HOCKEY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6570, 15 May 1905, Page 2

HOCKEY NOTES.

(By " An Old Timer.') For two or three seasons past various rumours as to the formation of a Ladieß* Hockey Club have pervaded hoc key circles, and at last it falls to my lot to congratulate the ladies of! Aahburton upon the formation of a Ladies' Hoakey Club. I had the pleasure of watching the Club playing their third practice game on Mona .Square on Thursday afternoon and, from the amount of enthusiasm displayed,, I thiuk I am quite safe m saying the ladies are going to make a bold bid to win as great a reputation as that; held by our Ashburton Hockey Club fo* some yeara past. . , I have been told that hookey is not a suitable game for our sistors to indulge m ; but after witnessing Thursday's game I' have no hesitation m saying that there ia no foundation whatever for the horror felt by some good people m connection with the matter. On the contrary nothing but benefit can arise from the regular indulgence m the game of hookey. It will result m a greater courage possessing the players, and they will be certain to have more reliance m themselves. From the standpoint of health I feel sure there can be no sound argument against our girls emerging from the workroom and the shop to devote their.half-holiday to a vigorous game of hockey m the open air. I wish our new Club every success, and hope the gentlemen's club will rally round and give the new players every assistance and encouragement. There are t'vo urgent matters I would like to commend to the early consideration of the Ladies' Club—(l) That a more suitable ground that the Square ba obtained for practice games, and (2) That arrangements be made lor some of the leading hockey players to coaoh the new players before the latter develop any faults which will have to be unlearned m the future. Perhaps our lady friends will not object to a little criticism. Of the 20 players out, they all with one or two exceptions, gave a good account of themselves. Miss Harman (captain) has played for one or two seasons before coming to Ashburton, and consequently has an advantage over the new players. She is a hard worker, and will be sure to show up well m matches. Miss Mawson is another player who would lead one to conclude that she had had previous experience with, the stick. Along with the Misses Berryman, Andrews, McDonald, Stock, McElrea, and Hewson, she may bo expeoted to play well when the ladies play their first match. All the other players* to the majority of whom the writer is a stranger, played hard at times, but the hot afternoon had a tiring effect on all the players. I would like to bring two points to the attention of members-—(1) Each one should make certain what place she has to play m, and should learn to keep that place throughout the game; (2) When a player is hitting the ball she should make a point of hitting it on to one of her own side, and not hit it simply into space, as was often done on Thursday af f-ernoon. These rules are not difficult to remember, but they are of the very utmost importance if a player wishes to become a topnotcher.