HOCKEY NOTES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 264, 20 August 1936, Page 3

HOCKEY NOTES

THE FIJIAN WOMEN’S TEAM.

COMMENTS ON FORM DISPLAYED.

(By “Sticks.”) The Fiji, or Suva as they prefer to be termed, women’s hockey tourists, still seem unable to demonstrate fully their true quality on New Zealand playing fields, for against Wellington the team certainly did not live up to the exceptional promise shown against Wanganui in the second match of the tour. It is difficult to understand this, but probably through encountering nothing but atrocious grounds, some resembling rutty paddocks, during the South Island section of the tour, the team underwent a setback instead of' making the desirable progress. However, it must have been quite clear to the observant hockey enthusiast that, had the Basin Reserve been typical of a Fiji ground, the tourists would have played hockey of a type more in keeping with their usual style. In Fiji the grounds are as solid as concrete and as smooth as billiard tables, playing so true that it is unnecessary to hit the ball forcefully. For instance, if Mrs Fenn were to continue her hard clearances in Suva she would be a nuisance instead of a help to her club. The same also applies to the forwards who indulge in the Indian style of short passing combination in Fiji, hard hitting being unnecessarily eliminated even to the extent of snappy goal-shooting. Such tactics are not conducive to good hockey on New Zealand fields, as the visitors must now realise. Considering that the game in Fiji is confined to the limited number of 45 players, and the conditions under which it is played there, the visitors have done well under what must be exceptionally trying conditions for them in this country. What Might Tave Been. One holds no doubt that had wise counsel prevailed early and a New Zealand coach placed at the services of the team during the first few weeks of the tour, he or she would undoubtedly have developed the team into such a combination under New Zealand conditions that they would by the end of tho tour have held a proud record. Unfortunately the team has come half way through the itinerary without the essential advice enabling them to adapt themselves to the style of play in this country. One does not blame the Fijian players, for every member or the party gives of her best on the field of play, but early coaching under our conditions would have immensely helped them to be thrilling the crowds at this stage with their displays. Points from Fiji Play. There were a few important points the Fiji team demonstrated against Wellington which it would be well for some of our young players to emulate. They showed the ridiculous ease and comfort with which a stick can be handled. They possess a sort of modified golf grip with the left hand close to the right turned slightly inward, enabling them to turn the head of the stick with ease at the end of a hit and keep it below the shoulders. Seldom did the Fiji players give sticks during the match. They carefully avoided turning the hand too far inward and losing control, but had play in the wrist to reverse the stick for passes to the right. Misses J. Harman, left wing, 0. Foreman, centre half, S. Molloy, left half, and L, Sutherland, centre-forward, all being conspicuous in handling the stick in this respect. One had only need to watch the visitors closely to realise they showed that wristwork can be effective. Both fullbacks, Mesdames M. Fenn and M. Bentley, and Miss F. Wilson right-half, ably demonstrated that stopping the ball is an art in itself, an art generally disregarded in Wellington where fulLbacks are prone to mighty speculating hits at a moving ball. Another noticeable feature about the Fiji play was the blocking of the ball by the stick alone, the stick being held in the reverse position for a ball approaching the left side and in the natural position for a right-hand ball. The legs were kept slightly apart giving uniformity of balance, thus increasing coverage. Mrs Fenn is an adept at this, and her display on Saturday was full of merit. In short, although the tourists were beaten, they were an object lesson to Wellington in several respects. Established in South Africa. “Hockey is firmly estblishedi in South Africa and is growing in popularity,” states the “Bulletin” in quoting an article from a recent copy of the “Hockey World.” Hockey was introduced into the country after the Boer War by the British army regiments which remained and those which came out to relieve them. llie big event of the season is the inter-provin-cial tournament, which was commenced in 1926 and has since been held annually. It is held at the headquarters of each province in turn and almost every tournament has been, fully supported by the affiliated associations. They have been held in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Capetown, East London, Poit Elizabeth, Durban and Bulawayo. A glance at a map reveals this to be a, remarkable achievement. At the tournament held in 1935 at Capetown the Rhodesian team travelled 3000 miles, and the Natalians a similar distance, it is impossible to make a comparison with the standard of play in Britain, but an occasional inter-provincial or county player gives a line through individual performance by which it is claimed that the standard of play must rank quite favourably with that obtaining in other countries. The game is played on turf in some towns and on bard) clay pitches in others. In the interior it is practically impossible to have turf. The players are on a strict amateur basis. Every player attending the inter-provincial tournament has to

meet his own expenses and while gates are taken the income goes to the association holding the tournament, and a share of the profit to the national body. In the majority of provinces the game is organised on a competitive basis, but trophies are not allowed.