HOCKEY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3551, 15 June 1912, Page 9

HOCKEY.

The game Civil A versus West End last Saturday, proved an interesting struggle. Civils were unfortunate in having only 11 men on the field. They played a hard game and were unlucky in not scoring a win. Thenforwards played well together, and passed with judgment. * * * Hutton showed out prominently, initiating many a passing rush, and with Auld and Goer gave ihe Wo.-t End backs a. busy time. Maher and Mcißride alec- worked hard, and ably assisted the ether forwards. Robinson shaped well at half, buz should learn to roll in better. Turei, I think, would do better in the forwards, as he has plenty cV dash. He must remember, though, not to handle the man. * * » Hudson played a fine -defensive game, and I was pleased io note he nad profited by my remarks-Tact week by getting rid of the ball. * * # Port also did good work as fullback, clearing well in many instances. * * - Stevens played a fine gams in goal. He stopped a number of hard shots, and used his feet well. He must be careful and not come out of his place, though, unless the "case calls for it. This player stands a capital chance for rep. honors. ■if 9r West End placed a good team in the field, but their forwards, although good individually, lacked that- cohesion so necessary in pushing their attacks home. •* * * J. Roderick made his first appearance this season, and playe-i a hard bustling game. He is inclined to obstruct a good deal. * * x Redgrave shewed out prominently on the wing, and centred well. * •* *• McLisky was inclined to lose* his head when in the circle, otherwise Replayed a hard forward game. * * * Burns shaped poorly at half- He must not hit- the ball across his own goal. * ■* Price did good service, particularly in the second half, effecting many clearances. •* * * Sim was always there when wanted, and stopped many a determined rush. *• * * Olsen hit well. He was lucky with his speculating. Try and use your pads in stopping, Olsen. It may often help you when stemming a vigorous attack. Simile is improving with each match. In the second half he played particularly tcjsll, clearing to his-v-ings with hard, troll directed shot*.

Civil B. and Mercantile met on theHigh School ground. This ground was not prepared, and from what I can gather a scrambling game resulted in an easy win for Mercantile. Civil B' only had seven men on the field. It is to he hoped this ground will be in order next match. * * * The ladies’ match, Kowhai S-« 5 High School ended in an easy wir. for the latter. High School had a strong team. whereas Ivowhai had poor backs- * * « The Ivowhai forward line worked hard, and strove strenuously to score but were checked time and again by the High School back division. * * * M. Winter had a large amount of work to do. She acquitted herself very creditably, but should centre sooner. * * -KM. Malcolm played her usual hard game, as also did G. A\ arren, who dkl not get enough to do. She shouNt receive more attention from her backs. * * * M. Reddeii was the only back to show to advantage; with her fine hitting slie repulsed many a High School attack. • * * The other backs should practice stopping a. ball first, before hitting, and should get- out of the habit of hitting across their own goal-, which they frequently did on Saturday.

The High School forward line all played well. Still, a little more passing would not do any harm. * * * B. Butterfield played a fine heady game, passing with sharp strokes. This player null have to be considered when selecting the reps- * * * M. Fairlie played a brilliant game on the wing. She is apt, through overeagerness, to get off side in her opponents’ circle. * * # O. Batev also played a brilliant game as right wing. Her goal, was tho result of a fine effort. She is another player who is knocking at the rep. d00r.,, * * * M. Bull and M. McLeod both did their work well, as also did H. Camming. * * * Lily Fanning got through a large amount of work as back, and stopped rushes in determined style. * * * D. Keiha and N. Gallagher did not have much to do- I would like to see these two have more work to do, so that their capabilities as defensive players would he thoroughly tested. * * * I notice that the match, Poverty Bay versus Manawatu, for the Nordon Cup, has been set down for the first week in July, and that a number of players have been chosen to go into practice pending definite word when the final selection will be made. It is to be hoped that the players selected will train on systematic lines, so that each one will he fit on the day of the match. I sincerely hope,;that the best team procurable will be able to make the trip, which will take a week. It would certainly be a boom to local hockey if the team was successful, and providing the best men get away they have every chance, as mis season we can place in the field one of the finest elevens the Bay has ever produced. * * * A word of praise is due to the Referees’ Association for the able manner in which they are assisting the game by providing referees for all matches. Great credit is due to Mr. Sinel, the secretary, for his enthusiasm in working up the Association. May it flourish. * * * According to the Press the committee who are endeavoring t-o raise funds to assist ths ladies rep. team to visit Auckland, are doing good work, and all hockey players should make it a point to attend the functions arranged by the committee. Success can only be assured by the cooperation of all players and sports. I am certain that if the ladies’ team does visit Auckland, it will prove its worth, and patrons who assisted to send them will not grudge the aid they gave.

HINTS TO NEW PLAYERS. Seeing tliat so many new players are taking the field this season I think they might derive some help. from the following notes on each position in the eleven. Perhaps the older players will also apreciate my’ efforts to instruct:— Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper’s position is a very responsible one, and requires plenty of nerve and a good eye- You must always bs ready to run out and clear if the ball is well ahead of a- forward, and there is no back handy, and in many cases if a forward has got clean away the only chance the goal-keeper has is of rushing out and tackling him on the edge of the circle. You must always be ready to face the position from whence a shot is likely to come, and it is best to be more to the left-hand side of the goal as you have your right foot and stick to guard the right side, but only your foot and hand fc-r the left side. Once you have stopped the ball get it away as quickly as possible, and if you have time to- take aim send it to one of your outside forwards. Always clear to the wings if possible. Don’t forget that a goalkeeper may kick the ball in the circle ,and many a goal is saved by a good kick, where you would have no time to use your stick. Never speculate, it is fatal.

Full-back: A full-back, eitlied left or right, must .be speedy and able to turn quickly, and have a good eye. Sometimes a back lias to hit the ball on the run, but this should only be resorted to when you have no time to use your hands or feet for stopping purposes. Always have an understanding with your fellow back about backing-up, and don’t keep too far back, nor yet top' close to your forwards. Remember that hard hitting does not make a successful full-back. At times you must, hit hard, but not every time you get the ball. You must always be ready to nip in to intercept a. pass from the wing forwards, but only as a last possible resource should you go out to the wing to tackle the outside man, as it is the half-back’s duty to either stop the outside left or right, or make him pass, and the full-hack must be prepared to stop that pass and get the ball away to your own forwards. If a full-back hits wildly with no idea cf direction, the ball invariably trav_els up the field and is stopepd by one of the oposing: backs, so it is plain, your duty is to try to send it to one of your own forwards, and so set them going. Never, when clearing, hit across your own goal, always clear to the wings- You must not try and dribble except when absolutely necessary, as a goal i s often scored by a back being robbed of the ball when trying to trick a forward. There are

occasions when it is absolutely necessary to try to, trick the forward by dribbling, .but it should only be done as a last resource.

Half-backs: The -half-backs have probably the most work of anyone on the field, as you have to be continually defending and attacking. You have to follow up your oavu forwards, so that you can bo at hand to put them in' possession again if they are robbed of the ball, and at the same time you have to mark the opposing forwards and prevent them getting into giving. If an opposing forward gets away you must go in pursuit, and if you are robbed of the ball you must always tackle back. The left half-back’s duty is, generally speaking, to mark the outside right, especially if he is very speedy, when you must mark him very closely, ou must be careful though not to foul him by tackling him on the wrong side. You will find the left lunge a useful stroke. Practice it.

The right half is in the natural position to stop his outside man. Both wing halves should pass the ball at once to their forwards, and not try to dribble at all. A good crisp pass to a wing forward sets the attack in' motion at once.

The cenrte-half’s duty is to mark the oposing centre forward, and, to a- certain extent, tho inside forwards. To be a- successful centre-half you must bo able to dribble well and to cultivate the. push, stroke, a. flick with the wrists to give a short pass to your own forward who is unmarked at the time- Sometimes it is policy to give a long pass to either of the outside forwards, especially if they happen to be fast, and this is often a verv successful manoeuvre.

Next Saturday I will deal with the forwards.

Time was, and it is net so very long ago, writes R. J. A. Moses, of the Sydney University in the Referee, when the hockey enthusiast was greeted in the street by cries of derision from any juvenile element that happened to he in the neighborhood. Now, however, the player making his way to the ground on. a Saturday afternoon, is not looked upon as such an oddity, nor is his stick though to be a golf club or anything else still more remote from its true nature. In fact, judging the game by whatever standard we will, there can he no doubt that hockey has made wonderful strides in the past few years in the way of gaining popular recognition and favor.' The reason for this is twofold. In the first place .the difficulty of obtaining grounds has been surmounted to such an extent that it is now the rule for games t-o be played within easy distance of the city, where the public at large can see for-themselves the excellent features of a first-rate winter pastime. True it is that a hockey match gate is never abnormal; but it is just as true that people are beginning to take an intelligent interest in the matter, particularly the younger members of the community. This is really one of the most promising aspects for the future of the game and once full advantage is taken of the facilities for the promotion ot amateur sport afforded by the new compulsory training scheme, then there can he no doubt that hockey will be well established in popular favor. Hockey’s Unique Features. -

In the second place, there are the intrinsic features of the game. The position taken by hockey in the realm of sport is unique. Apart from tennis, perhaps, there is no game that is so thoroughly amateur. The man who takes up hockey must be one who will be prepared to accept no remuneration of any kind, however indirectly made. Every detail of expense entailed in the following up of the game must come from his own pocket. To many minds this rigid rule may appear to be too perfect t-o last. But such has always been the case in England, and so it will always be wherever the game is played. The team that performs most successfully for the season receives no concrete recognition of the iac» in the way of trophy or of medals, hut rests content with the knowledge of its own prowess. In this way vre have the best interests of purely amateur sport been preserved. It has been held that the presentation of a trophy or the institution of any other reward, would tend to arouse an unnecessary spirit of rivalry that would have its inspiration to win a tangible prize instead of being content to play the game for its own sake.

Let it not he thought that the hockey player tliauks the gods that he is. not as other men but rat-ner give him credit for trying to play the game for what is in it, and not. for -what" it brings him in the way of a “pot” or other trophy. The man who feels rebuffed at this spirit may still be a very good “sport” in the usual acceptance of that term, but be is.not necessary to the game, and there will -be found many another to take his -place. Apart from this “theoretical” value is there anything in the game to commend itself to the average man? To this there can be but one answer — yes.

Any amount of stamina, a full supply of pluck, fleetness of foot, quickness of eye, and strength of ar-m, these, together with a spirit of combination and a sense for tactics, go to make up the complete licckey player. No other field game so-closely approximates to football in its characteristics and demands -on the player, and sc- there is not much need for further praise. Indeed, the principles of the game are based on those of Association football. The tactics are

identical, and the skill required as great. Great Pace Essential.

But the outstanding featurels pace. Not so much of the individual player of the game as a whole. The Rugby rules were held to he too slow' to watch in operation, and so the Northern League game was involved,because the public wanted a fast and exciting spectacle. If this is a correct gauge of public opinion, then, indeed, should hookey be most popular, because there is no game that is faster. Skill is required in tho highest degree. To see an expert forward dribbling the hall, beating an opponent by his stick work, or by. drawing and passing, and "finally out-manoeuv-ring the watchful “goalie” is a sight for sore eyes. The nimble half-back intercepting and feeding his forwards is a study in tactics and opportunism, whilst the inspired wonderings and anticipations of the backs provide much food for the appreciative palate. To see all three sections combining ip attack or defence is best of all, and when two first-class teams meet then there is a sense of fascination felt when watching few other games.

There is no room for the “slacker” in hockey. The team works as a whole., and lack of condition or funk or want of skill in any one player mars the whole combination. The same, of course, holds good for football ; but it cannot be denied that in the latter game brute force often plays a prominent part. In hoewey there is none of this. Weight is a negligible factor, for it is sheer science that counts. Charging is forbidden, and so is bumping of any description. This does not mean that" it is a “molly-coddle’s” game—far from it-. A thoroughly good temper is needed to stand the knocks one gets occasionally, and tho football enthusiast who took up hockey will not feel disgusted with the fare provided.

Tile good features of the game are many and varied. Suffice it to say that many an instance.could be quoted where those who have before played football and other winter games have taken on hockey as an experiment, and have soon determined to follow it regularly. Moreover, as a winter pastime for the cricketer it is ideal, in that it preserves liis condition and gives no chance for .the eye or the arm to get out of practiceThe game is a good one, otherwise there would not be so many playing it. It has caught on, and -will-* go much further; of that there is no doubt. To the man who favors amateur sport in the truest sense of the term no game offers wider opportunities. In fine, the best way to get the healthy mind in the healthy body is to play hockey.