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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1937. Volume 8. Number 12.

Hockey

Hockey

It is very difficult to report the matches of the Senior XI, they show such remarkable reversals of form from one week to the next. Against the redoubtable Karori B side, the team displayed excellent combined and individual play and forced a draw, one goal all. There were no pronounced weaknesses as there have been in recent games. Benjamin played his soundest game of the season against perhaps the best forward line in the competition. Dixon more than fulfilled the promise he showed as a junior, and some of his clearances would have been creditable even to a more experienced full-back. Banks showed coolness and initiative worthy of a veteran, and broke up many attacks. The re-shuffled half-line went better than they have lately, and certainly had a full share of the play. Against the solidest defence in Wellington club hockey, the forwards played the only game which could possibly win, combining really excellently, and swinging the ball about in great style. Innes, for a change, was given a fair share of the game, and consequently Shaw and Cole, with the defence drawn, made better progress. Struthers on the left wing showed plenty of dash, getting a very smart goal, the ball going in and out of the net so quickly that there was doubt in some quarters as to whether the ball had actually gone in. This doubt, however, was put at rest most emphatically by the Karori goalie. Altogether, it was as far as we were concerned a game "out of the box," and the stickwork and tactics generally, were highly creditable, considering the sodden state of the ground.

Last week, however, in better playing conditions, the team turned on a display that was the very reverse of inspiring, losing to a 10-men Technical side by 6 goals to 2. Individually, our men quite equalled their opponents, but they simply allowed themselves to be bustled into making errors Using the push shot to advantage, Technical just ran our fellows off their feet: a feature which it is to be hoped will teach our team the value of placement and steadiness on attack.

Our defence was time and time again caught out of position, giving the opposing forwards time to put in shots that left the goalie no chance whatever. Robinson, deputising for Newcombe at centre half, was in brilliant form in the first half, his goal being reward for fine anticipation, but lack of condition told in the second half. Eggleton took the ball too far before passing, too often allowing the defence to consolidate round our forwards, when an earlier pass would have found them unmarked. His habit of losing his temper consistently each game is a credit neither to himself nor the team. Innes played his best game of the season, seeing plenty of the ball and turning it to good advantage, though his centred were at times left too late. Cole essayed several unsuccessful shots at goal. His stickwork has been consistently good during the season, and in this game he tried snap-shooting as soon as he neared the circle, which is certainly the best paying game on attack. A trifle more steadiness, and a glance to find direction, would have brought more reward for his efforts. Shaw bustled his way through several times, and scored from a melee near the start of the second half. Struthers was speedy and centred well, but his in-passes too often went begging. Dixon's clearing from a penalty bully was very praiseworthy, and this young player, as he gains experience, will be an invaluable member of the side.

In the junior grades quite bright play was seen. The thirds played a draw with Karori. showing good form. Playing two short, the fourth grade lost, but played well. Bowyer and Wallace showed plenty of dash in the forwards, while Macrae. Dwyer and O'Donnell were solid on defence, the latter in particular, making some excellent saves.