the Southlanders being good in the field but ineffective in the circle.