HOCKEY IN GREYMOUTH.

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1934, Page 11

HOCKEY IN GREYMOUTH.

[TO THE EDITOB.] Sir. —Like your correspondent “Hockey Stick,” I was rather surprised on my return to Greymouth to find that hockey had “fizzled out” here. I had always thought that the game was on a strong footing here, especially in the women’s section, and I was naturally very sorry to find the state of affairs that exists at present. I agree with your correspondent that hockey has made a tremendous advance in recent years, and I feel sure any effort made here would have tne cordial support of Canterbury and also Westport, at which latter place I believe the game is played by very many. Why the game has been allowed to fade out is rather hard to understand, but I did hear that most of the hockey clubs foolishly allowed themselves to run into debt and then could not raise the necessary finance to carry on. West Coasters have always had the reputation of being firstclass sports. At the ladies’ tournaments I have attended, their play was always of the clean sporting type, which has made hockey so popular in other centres. This year the tournament for the “K” Cup is expected to be held at Blenheim, and I should be sorry to find that the Coast did not have a strong team present. Now is the time to do the ground work for such an important event. I wonder if the West Coast girls have sufficient “punch” to get together and perhaps bring back some of the trophies competed for? Men’s hockey should flourish here and there should be little difficulty in securing a ground for play, say on ‘Wednesday’s, although many look upon hockey as a girls’ game. I am satisfied after years of play that it is a mucn more scientific game than any. other winter sport. Its big advantage lies in the fact that no dirty work can take place behind the scenes, so to speak, and everybody who takes part secures an excellent physical training, in addition to which the fast movements train the eye to a high degree of perfection. I hope to see the game revived this year, and should be glad to give any assistance possible. If “Hockey Stick” cares to enquire at the “Star” office he can secure my name from you, sir, and perhaps we can see what can be done in the matter.—l am etc., CENTRE FORWARD. Greymouth, April 16.