QUAGMIRE-LIKE CONDITIONS

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 23

QUAGMIRE-LIKE CONDITIONS

GROUNDS AT KARORI PARK

The standard of hockey at Karori Park last week was necessarily poor because of the heavy and quagmire-like conditions The two senior A games, Wellington Technical and Wesley-Hutt, were played on Nu 2 and No. 7 grounds respectively. The goalmouths on both grounds would have made splendid grovelling areas for ducks or com--68,^ Place? f°r Pigs' Out' being Either, players friund^t very difficult to accustom themselves to the conditions Even-th^field ov 0e? c trhe Vp Sl a cne M fit Stat£ '" h°Ckey> playerS *Uppin* arid?A *T

tn+r^f y> ih ground was m fairly gOQd order, but permissionto transfer one of the semor games to it was refused. For some thne now tins ground has been reserved for women's games but owin^to the representative match against the Fijian teairTon Saturday th^ground was unoccupied. It would have been a spiting gesture if the ground had been made available for one of the earned ym f vieT of the shocking condition rf^-ffiffi1 c y o:L s zr^ hto^KnS K g^K ■ tTtty22g ground for someone to control the game. Interest in hockey has in creased considerably in recent years, and it would be a sportos actS if ex-players showed their continued interesfin the game brdonS an umpire's uniform. In all the senior A games lartiaturdaTthf umpires were called upon to do more than anyone^asi right?to^ exnect from them. There was one umpire to each match and In spite oi the fteYndTpt 4 PaCe en°Ugh tb cause to tf e'towards

Last Saturday found the Huia senior A team off form, and the Karori B team playing a splendid game, with the result that the margin of points held by Huia has been reduced to two once more. This Swill result hv the final clash between Huia and Karori A being full of interest, the positions of the two teams on the championship ladder placing Karori within striking distance of first place. There is little likelihood of change in the positions' lower down, the next team—Hutt—being six points below Karori.

In spite of the rain the grounds at Naenae were. ,in reasonably , good order. The first ground,-where'Huia and Karori B met, was slippery in places, and the second ground was bumpy, without being particularly unstable. If Huia had been playing to form there could have been little doubt about the result, but they lacked their usual finish and did not look particularly dangerous at-any stage. On the other hand, the Karori players were playing a splendid game, and

actually deserved a win on the showing they made. Midfield play was fairly evenly balanced, but Karori had an advantage in attack and defence. Their full-backs were stopping rushes in a masterly manner, and the forward line had numerous shots at goal, the Huia goalie saving his side from defeat. The goal scored by Karori was well deserved, and the suburban men were unlucky to have one registered against them for a draw. ■ ' .',

The University team held Karori A well in their match on the second ground at Naenae, but their three-full-back formation proved imperfect, the Karori forwards having several shots at an unprotected goal. However, the students have improved greatly dur-. ing the seas.on and should be an awkward side to defeat when they strike form. Their finish in the circle shows a big advance, the Karori goalkeeper being given some hard tasks on Saturday.; ■'■■..