TOURNAMENT TEAM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 265, 22 August 1949, Page 4

TOURNAMENT TEAM

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Departure This Week COMMENT ON PLAYERS On Thursday next the Ashburton women’s representative hockey team will leave Ashburton for the North Island, where they will take part in the New Zealand women’s hockey tournament. The tournament is being arranged by the Wairarapa Association, and games will be played at Featherston, Grey town, Carterton and Masterton. •The Ashburton teams arc to be billeted at. Featherston. They will return home next Saturday week, arriving in Ashburton on the Sunday morning. The local team has been entered in the major section, in which there are 14 teams divided into A, B and C sections. Ashburton is playing in the C section, and will be matched against Auckland Town, Taranaki and Canterbury B. Also at the tournament are approximately 15 other teams, which are playing in the minor section. Ashburton has been .represented at the New Zealand tournament for a considerable number of years, and the teams have always gained the name for playing clean and good hockey. Although this year’s team may not be quite up to the strength of former teams, it should give a good account of itself and help to maintain the good name which the local association bears.

Brief Comment . The following is brief comment on this year’s team:— Margaret Moore (Wakanui): Will be playing as goalkeeper. She has plenty of experience and can turn on some excellent displays. Irene Croat (Methven): Is the right back, and one of the best players in hockey to-day. Her anticipation and intercepting are uncanny. She rarely plays, a poor game. Eleanor Watson (Wakanui): The captain of the team, who plays leftback. A solid player who never gives up. Has a good understanding with the right-back. ' Bertha Johnston (Rakaia) : The right half and problem player of the team. Can turn an brilliant hockey; has a wonderful eye and strong hit. Seems to lose position at times. Quite likely to be one of the best players. Margaret McCrea (Methven): Vicecaptain of the team, and its centrehalf. An excellent §tock player, in-' clined to hold the ball too long; but a good centre-half. Sister to Shirley and Doris Owen. 'Margaret Cairns (Wakanui): Occupies the left-half position. This, together with the left-back position, are the hardest places "in the team in which to play. Margaret is very steady, and is always right up with the • play. A solid player. Nita Hansen (Nurses) is the rightwing. A strong hitter and speedy runner. Should do well, and’ when given the ball will gain ground, and centres, cleanly and welf.

Shirley Owen (Methven): The in-side-right, who plays a determined game. Quite fast, has good ball control, hut should always remember she has four other forwards up with her. Can play really good hockey. Frances Heasley (Methven): Comes into the team as centre-forward after being out of the game for a while. A neat player, who combines well; is always up with the play, and when the opportunity arises can score goals. A really good goal-scorer. Melva Low (Methven): Plays at inside-half and is a most unselfish player. May be just a fraction slow, but endeavours to combine well, and always likely to score by following up. Doris Owen (Methven): Has a hard place as the left-wing. Plays a heady game and uses the push shot to advantage. Should hit a bit cleaner when centreing. .. Four Emergencies . Four emergencies are being taken with the team, and these are:

Margaret -Amos (.Wakanui): Will play in the forward line. A solid type of player who combines well.

Audrey Lamb (Lowcliffe): A young player who has a good hockey future and has the making of an excellent forward.

Marjorie Mackay (Technical): Another young player who is benefiting by experience. Will no doubt be emergency half.

Justin Mead (Rakaia): The emergency back who has shown great improvement over the last year or two and will benefit by the tour. As always is the case when a team tours players are not available. Some of these may have been in the first eleven and others as emergency. They are:—Rita McKendry (Methven), Noreen Dix (Ashburton), Maud Freeman (Technical), Helen Cairns (Wakanui) and Irene Dwyer (Lowcliffe). Mrs C. G. Frampton will accompany the team as manager with Mrs G. M. Chibnall as assistant-manager. NOTES AND COMMENTS Women’s hockey has been excellent this year, many good games having been contested. *.*.#(* *. Methven have scooped the pool as far as the ordinary competition is concerned, winning both the senior and junior grades. *r *i * It is most encouraging to see present players and past-players coming along and taking over the umpiring. Recently 11 umpires sat for-their theory examination. The possible is 100 marks and 85 are required for an “A” grade and 70 l'or a “B” grade. On receiving the results from Auckland it was found that there were one “A” grade and five “B” grade passes. * * * * .* Last season a new contest was played between the winning teams of the Ashburton and Canterbury Association for the Bishop Memorial Shield. Owing to the constitution of the New Zealand Association not allowing any new trophies to be played for between various associations, it has been decided that this shield be played for locally which is quite in accordance with the New Zealand constitution. * * * * * Although the above shield cannot now be played for between Ashburton

and Canterbury it Is sincerely hoped that the match, will be carried on. This year’s game will be between Methven and Christchurch West. Incidentally the latter team has Monica Donaldson as one of its players, she being at one time the representative team captain in Ashburton. * * !K * * During the last two months four of our new umpires have taken their practical examination and all did rcaonably well. The local practical examiner is Mr W. T. Corbett, who has held an “A” grade certificate for a number of years. * * * * The future of hockey is assured when one looks at the play of our junior representative team. Some of the combination in the forwards and the stick work in the half-line makes the senior players look to their laurels.