HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 63, 11 September 1915, Page 13

HOCKEY

LADIES' TOURNEY REVIEWED (ly "Sticks.") At the time of writing (Wednesday) the ladies' hockey tournament, which commenced on the Basin Reserve last ! Saturday, had advanced to an interesting stage. Perfect weather prevailed on these four w days, and the attendances, though not all that could' be desired, were fairly satisfactory. In these times of nranberless subscription lists and appeak for vnoney the public cannot be ex/pected to respond to every call made, but when the proceeds of the tournament come to be added up, it will, no doubt, be found that the effort*, of the hockey girls on behalf of tb* Wounded Soldiers Fund have by no means .been in- vain. Saturday was a big day on the Basin Reserve, for it ushered in the premier event in New Zealand Hockey. Girls were there from Hawkes Bay, Poverty Bay, Manawatu, Wanganui, Wairarapa, and Canterbury, while Wellington was represented by a really strong eleven. Naturally, followers of the game expected good hockey from such teams, and to say thatexpectations have been realised would be but putting it mildly. Speaking in a general way the contests have been first class in every respect, and in the majority of cases have been keenly fought to a finish. It has been said that girls' hockey is gradually dying out, and those who allege such a state of things would probably attempt to support their argument by referring to tne lack of entries. Let the writer remind these pessimists that there is a war on at" the present time, and that conditions are nowhere normal. Girls living long distances from Wellington did not feel disposed to spend the money which the trip would -require, and who can blame them? One thing is plain — the small entries do not point to a falling off of ' interest in the game. The first thing to strike one regarding the play is the collapse and subsequent recovery of Canterbury. On th« opening day^the Southerners tried conclusions with Manawatu, and in many quarters it was thought that Canterbury would prevail. Manawatu, however, held the trump card, and Canterbury, of whom big things were expected, tasted their first defeat. Those who witnessed the game cannot gainsay the fact that victory rested with the better team. The Southerners did not lack knowledge of the game, and their combined play was consistently good. What Canterbury lacked was initiative, and there was an almost painful slowness to grasp opportunities. It was evident that the girls understood each other well, but Manawatu's fleety forwards attacked with irresistible rapidity, and this told against Canterbury. On Monday Canterbury suffered a more severe defeat at the hands of Wairarapa ; tie Southerners were never in the fight, their slow movements letting Wairarapa in time after time. Tuesday saw a vast improvement in the play of Canterbury, the latter securing a narrow win against Hawkes Bay. On j Wednesday they played their best game, | and it says a great deal for their pluck that they put up such an excellent fight against Poverty Bay. Wairarapa %arted well by narrowly defeating Hawkes Bay. The girls from -the other side of the Rimutakas are a nuggety lot, who do not appear to have lost much of their previous knowledge of the game. They were living in high hopes of winning the championship until Poverty Bay accounted for their downfall by a narrow margin. However, Wairarapa play a finished game of hockey, and the team is popular with the crowd. One" of the'"'sunpriee packets" of the tourney are Manawatu. It was known, of course, that the Manawatu eleven was a strong one, and that it wat> to be Seriously reckoned with in the big fight, But the exhibitions given by the Palmerston girls have proved a revelation — nothing lew. The team combines excellently—and it w the eleven that does the work— not any particular individual. Of course, bright individual efforts have been noticeable, but all the time the team plays as a team. The forwards, especially the wings, are fast, and the backs seem to understand their rearguard. This was proved forcibly in tihe drawn game with Wellington. Poverty Bay, who did not arrive Until Monday night, made their debut on Tuesday, and came off on top against Wairarapa. They repeated their success the following day, and it would surprise no one if they are finally victorious. Wellington has done exceedingly well, while it looks as though Wanganui will win the "wooden spoon." "Sticks" will, however, reserve further remarks on the teams until the conclusion of the tournament. Meanwhile, let congratulations be extended to those who. have brought these " star " teams together, especially that very able commander-in-chjef— Mr. A. W. Manning. YESTERDAY'S GAMES TOURNAMENT ON BASIN RESERVE. The weather for the continuation, of the ladies' hockey tournament yesterday* was not- altogether favourable. The games, however, were interesting, and it looks as though the championship will be very keenly fought. POVERTY BAY.BEAT MANAWATU. Manawatu's traditional ill-luck accompanied tliem yesterday, when they tried, conclusions with the apparently invincible Poverty Bay eleven.. Manawatu did the major part of^ the attacking throughout, but Fate was never kind to them, and they had to submit to their first beating during the tournament. The goal which won the match for Pi \ ->rty Bay was an unfortunate one. Ii Ivippened during the first spell, and apparently Miss B. Pearce did not mean it for an attempt at goal at all. However, it found its 'way into the net and the question was decided. Manawatu attacked with great abandon in the second'spell, but they could not alter the score, which read : Poverty Bay (1) v. Manawatu (0). Messrs. Loader and Cus&ck refereed. WELLINGTON VANQUISH CANTERBURY. The first spell of this game was as'i even as it well could be, both teams having scored a goal. Wellington, whose team was slightly reorganised, made the pace in the second spell, however, and succeeded in adding four goals to their tally. For Wellington, Misses Corrick, Dobbyn (2), and Pickering (2) scored, while Miss Barr shot the ball in for Canterbury. Messrs. Carve? and Cockrell were referees. WAIRARAPA v. WANGANUI. v Wanganui played up to *Wairarapa pluckity, but the latter team were superior in tactics and general field play. Wanganui defended stubbornly, but the more experienced Wairarapa' girls brought their knowledge /of the game to bear. The final score was : Wairarapa 5, Wanganui 0. The scorers were : Misses B. Orr (2), Humphries, G. Grigg, and L. Duley. Messrs Wykes and Jones refereed.

POSITION OF THE TEAMS. Played. Won. Lost. D'wn. Pts. Poverty Bay ... 4 4 0 0 8 Wellington ... 4 3 0 1 7 Wairarapa ... 5 3 1 1 7 M.anawatu ... 5 ' 2 1 2 6 Canterbury .. 6 2 4 0 4 HawWßiy ..,& 1 * 0 2 Wuigumi ... 3 0 & 0 0