HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 131, 4 June 1932, Page 18

HOCKEY

■ By "Sticks-

FIRST ROUND OVER

SENIOR A COMPETITION

SEDDON STICK. MATCH

SENIOR A. .■■"'■ ' ' ' ' '.. ■ .Goals. Ghp; P.-W. h. D. P. A.Ptl Hutt 5 4 1• — 14 G 8 Karori 5 4 1 — 18 io S Wellington .... 5 ,3. 11 14 5 7 Y.JI:C.A. ..;... 5 1 2"2.10 ■' 12 4 Wesley -...:....'. 5 1 3 1. a: 20 3 Varsity 5 — .5 — 3-15".—' ■""■■■ SENIOR B. : . 1 ' ;; ' • Goals. Clip. ... P. ■W. L. D. F. A.Pts. Varsity, A. .o 4 — 1 17 G 9 Hiiia ..'•. 3 3 — — 7. 3 6 Petone ~:...... 5 3.2. — 1G 5 6 Hutt ■ "5 2 -3 ■—■14.16 4' Karori ■ ; 4 1 1 2 11 12 4 Varsity B. ; .... 3 2 1 — 4 4 4 Wellington .... 4 1 2- 1 5 11 3 Wesley 5 1 4 — 11 13 2 Training College 4 — 4 — — 15 — JUNIOR. Goals. Clip. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Wellington A. .. 5 4 — 1 15 G 9 Huia A. ........ 5' 4 1 — 20 10 8 Karori 5 4 1— So 7 8 Varsity A 5 4 1 —■ 21 9 S Wellington B. -.. 5 2 12 13 S G Petone 5 2 2 1 13 9 5 Hula B. 5 1 3 1 9 20 3 r.JLC.A. ...... 5 1,3 1 11 20 3 Hutt 5—5 — 3 28 — Varsity B 5 — : 5 — 4 25 — ■ The drawn game with V.M.C.A. and defeat by Karori have cost Wellington the. leadership of the nien's senior A competition, and Hutt and Karori took; charge as a result of last Saturday 's games. Many good judges consider that Wellington's lapse is only temporary, and point to Karori Js goal on Saturday as being a very lucky one. From a sporting point of view at is to be hoped that Wellington regain their form- in order to keep interest at a high /pitch in the compptitiori. Saturday's games closed the "first round of A grade matches, and ■ the remaining rounds may produce many surprises. ■ The principal championship tables are. as follows:— Victoria Beat Auckland.1 Victoria: scored a. well-deserved win over Auckland in the inter-University tournament-for the Seddon Stick at Newtown Park yesterday. From the point of view of the spectators, ; the gam« was intensely exciting, the issue being in doubt until a short time before the finish. The play itself ;was exceedingly fast, and both teams were hard .put to keep' up the pace.-; Auckland put up a splendid fight, but they displayed.a poor knowledge of "the obstruction - rule,' and this lost them, many opportunities. 111 tho first half they had .the of the game, aud Victoria ?s.- defence was severely. tested on more/than one occasion. 'They combined .vory well, some of their forward movements being very impressive. Bay, in the forward line, was the most outstanding player in the team. He played well in both matches in the tournament, and was a source of trouble, to' tne opposing teams. Crawley (goalkeeper) also played a sound game. Vic-toria's/stick-work was a little-erratic at times, but generally speaking they ; played:a"good game.--Bishop and-Eob- : dnson (centre-half)- played, excellently; in.fact,. Victoria owe .their win largely to ' the latter's' 'efEortsl. Bollard, Strutters,' and Bead also Splayed well, and ;tlie -backs gave. a. good of themselves. ~-,.;, ; . f In the qualifying rounds, Victoria had 'no easy.task to beat Canterbury, last-year's winners .of-the trophy. The gamo was very- even throughout,. Victoria " gaining the. victory by a margin 'of one"" goal. Canterbury- played ■a very forceful game.- Auckland beat Otagq in a game that lost its interest after ■ half-time. 'Otago played, well in the first • half, ■ but- in the second spell they, could not. withstand Auckland's repeated'attacks. ■ Points for Players. . ■Every player, no matter how good'he or she .might be, is liable to make faults, and the following comments by Mr. A. Stratton,. selector to the Wellington lia'dies' Hockey .Association, should be helpful to players, and assist them in impioving their game: "Most of the ladies' teams," states Mr. Stra'tton, "appear-to play the game without any idea of a plan. There is no tean^ plan or tactics. The "player's "'merely chase the ball 'endeavouring: to get a hit; at it.' . The ; backs are, fully occupied in stopping the opponents' attacks aiid the forwards . are; individually- wholly concerned in .getting the ball upfield. With^ucli teams games: resolve themselves into.mainly a.'scramble• for -the baiL " They' are not spectacular; there is i not -much pleasure.. for the "players themselves,-and hard .knocks are quent. Teams .must consider some style of ■ play,■ or"at -least some: general, idea of. a plan;or method in - their -play.- ; : ; '"It may perhaps put these teams on the right lines if they will realisethat the best form of defence' is attack. Halves should give up the idea that they are defenders and, concentrate on backing up their forwards and feeding them accurately with the ball—^they can still mark, the opposing forwards at any time by "placing themselves, in 'line between the bail-iand.the forward they wishi to^mark.. Full-backs are. not helping in an attack by merely slogging the'- ball up the • fieid.- They can keep further upfield than the general idea of their. place,' and should direct ttheir nits so that.the ballis received by one of ; their, own players. A wild clearing hit generally means, giving the ball to an opponent. The,secret of keeping on the attack is..retaining possession af the- ba11... FullTbacks.-sJiould not be satisfied unless, they clear .the ball to one of their;own"players.(sometimes, -to the.other full-back is' a good move). By keeping near", your -own players it is generally. easier to pass • to.' them. Halves should know just where their forwards'are, and keeping near-.them, should pass quickly to. .one that is unmarked. Forwards must assist by keeping in touch with the halves when they have dropped' back. -When tlie forwards have got thoball they should endeavour to keep it and not hit it ahead.. Always try:to pass ..the ball-to one^of your p^yn players, not necessarily the nearest-one, but place it where one of your players can pick it up. , By glancing at your opponents you soon learn to notice the gaps in the defence. In short, don't play the game with the idea that you must stop your opponents from scoring. It.doesn't matter what they score so long as, you score more. Concentrate on attack and endeavour to keep the ball with your own players. Tpu may' not attain success for some time, but you will at least develop a much more enjoyable game and one that -quickly lends itself to 'improvement." Petone. Club. The positions of.the teams for the club aggregate cup are as followsSenior B, played 5, won 3, lost-2 (10 goals for and 5-against); third grade, played 5,, won 2, .lost 2,-■ drawn-" 1 (11 goals for and 7 against); junior, played s,'won .2, lost»2; drawn 1(13 goals for-and 9-against).. ■ • , . -..-.-