WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 200, 21 May 1936, Page 5

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

High Standard Anticipated This Season SENIOR A GRADE Looking the Teams Over; Notes on Players (By Came.) With two series of games in the first round decided the standard of hockey in the senior A division is extraordinarily bright for so early in the season, and with the prospects of the teams improving as the c'jnpetition advances,' some keen, fast and spectacular contests can be expected. At this stage the two outstnnding teams are College Ohl Girls and Hutt United. With Toa both teams are unbeaten, but Toa is minus a point through last week's draw.

Varsity. Through iiim-h changing in the personnel of the team. Varsity is probably the unfortunate combination of the grade, but despite this difficulty they gave the College Ohl Girls’ defence an anxious first 30 minutes last week, due mainly through the speedy left-wing and good support from the centre-half. However, it was obvious the team had not undergone the training to gain the desirable fitness, as the side tired very quickly in the second half. It should be unnecessary to emphasise that training and fitness are essential to success.

College Old Girls. College Old Girls considerably improved on their opening match of the season when opposed to Varsity last week, and it might be safe, even at this early stage, to prophecy a run of exceptional success for the ex-collegians this season. Ine defence is sure to improve once Miss Closs settles down, while the attacking department can truly be stated to oe_of an exceptionally good standard. Old Girls should defeat more teams than beat them.

Ton. Toa continues to persevere with the hard hitting tactics which are detrimental to the game. Probably the adoption of short passing might prove of more advantage to the team. The forwards worked like Trojans on Saturday, and did everything but score. Toa appears .to be the team to cause many upsets during the season. Hutt United.

Hutt United possesses an experienced combination which will go a long way in the competition. The halves and forwards have the necessary understanding to make a success of the offensives. Probably the team will undergo its first real test against Poneke next Saturday, and al-

though United should win the Maoris will bring out the best in the combination. Training College. Training College not having played a match this season, no line can be given on the quality of the team. However, some idea should be gained on Saturday, when they meet Varsity. Swifts. Swifts will need to improve considerably ou Saturday’s play if the honours are to be retained by the red and blacks. The team was greatly in need of the match, and from now on the necessary improvement can be expected. The forwards played poorly, all being at sea, but the the full-backs, particularly Miss K. Miller, was solid and sound. She saved Swifts from defeat. Huia. In comparison with last season Huia has considerably improved both in defence and attack, and last week made Hutt United go all out to gain the ascendancy. Huia impresses as a team likely tzi gain unexpected success at the expense Of the top section. Technical Old Girls. The youthful Technical Old Girls’ second eleven must improve with experience. The full-backs would do well to remember that it is not in tlie best interests of the game for them to move into the other half of the field of play when on the offensive as they did last week. Technical Old Girls’ first team has played one match this season, in which College Old Girls gained a clear-cut win. To judge the team on that one game, when the others, with the exception of Swifts, have had the benefit of a second match, would not be right, but it can confidently be expected tlie ex-eollegians will give a taste of their true merit against Toa on Saturday.

Poneke played well, but the . forwards were troubled with tlie off-side rule. It is high time that players realised that there must be three of the opponents nearer their own goal line than the one taking the ball, particularly in senior A hockey. Poneke are not the only offenders in this respect; it is common in the grade. "When taking a forward pass the position of the acceptor of the ball and tlie necessary three opponents, to be on-side, should be carefully observed.

Notes on Senior Players. Varsity is unlucky to lose the services of the left wing, Miss Dive, sister of the centre forward, who returns to Wanganui this week. This young player showed a good turn of speed on the wing and was the main source of worry to the College Old Girls’ defence in the early spell. However, all her good efforts went for naught through lack of support by her inner and centre. The second session saw her absolutely neglected, Varsity making the mistake of concentrating on a weak rightflank attack.

Miss 8. Closs gave evidence of being a full-back of some standing until affected by cramp in a leg. She saved College Old Girls from some awkward situations in the opening spell against Varsity, but the cramp attack'appeared to leave her without vitality and confidence am! tlie bulk of the defence fell to Miss R. Walker, who acquitted herself very .well indeed. Miss Closs gives the impression that with another game or two she will be a thorn in any team’s /ide. Mrs. J. Donald,. Swifts’ right wing, played much below her usual capabilities against Toa and it was difficult to see her as the player of a beautiful game, ns has been asserted, when she failed to accept the timely passes that were placed her way. In her best form Mrs. Donald would generally turn such passes to good account. No doubt, like the rest of the team. Mrs. Donald was in need of the match.

Miss J. Rielly, Poneke left wing, was well to the fore last week, scoring all three goals for her team. She is fast and knows what to do with the ball when in possession. Tltere is every possibility of this player proving an acquisition to "Wellington. A hard worker and real go-getter was Miss M. Simpson. Technical Old Girls (11) inside left, file promoted junior of last season. She is capable of some good stick work.

Varsity’s centre half, Mies C. Robertson. was solid in defence, but invariably showed weakness in her failure to go up and support the attacks. Miss H. Morris, centre forward, and Miss I. Pickering, right wing, displayed a perfect understanding in the College Old Girls’ team, the majority of Miss Pickering’s beautifully timed centres being turned into good account by Miss Morris. As a centre Miss Morris is fast and clever, displaying uncanny ability with stick and ball.

Although .uncomfortable at centre haif, Mies A. Brookie showed to much advantage for St. Joseph’s against Upper Hutt when she reverted to right half in tlie second spell..