Hockey Dissatisfaction At State Of Williamson Park

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28324, 9 July 1957, Page 14

Hockey Dissatisfaction At State Of Williamson Park

Whether any further senior fixtures should be played on Williamson Park this season or whether matches should be played on the park regardless of ground conditions, was discussed at a meeting of the management committee of the Canterbury Hockey Association last evening. The committee had before it a letter from the Woolston Club expressing its dissatisfaction at the state of Williamson Park. The club offered £lO towards improving the park if other clubs were willing to do the same.

The association needed some definite policy, said Mr R. A. Milne. "We will have to decide if teams are to play on the drier grounds while the wet grounds are not used at all."

Mr R. Duncan said Williamson Park was not conducive to good hockey. It cut up badly, he said, and the surface was softer than the Polo Grounds.

“None of the senior teams want to play at Williamson Park any longer," said Mr P. Beere.

“I feel we are looking for Utopian conditions,” said Mr R. Jenkins. "TTie grounds today are no worse than they were 20 or 30 years ago—it is just that our players are more ground conscious. Surely we have to accept conditions as they are. Hockey is a winter sport and it is time we accepted it as such. "We must either play when the grounds are not at their best or else everyone will not be able to plav. In New’ Zealand we cannot provide hard surfaces in winter. As far as juniors are concerned, they do not mind playing on wet grounds.” said Mr Jenkins.

The Woolston Club’s letter was received, and the committee recommended to the grounds committee that as many games as possible be played on Jellicoe Park, Sprevdon Domain, Burwood Park, and Burnside Park.

Uniforms of Players A complaint at the standard of the uniforms worn by teams in the open grade was received from the Selwyn Club. The dress of some teams left much to be desired, said the letter, and made the umpires’ job much more difficult.

On the motion of Mr Armstrong, the committee decided to write to clubs quoting a rule which makes provision for impronerly-dressed players to be ordered off the field.

Teams not handing in results cards will in future lose one competition point. Presenting the report of the competitions sub-committee. Mr E. Wickes said he had no hesitation in recommending the move. “Teams are still not sending in their cards, and I am fed up with writing to their clubs," he said. Forthcoming Matches Permission was granted for Christchurch Boys’ High School to play its annual fixture against Wellington College at Straven road on July 22. As the result of a request for matches by the South Canterbury Association the Canterbury senior, colts, under 14. and fifth grade representative teams will travel to Timaru on July 20. On Saturday. July 27, there will be no senior competition matches in Christchurch. The Canterbury senior team will play the Colts, and Canterbury’ B will play Canterbury C. The gate takings from these games will go towards the travelling expenses of the senior team to the NewZealand Hockey Shield contest at Napier.

Canterbury will play South Island minors in Christchurch on August 3. The committee will write to the West Coast association seeking a

match with the Canterbury under 14 representative team.

On Friday, July 12, Waitaki intermediate will play Linwood intermediate at Burwood Park.

The Mairehau Hockey Club was granted permission to travel to Greymouth on September 7.

Subject to the ground conditions being suitable, the Canterbury Junior Hockey Association was granted use of the Polo Grounds on August 26-29, and Williamson Park on August 29, for the secondary schools* tournament.

ICE HOCKEY

Giants’ 4-3 Win Over Flyers

A last-minute goal gave the Canterbruy Giants - a 4-3 win over the Centaurus Flyers In their fifth round game for the Christchurch Ice Hockey Cup at the Centaurus rink last evening.

In the first spell the Giants launched a sustained attack on the Flyers’ goal. The goalie made several fine saves and the initiative changed hands rapidly. The Giants renewed their attack and at seven minutes Clive Robinson scored the first goal of the game. A minute later they goaled again, but this was disallowed through an offside infringement. The Giants, handicapped through the absence of a player in the penalty box. faced a solid Flyers’ attack, which resulted in the equalising goal. From the opening of the second spell the Flyers gained - practically a monopoly of the puck, but grand defence by the Giants’ backline broke up attack after attack. A solo run by G. Bainton and a shot which beat the goalie, gave the Flyers the lead at 9min 55sec.

The Flyers opened the final spell with some neat, clean passing, but poor shooting robbed them of goals. A long shot by B. Payne, of the Giants, equalised the score at Bmin lOsec.

Play became rugged and both teams scored, V. Thompson for the Flyers and J. Brizzell for the Giants, with C. Robinson scoring the winning goal at the final bell.

The referees were Messrs 3. Offord and T. Thompson, and the goal judges Messrs M. Wicks and W. Adamson.