WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 254, 23 July 1936, Page 5

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

F’ji v. Wellington on Saturday MATCH AT BASIN RESERVE Corner Rule; Notes and Comments (By Carrie.) Saturday next will be a red letter day for women’s hockey in Wellington. . Ihe Fiji touring team will play its initial match in this city against a strong local representative eleven on the Basin Reserve, commencing at 3 p.m., preceded at 1.30 by the first contest between Wellington B and Horowhenua for the Baker Batata Memorial Cup.

Keen enthusiasm is being displayed among players and followers of the game, and it will not be for lack of effort on the part of the Wellington Women’s Hockey Association and the various players from the clubs, if the project does not prove a success in every respect. Players are to be complimented on the wholehearted manner in which they have rallied round the association in its efforts to ensure the touring team spending an enjoyable stay in Wellington.

Public Quick to Appreciate. The Wellington public is a good sporting fraternity and quick to appreciate the voluntary work performed for the success of any sport. This opportunity will be given on Saturday. Knowing how hard the Wellington hockey girls have worked for the occasion. I feel sure the public will assure them that their .efforts were not in vain by giving the Fiji team a memorable Wellington welcome. Given a fine day the gate should be a record one for women’s hockey.

Fast, Keen Game Expected. With the drying winds to assist, Mr. Brewer and his staff are making every effort to have the Basin in tip-top Order for Saturday. If the weather is fine the public will be in for a fast, keen exhibition of hockey. The tourists have been unfortunate not to strike a ground suitable to their liking so far on the tour, but given good conditions on Saturday the public can expect to see the visitors--reveal their true capabilities. The Wellington team is a particularly strong combination, and includes such fine exponents of the game as Miss E. Cheyne, goalkeeper, Mrs. A. Smith, full-back, and the College Old Girls trio, Misses I. Pickering, H. McLellan and 11. Morris, who have been performing brilliantly on the right attacking flank for their team during the season. The tourists will play in black shorts and white blouses. It is understood they will appear in footwear suitable to the condition of the ground. They concluded the South Island section of the itinerary yesterday, and will arrive from Lyttelton to-morrow morning, and be billeted at the Cambridge Hotel during their stay here. The Varsity club will entertain them to morning tea. to-morrow, and in the afternoon they will be the guests ot Mrs. F. Sundgren, .at Karori, after which they will practice at Karori Park. An informal dinner will be tended both the Fiji and Horowhenua teams on Saturday night at the Cambridge Hotel by the Wellington association, after which both teams will be the guests of the Technical Old Girls’ club at a dance at the Technical College. On Sunday the Fiji party will be taken for a tour of Wellington. Mr. C. P. McKenzie will give a talk from 2YA to-night at 7.40 on the Fiji team in general.

Umpires of Fiji Match. The honour of umpiring the Fiji-Wel-lington match on Saturday has fallen on two men fully conversant with the rules of the game, Messrs. J. C. Cusack and E. L. Harris, the former being, appointed by Wellington and the Fiji tourists selecting Mr. Harris from the three names submitted to them. Mr. Cusack has been umpiring for a considerable number of years, and his knowledge of the rules is undoubted. He is one of the examiners appointed by the N.Z.W.H.A. He informed the writer yesterday that Saturday would be the last, occasion upon which he would make his appearance as an umpire, as he desired to make room for the younger men following in his footsteps. jlr. Harris is among the best umpires of women’s hockey in Wellington, possessing an exceptionally good knowledge of the rules. His umpiring at the Gisborne tournament last year was very favourably commented upon not only in the local papers but also among officials and players. At the recent theory examination conducted by the N.Z.W.H.A. he secured the second highest marks for tue Dominion, Mr. S. Brugh, another Wellington umpire, gaining highest. Corner Hit Rule.

The corner hit rule says: (a) A player of the attacking team shall take a hit from a spot on the defenders’ goal-line or on the sideline within three yards of the corner flag post nearest to the P 01 “J where the ball crossed the goal-line, (b) At the moment when the hit is taken the defending team shall be outside the field of play and shall have both feet, and sticks behind their own goal-line. The attacking team, except the player taking the hit, shall be in the field of play and have both feet and sticks outside the circle. Should a member of the defending side cross the goal-line or a player of the attacking team cross the circle line before the ball is hit the umpire may order the hit to be retaken, (c) No shot at goal shall be allowed from a corner hit unless the ball be stopped on the groun by a player of the attacking team, or touch the stick or person of a player or the defending team. A breach of para (e) of this rule is a free hit to the defenders. Paragraph (b) is plain and needs no comment. An umpire is justified in penalising a shot at goal when he considers that the corner hit was not sufficiently stopped or an honest attempt was not made to arrest the ball. It does not follow that .the ball must be motionless before the shot is made; for instance, suppose an attempt has been made to stop the ball but it moves so slowly- that another attempt by the player would be successful, then the second shot to score can be allowed. Under no circumstances whatsoever must a shot to score be P er " mitted when a player in attempting to stop the ball has not been successful and the ball passes on to another member or her team and she does not attempt to stop it before making the shot to score. The advantage rule can often be applied in respect of a corner hit. Should the defenders come out too soon before the ball has actually been hit, but the. hit has been well directed to an attacker and she has time to get her shot in unhindered, the shot should be allowed (do not send the defenders back behind the line). A player in taking a corner must watch that she is not off-side after taking the cornel. It must be remembered that she is near the goal-line. ... Next Thursday's article will deal with obstructions. Decision at Last. After having played three drawn games previously, the fourth meeting between Karori West and Karori juniors last week produced a decision, Karori West gaining a verdict by two goals. The game was played in the best of sporting spirit. Karori lost chances through being penalised repeatedly, principally for turning on the ball. These two teams must certainly set some of our senior teams a splendid example for neatness on the field of play. As a result of this match Karori West now hold a three points lead in the championship.