REVIEW OF N.Z. TOURNEY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21577, 13 September 1935, Page 18

REVIEW OF N.Z. TOURNEY

CANTERBURY DISAPPOINT IN WOMEN'S HOCKEY

The twenty-fourth women's championship hockey tournament, which concluded at Gisborne last Saturday, was marred to a large extent by the bad playing conditions which existed after the first two days. In general the standard of play was not as high as that seen in Christchurch last year, the state of the grounds being wholly responsible. The Poverty Bay Association in its desire to provide first-class playing areas had used a heavy roller on the two main grounds to make them as perfect as possible, but after the first two days heavy rain for 48 hours demonstrated the folly of this. The grounds were covered with sheets of water ankle deep in places. These conditions once again brought home the necessity of having one spare day which could be used if not needed to play section ties, for the playing of a North Island v. South Island match. Eastern Southland, who have contested every final except one since 1930, again showed that they were head and shoulders above all the others. Although they won easily their match against Canterbury was the most interesting to watch, for the Red forwards often severely tested the defence. The side was the only one which played as a team. The forward line could attack with equal ease through either wing. Smart followingin by the inside forwards also gave them several goals. The halves gave the forwards every assistance, their positional play being first-class. The strength of the defence will best be realised by the fact that only one goal was scored against the side—a repetition of last year's performance in Christchurch.

The runners-up, South ,Otago, contained several members of the Otago team, which defeated Eastern in the semi-final at Dannevirke two years ago, and drew with Canterbury in the final. Making a first appearance at a tournament, the team won all its matches except that against Akitio, with whom they drew in a mud scramble. Consistently good form was shown in the section play, wnere the opposition was not particularly strong. In the final, however, the team was disappointing. Its forwards were far too slow, lacking combination, while the halves and backs gave little assistance, hitting to the line far too often. Although they held Eastern .to one goal, Marlborough's performance this season showed that they were lucky to reach the final last year. With much stronger teams in their section, the team gained its only point by drawing with Bush, a not very strong I side. The team was unlucky in having so many casualties.

The performance of the Canterbury side was a big disappointment to local supporters. After becoming used to fast grounds, the team did not appreciate the heavy grounds. Canterbury should have beaten Auckland. The chief fault of the Canterbury team was lack of combination. The side played to Mary McKenzie, and although she scored most of the goals her play was the chief fault. She tried to do too much instead of passing the ball, and her habit of trying to break through anywhere from inside left to the right wing upset the rest of the line completely. Taken all round, the backs were much more satisfactory than the forwards.

International Rugby Profits The New Zealand Rugby Union does not receive a share of the gate receipts in England during the tour: of the All Black team. Cricket arranges differently and this is a problem that will have to be faced by New Zealand's Rugby legislators at some time. International Rugby gates were running high in England last year. Last season the net receipts of the England v. Wales match, played at Twickenham, was £15,002. This was a record. The ' English Rugby Union owns the Twickenham ground, valued at £138,666. The overdraft now stands at only £lo.ooo—no less than £17,180 having been paid off it last year. Clubs affiliated to the English Rugby Union have been loaned for the purpose of building their grounds, £41,000. The union has also provided a big area, which it owns, as parking space for its patrons.