HOCKEY TEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 6, 7 July 1938, Page 15

HOCKEY TEST

ENGLISH WOMEN WIN

$ ■ " * SUPERIOR ALL ROUND

S€DDEN GROUND CONDITIONS

i (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ( CHRISTCHURCH, July 6. In a game that was a good exhibition of hockey in the circumstances, the touring English women's team beat New Zealand in the first Test match, at Lancaster Park, by four goals ,to one. The ground was very soft and wet and in a few minutes after the start the -field was churned up. In spite of the cold and damp weather, about 2000 persons, watched the game. The ;match was a triumph for the .tactics' of the English team which, in the earlier stages; looked as if it would win by a big margin. When, .. New {Zealand had settled down, however, play was much more even, .the second half being very closely contested. The main difference between the ■teams was the superior Combination and positional.play of the visitors.. The centring-hits of the English wing-for-wards weie always better placed; than| those ofythef New Zealand players, who were passing the ball straight across the field instead of upfield a little. In the first half this difference was most marked, but after the spell the home side played much better. The English forwards had more understanding of one another's play than the New Zealanders. They were, however, hampered by the heavy ground and their play was hardly up to the high standard set against Canterbury, when conditions were much better. Miss JV L. O'Donoghue was perhaps the most prominent, but she was little ahead of Misses J. F. Wright and B. W. West. All three showed good stick-, work and positional play. Miss J. E. Dowling, on the left wing, was not seen at her best in the mud but her Centring hits were always accurately placed an 4 she used her speed to advantage- bitf occasions. Miss E. Shelmerdine, onvthe right, was always dangerous, and; she made some good openings for-her inside forwards. The English halves had a better understanding of positional play than those of New Zealand, and, besides placing their passes to the forwards accurately, they were adept at stopping the ball and covering up when

necessary. Miss K. Thompson, at centre, did a lot of good work, although she was not often in the limelight. Misses M. J. Lodge and B. Fairgrieve also did their share, both on attack and defence. ' The backs, Misses M. M. Knott and M. E. Collins, were both very safe and worked well together. Miss G. Huggins, in goal, made some good, saves, although she was not overworked. NEW ZEAL.ANDERS' SHOWING. The New Zealand forwards played well, but they did not have the understanding that comes only through practice together. They improved as the game went on, but their combination was at times faulty, and their positional play not always of the best. Miss M. McKenzie was perhaps the best, but she was little ahead of Miss M. Nicol. On the right wing they combined better than any of the others. Miss H. McLellan, inside left, was always to the fore. She made several good openings, and her goal was a fine piece of work. Miss M. Sherriff, at centre, played her usual solid game, and did her best to open up the play. Miss D. Dickey, on the left wing, was, like the rest, not suited by the ground. She nevertheless made several good runs, and was prominent on several occasions. The halves had a hard task in stopping the English forwards*. Their chief fault was their positional play, which sometimes left big gaps for the English forwards to come through. Miss S. Aldridge, at centre, was the best. Her work was always neat, and she fed the forwards, well at every chance. Miss M. Sanson improved greatly in the second spell, when she was right at the top of her form. Miss A. Mackie, on the left, was another who improvqd as the game went on. Miss A. McDonald lived up to" her reputation as the best back in New i Zealand. Her defence was always sound and she got her side, out of, trouble time and again. Miss W. Wool- | ley, although not. as sure as her part-' rier, did a lot of good work, and Miss Rhind, in goal, made some fine saves, although she had to fight out two penalty bullies. . In the first half England scored three goals and New Zealand none, th,e scorers being Misses Wright, Dowling, and O'Donoghue. In the second spell Miss McLellan scored for New Zealand, | and England was awarded a penalty goal for obstruction, the final- score being: England 4, New Zealand 1.