THE HOCKEY FIELD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 241, 25 July 1935, Page 7

THE HOCKEY FIELD

PLAYERS AND MATCHES. EARLY SUCCESSES IN AUSTRALIA (By “Sticks.”) The success of the New Zealand women’s hockey team in its first two matches in Australia was very pleasing to local enthusiasts. Mary McKenzie (a popular Canterbury player) has been in .great scoring form. A large crowd of spectators at Tinwald Domain on Saturday witnessed hockey of a very high standard. The early game, High School v. Tinwald (a junior match) * was fast and < open, some of the young players showing great promise. With coaching, High School should develop into a first-class team. I heir positional play was superior to .1 inwaltl’s, and to this their win was mainly due. B. Baird’ (High School captain) was the outstanding player. L. Colquhoun was a nippy left wing and Betty Carson also showed promising form.

Tinwalu have two very promising forwards in IV Loach and J. Heiuleison. Their form js of the bustling type and they showed plenty of determination. The latter should develop into a first-class centre. Thelma Henderson (Tinwald right back) displayed excellent defence, her hitting was clean and well-judged. The senior match, Tinwald v. Old Girls, wins played at great speed throughout, and was a keen, open contest which delighted Qie spectators. -The forwards were) but whilst Old Girls were better served in the half-line, Tinwald backs were the more solid.

M. Henderson was in good scoring form for Tinwald and received good support from the wings, F. Gudsell (right) and P. Baker (left). Ihe latter’s two goals were good examples of the value of quick following play. A. Loach and E. Hampton had a busy time on defence and both perfonned satisfactorily. M. Carson (Old Girls) showed her best form this season and her three goals were secured by sheer determination. 13. Bi’and made several good efforts on the right wing but f'ouml Tinwald defence solid. P. Brand gave a pleasing display in the half-line, the other halves E, Jary and J. Jany also doing good work.

Fixtures for Saturday. Two games will be played on the Domain Oval next Saturday. The early one will be between Tinwald and Lowcliffe and this will be followed by a special match Hinds (with an unbeaten record for two seasons) v. Selected Team These two games should be of service to the selector in view of later representative matches. All othei club fixtures have been suspended. In conjunction with Saturday s matches the Ashburton V omen s Association has organised a- wheelbarrow derby which will start from the Boromdr Council Chambers and finish round the Oval. A special wheelbarrow challenge match in winch two well-known hockey officials will participate will be held during the interval of the trial match. “Sticks” predicted some weeks ago that Mt. Somers would surprise some of the leading teams. This was the case on Saturday when a drawn game eventuated’ with Hinds. Although in receipt ol a four-goal handicap, -be performance must have been a pleasing one to Mt. Somers’ supporters. . . . .. S. Biroach (Rakaia) was injured during the match with Kereone. This is most unfortunate in view of the early selection of representative teams. Ah hockey supporters wish this popfdai player a very speedy recovery. The idea oi : sending a team to compete at the New Zealand championship tourney ari Gisborne has not been abandoned, and every effort is being made by clubs and officials to raise the necessary funds, Players generally are very keen that the County should be represented. The keen interest taken by some hockey officials is shown by the action of a certain referee last Saturday When other transport measures bad failed be cycled from Ashburton to Rakaia to take a match rather than disappoint two country teams. This showed a real hockey spirit. The Men’s Matches. St. Andrew’s and Ashburton clashed in the early game on-Saturday, and a fairly keen game.was witnessed. Saints put up a very solid defence against the bustling Ashburton forwards, and were perhaps unlucky in having seven goals scored against them. Gowans, at full-back, who has been off the scene since the beginning - of the season, gave a creditable exhibition and was, responsible tor breaking up manv of the Black’s rushes. •Garriock, at centre half, also played solidly. H. Gowans and McEllunney bore the brunt of the Blue’s attack, but lack of support from the other forwards prevented the attacks fiom penetrating far. The Saint’s left wing shows promise, but should get rid of the ball more quickly. The Ashburton halves played particularly well, and kept their forwards plentifully supplied with the ball. The 3 o'clock game between Baring Square and St, Stephen's proved very even, and a glraw was a fitting ending to a fast and strenuous tussle. Square missed the services of their centie foiward, Ken Fowke, and Corbett was quite at sea at times, without bis old club mate, but was always handy to the ball when on attack. w The Reds team is the most improved in the competition, and if kept together will go close to winning the competition next season. All of its players are young and keen, and are learning to keep the ball moving with short, snappy passes. Maciarlanc, at right half, playing his first game this year, was very sound, and it is to be hoped this will not be bis last appearance. ! Baker, who played right full-back, |

although only a> -lad, displayed some clever stick work, and should improve with every match. Kelly played his usual safe game when playing hack, but frequently tried to go through and score on his own, meeting the -•'ate of most solo players. Lees, Watson and Baker went well in the Saints’ forward line, combining better than last Saturday’. Sutherland, at right full-back, is young player who is proving hard to pass. He has a good eye, and his chief fault at present' is in risking “speculators,” instead! of first stopping the ball.

Lade played a good defensive game, but his hitting when clearing was inclined to be too .hard. 4

All players should endeavour to practice stick work a few minutes every day. Get a tennis ball and try patting it up against a. wall. After a while you will find it easy to play tennis shots, as on a volley board. You should not be satisfied until you can return the ball to the wall 50 times without a miss 1 . Then try hard shots along the ground a few yards from the wall.

You will find the “comeback” bard to stop and return again and again unless you keep your eye on the bail, and that is the secret of bitting. It is only when one takes one’s eye off a moving ball that one misses it. ’When you have mastered the above shots try them again with a reverse stick. Players who have the time and space to practice for even 5 minutes daily will soon realises what a difference it makes to their play on Saturdays.