WOMEN'S HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 111, 13 May 1939, Page 23

WOMEN'S HOCKEY

OPENING DAY

EXCELLENT CONDITIONS

HOPES FOR GOOD SEASON

(By "Left Inxyer.")

The Wellington "Women's Hockey Associati«i was treated very favourably in the matter of weather conditions last Saturday, when the season was opened with the first games in the club competitions. More perfect conditions for hockey would have been hard to secure, and the day gave a definite "boost" to the sport this y Play in all grades was keen and v\ ing, and what was probably more noticeable than anything else was the condition of the players themselves. They showed that this season they have put their minds to their preseason preparations, and practically every team that took the field last Saturday was well trained and ready for its game. If the performances seen last Saturday are any indication, then the season should be a very successful one, and should reveal bright hockey. The year will from all points of view produce keenly-contested club games with a high standard of play all round. C.O.G. Changes. Thare have been six changes this season in the C.O.G. senior A team, last year's championship winners. Misses M. Smith and I. Morris have gone to Rotorua, Miss N. Prestney to Canterbury, Miss V. Mumm has returned to Westport, and Mrs. E. Daniells and Miss M. Clarke have retired from the game. To fill these vacancies several outside recruits have been obtained, and two players have been promoted from senior B. Miss Honor Morris has returned to Wellington and gives every indication of reproducing her old form. A new left half has been found in Miss O. Berwick, a new arrival from Northamptonshire. The goalie position is being filled by Miss B. Winiata, late of Horowhenua. Miss G. Petley, last year's senior B centre-forward, is being tried out as centre half, and although she is inclined to be a little erratic in passing, she shows signs of definite promise. Miss D. Hatcher has been promoted from senior B to the A grade. She keeps her position well

and works hard. The senior B team has undergone many changes, and most of the positions are filled by last year's juniors. Only four of the original team last year remain, but the side playing this year when it has time to work up a combination will be quite strong. The intermediate grade team members are mostly newcomers to hockey, but the » majority of them show a natural aptitude for the game, and their keenness at training is a point in their favour. New English Player. A newcomer who is likely to prove a valuable asset to Wellington hockey this season is Miss Betty Green, an English girl who toured New Zealand recently with the English women's cricket team. Miss Green is now sports mistress at Chilton St. James School, Lower Hutt, and is at present on holiday in the South Island. She has not yet decided for which Wellington team she will play, but as she has ttirned out for both Technical College Old Girls and College Old Girls, it is between these two teams that she will probably make her final choice. Miss Green is a pleasing player to watch as left inner. She is fast, has a variety of shots, and plays with that peculiar clean English style which New Zealand girls long to emulate. Enter Maranui! A new club has joined the ranks of the association this season and has entered two teams in the junior and intermediate grades. The club, Maranui by name, was formed by one or two stalwarts of the old Huia Club, which is non-existent, but most of the members have had no connection with Huia, and have joined together to form a completely new club. The playing uniform of the new club consists of a halved red and blue blouse and a royal blue skirt. Any women hockey players in Wellington wishing to join up with Maranui are advised to communicate with the secretary, Miss S. McMahon, Old Ohariu Road, Johnsonville.