UNEXPECTED SELECTIONS IN K CUP HOCKEY TEAM

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30200, 3 August 1963, Page 9

UNEXPECTED SELECTIONS IN K CUP HOCKEY TEAM

rphe selectors at the CanA terbury women’s hockey team for the K Cup tournament have again sprung surprises. Since the trial list was announced, the senior A team has remained basically the same but at the eleventh hour those who seemed to have lost all chance of making the trip to Auckland have been included, and those who with justification, could have had their bags packed, were compelled to unpack them. The half-line of A. Ruston (Aranua) 1 , L. Watson (Harewood) and J. Witte (Carlton) has been welding into a formidable combination and was an almost automatic choice, while B. Makinson (Digbys) had no serious contender for the goal-keeping position. However, the back positions have caused two real surprises. The New Zealand trial player, J. Murray (Harewood), and the Carlton captain, L. Drummond, appeared obvious choices. Although inferior to these two in trapping, passing, positional play and stickw»ork—supposedly the essentials— J. Gunn (West Old Girls) and Y. Turner

(Harewood) have been preferred. The seven-strong forward squad, with four players with no experience of K Cup hockey, will be a doubtful quality. The way the team was set out suggests that D. Eddy (Harewood) and G. Phillips (Carl-

ton) will be the emergencies. If .this is so it will be a pity, as P. Anderson (University), who has apparently been selected for the right-wing, has made few appearances for her club team there and was selected for New Zealand Universities as a half.

M. O’Brien (Aranui) has apparently been selected as the inside-right and has deserved her selection, but she will be much the better if she has Eddy outside her. It is unfortunate for Phillips that Walker has been appointed captain as the Carlton player has the same penchant for scoring goals as Walker and is probably a harder worker and more thrustful in the field.

Walker's appointment is also a little hard on Ruston because, as a Canterbury and South Island representative since she was 16 and a New Zealand trialist this year, Ruston has had all the experience for the job and possibly the better temperament. This year, she has proved her capabilities by leading the young Aranui team from the seventh placing (last year) to fourth at the present time this year. However, it could be felt that she will have enough to do in the half-line. With weak backs and inexperienced forwards, the Canterbury halves can expect to be the hardest-worked players in the team.