WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 171, 16 April 1931, Page 14

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Season’s Prospects Bright SENIOR TEAM CHANGES

(By

“Critic.”)

The approaching season for women's hockey in Wellington shows prospects of being the brightest for many years. Since the K. Cup came to this city, thanks to the ■Wellington representatives’ magnificent efforts at the Dominion tourney last year, hockey has made steady progress as a suitable winter sport for women and girls. Clubs report good membership and players are keen for the opening of the season. Reports from clubs are to the effect that many changes have been made in the personnel of senior teams, Old Girls being the worst off, losing three of their best playliright as are the prospects for the forthcoming season, they will be still brighter if players will give a little more of their spare time to studying the rules. Last season several referees reported that they had nearly as much trouble with senior players, who should have a thorough knowledge of the rules, as with the lower division players. By enforcing the knowledge of the rules into your play you will not only be assisting yourself to give a better exhibition of your capabilities, but also helping the referee considerably. Club Activities. Reports from the various senior clubs show some notable changes in the personnel of the first elevens, but on the whole tlie competition for the A championship should be just as full of interest to the final match of the last round as ever. The two leading teams in the B grade last year, Wcnerei and Huia, have applied for senior A status this season. Both have fairly strong elevens to represent them. The Wellington College Old Girls’ Club will be strong numerically, having a playing membership of over forty. The club will be represented in all divisions. Unfortunately the senior team will be without the services of three of its best players lu Misses A. Ilefferd (goalkeeper), A. Lucena (centre-half), and P. Watson. The absence of these players will be a big loss to the club,- but with the likely promotion of Misses M. Smith and Lark, two prominent members of the second senior team of tlie past season, to the vacancies, Old Girls I should again be to the fore in the competition. So far a goalkeeper aas not been announced, although I am 1 given to understand that Miss Scott is a likely selection. Mr. A. Stratton will again coach the players. His presence with the senior team last season was instrumental In the side being runner-up to Hutt. .University has its gains and losses. Besides securing the services of Miss Hefferd. who will continue to carry out the duties of goalkeeper. Misses Heise and Weston, late of Training College, two players who have a thorough knowledge of the game, have transferred to Varsity. Miss Huggins will again play in the back division, while in Misses Flyfleld and Nolan the team has two forwards of no mean ability. Miss Campbell, who has done yeoinan service for the students on the hockey field, is said to be a doubtful player this year. Miss Blacklock is out of Wellington and will not be in the team, while the club reports the loss of a keen half-back in Miss McLean, also that promising goalkeeper. Miss Butler. With the material available the students should, however, give a good account of themselves during the season. . Swifts will be in a much stronger position for championship honours than was the case last term. Besides having the same players again available, the team will be further strengthened bv the Inclusion of Mrs. Morris (nee C. McDowell), and Miss Vera Stubbs. The club has secured a iloor at the back of Hope Gibbons Building for training purposes. . Although having lost a few of its outstanding players the Hospital Club reports having secured several new members. Including two from Australia and one from the West Coast. All have been tried out in trial games at the hospital, and coach Armes is pleased with their showing. The team will be much stronger than was the case last year. Ramblers will be further strengthened by the inclusion of Misses Fraser (Dunedin), Shaw sisters (Otaki), E. Jamieson and J. Worthington, in the senior team. Mr. D. Hood will again carry out the duties of coach. Training College has secured Miss Butler, who performed so well In goal for Varsity during the late season. The students, according to Information to hand, will be able to field a much better team than last year, although they report the loss of Misses Weston and Heise. Wenerei, winners of the senior B championship of 1930, makes its debut in the A division, and from the good material at the hands of the club the team is sure to do well in the grade. Miss I’asker from Sydney has joined the club, as also has Miss A. Davis, who was prominent for tho Johnsonville Club a fow years ago. Miss 11. Dewhurst will not be playing, and at tlie time of writing no word had been received from Miss Winiata as to her intentions, but all the other members of the team will be available. Hula, tho other club seeking promotion to A rank, lias lost tho help of a few of last year's players, but will be strengthened by the Inclusion of Misses Dennison, late goalkepecr of Swifts senior B eleven. Harrison from the South Island and Duffr, with the prospects of two well-known players’ services. The exact strength of the team will not be known until the players have had a try-out. 'Requests to Club Secretaries. The executive of the Wellington Women's Hockey Association asks club secretaries to make it their'duly to supply the association's secretary with copies of annual reports, balance-sheets, etc., as soon after annual meetings as they possibly can. Some club secretaries arc slack in this respect, so it is hoped tills reminder will have the desired effect. Secretaries should also see that players in their clubs are registered. No girl whoso name has not been registered by a club may play for that club, so it behoves secretaries to see that this all-important rule is adhered to. General Notes. "It is regrettable that junior ‘reps’ do ”°t get „ Inore matches with outside associations, reads portion of the annual report of the Wnirarapa Women's Hockey Association. “This matter should be attended to. and. unless it is seen to soon we cannot expect to keep up the high standard of play thus far attained.” , 1,1 the hest interests of hockey In the Bush district a sole selector be appointed for the women's and men’s representative teams respectively, and that such selectors, if possible, should not be members of any individual club or officers of the association,” is a remit forwarded to the l.usli Union Hockey Association by the Htiimai Club. J AB material for publication in tills column should be addressed "Women's Hockey Critic. ’ care “The Dominion,” and be in the hands of the writer not later than Tuesdays.