MEN’S MATCHES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 May 1931, Page 7

MEN’S MATCHES.

LEVIN A V. OTAKI B. The game between the above mentioned clubs took jdace on the Park Domain Levin yesterday, and resulted in a win for Levin. Otaki were late in arriving, owing to stoppages on the xoad and consequently the match finished in the failing light. From the bully Levin attacked but Otaki brought play -to midfield, where it remained for some time. Levin eventually worked their way into the Otaki circle wher e Anderson scored. Levin 1, Otaki 0. Levin forwards continued to keep up the pressure and play hovered round the Otaki goal. Clark catching the Otaki goalie out of position, scored with a good shot. Levin 2, Otaki 0. Otaki immediately from the bully set sail for the Levin goal, but were met with stubborn defence by the Levin Lacks, who were defending well. The next score was a result of a solo effort by Anderson, who traversed half the ifield with the ball to score. Levin 3, Otaki 0.

From the bully, play was of an even nature, first one side gaining the advantage and then the other, until the Otaki forwards kept Levin defending .and Hesp in clearing, committed an infringement, for which a penalty bully was given, the result being Otaki’s only score. Levin 3, Otaki 1. Half-time sounded with Otaki pressing. Up to this stage Levin were having the better of the game. Upon resumption Otaki placed Levin on the defence and kept them busy for some time defending their goal, which ■eventually Levin cleared. A concerted movement by the Levin forwards aaw the ball quickly taken to Otaki's circle, where from a melee Clark scored. Levin 4, Otaki 1. Levin were now continually on the attack and shots at goals by Worsfold, Marrion, Walls and Clark were fruitless, the shooting being erratic. Otaki livened up and Levin had to defend strenuously to keep them from scoring. Mann had two shots at goal hut both missed. Both sides were given corner hits but no score resulted from them. The light was now- failing and the ball was difficult to distinguish. Otaki were trying hard to increase their score, but the Levin backs were clearing in fine style and shortly afterwards a rather scraggy game ended, with the scores Levin 4, Otaki 1. Messrs Balph and Kilminster referred. ~ A noticeable improvement was . the manner in which obstruction tactics were dealt with, players were repeatedly pulled up for this practice and it is about time. It is hoped that the • other referees will take the same decisive action, Widdas in goal was safe, and the local team have a safe custodian. Hesp, McKeown, Curtis and Butt were defending splendidly, Butt in particular. Hesp is the makings of a .good player. Marrion and Walls improved on their previous display, although they dwell too long before centring the ball. Anderson, as usual, was a grafter, .and his solo effort during the match, was excellent, Clark and Worsfold combined well, although Worsfold seemed to have a day off. The Otaki forwards worked well, but the .rear division of the Levin team were on their game and so many 6f <Haki r s movements were fruitless.

' The game was not up to expectations, T)6th sides letting many opportunities ..slip by. With the number of shots at jgoal and the corner hits given, the <£core should have been larger on both

side. Shooting oy the forwards was very erratic. LEVIN B v. PARAPARAUMU. On the Otaki Domain, the Levin B ‘ team, playing with only ten [men, suffered another defeat at the hands of Paraparaumu. In the first spell the southern team did most of tne attacking and the spell ended Paraparaumu 5, Levin 0. However upon resumption, Levin asserted themselves and had the best of the spell, scoring two goals, the final score being: Paraparaumu 5, Levin 2. A regrettable incident in this match wa the necessity for the referee to caution,a Levin player against the use of improper language on the field of play. L^IK^ATCHES. LEVIN V. PARAPARAUMU. The Levin ladies’ team journeyed to Paraparaumu and met the local ladies, whom they defeated by 5 goals to nil. At half-time Levin led iby 3 goals to nil and in the second half they scored two more goals. The scorers for Levin were V. Henderson 3, J. Kerr 2. The Levin team showed an improvement on their last game. Mrs Tucker was very safe as usual, while 'G. O’Donnell was her old self, being very safe also. V. Henderson was a toiler and played very prominently throughout tne game, ably assisted by the remainder of the forwards. The game was played in a clean sporting spirit and was enjoyed by all. Messrs Hume and Brandt proved efficient referees. An acquisition to the Levin team was Miss Sinclair, a new arrival to the district, who has the makings of a splendid forward. OHAU v(. JTE HORO. At Otaki the Ohau ladies defeated Te Horo ladies by 2 goals to nil. The Te Horo ladies put up a sterling defence throughout the game, and never let up, although they were on the defensive practically throughout the whole game. Ohau’s two goals goals were scored in the last quarter of an hour before the final whistle. FIVE-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT AT FEILDING, Next Wednesday, June 3rd, the Peilding Glub is holding a five-a-side tournament, and several teams from Levin are taking part. There will no doubt, be large entries as the day is a holiday. ON THE HOCKEY FIELD. THE CENTRE FORWARDMAKES OR MAES THE GAME. The success of a forward line can be made or marred by a good or inefficient “bully” (centre-forward). He should be the mainspring of .the attack. I do not mean to infer that he should score all the goals himself, but he is also looked upon to make the openings for his other forwards. Supposing, for example, that a centreforward has possession of the ball somewhere in the neighbourhood of the centre of the field. He has two or three courses open to him. He can put the ball out to his wings, pass to his inside-forward, or go through himself. If his winger is hard-marked by the opposing half; as he should be, a pass to the outside is out of the question. Should he attempt to go through himself he will be well marked by the centre-half; thus he would naturally pass to an inside-forward, who would be unmarked. Of course, it may be that the opposing wing-halves are not playing the correct game and the winger is open for a pass. The centre-forward has to make up his mind as to which method of attack he is going to adopt. There is no hard and fast rule. A lot depends on how your opponent is marking and much on the state of the ground. If the ground be bumpy the open game would be advisable, if the surface be good, the inside game. A centre-forward should endeavour to draw the opposition before parting with the ball. I do not mean that he should let his opposing half actually attack him. Do not play a fixed or settled game, but endeavour to keep tha opponents guessing as far as possible. The centre should be a good shot and, like the inners, follow up a shot, not only of his own, but of any of the forwards, generally harassing the defence as much as possible. He should be capable of using the flick shot and to employ it with more hope of success than by taking a ‘ ‘ blinder.” Avoid being selfish. If your inside man is better placed than yourself, it should be his shot. Should a centre come into possession when on the defensive, the best plan would be to endeavour to get the ball away to his wing and position himself for the return pass. It Should be impressed on budding centre-forwards that it is not their sole mission to score goals. They can take just as much or more credit if they make the openings for their colleagues. Avoid trying to score from too acute an angle. By attempting this it is easy for a goalkeeper to cut out the shot. There are, of course, times when they should, let a centre pass if an inside man is at hand and left free. DON’TS TO PLAYERS. A few dont/s for players, young and old. , Don't let your team down by turning

up late. If unable to play let your captain know«in ample time. Don’t forget that a sporting or unsporting action by you reflects on the whole team. Don’t chatter while playing. It has spoilt many a good game. Don’t feel entitled to knock an opponent ’s foot off the ball because he or she is obstructing. The head might be there another time. Leave the decision to the referee. Don’t keep nagging at a mate to 'bring the ball through, but see you do your bit when it comes your way. Don’t use one hand to take the ball through ' a pack of forwards —you haven’t learnt the Indians’ trick! Don’t lose your temper—it ends in trouble. Don’t “back-chat” the referee —he is a pretty good sport who gives up his time to help the game. Criticising is easier than refereeing. Don’t throw your togs on one side after the game. Clean them first, and pay attention to your stick. Don’t let the other chap do all the work getting the ground in order—do a bit yourself; there’s pleasure in it. A hockey tournament is to be held at Feilding at an early date.