HOCKEY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 174, 24 June 1926, Page 2

HOCKEY

GAMES PLAYED YESTERDAY, The ladies’ mid-week lioclcey competitions were continued yesterday when W.E.O.G. met Technical at the Sportsgrounds and Longburn travelled .to Ohakea. An A and B representative men’s match was contested locally, and the C representatives visited Woodville. Following were the results:— W.E.O.G. had a runaway victory in their match with Technical, whose hitting was very weak. The half line was not capable of holding the W.E.O.G. forwards and the consequence was that the latter were on the offensive most of tho time. At the final whistle the scores were 7-1 in favour of W.E.O.G. Mr H. McDowell refereed.

Longburn were easily defeated by Ohakea, the home team having the advantage throughout. In the first spell the score reached 3-l ; Ohakea adding a further two goals in the second half, making the final result 5-1. Mr Inkpen refereed. At the conclusion of the game, the visitors were entertained at afternoon tea by Miss Baily. The A and B _ men’s representative match was fairly interesting in the first twenty minutes of play, as the B’s had the advantage for that time. The A backs, Burgess _ and McLachlan, did great work and it was only their efforts that prevented their opponents from scoring. Brace, for the A team, played a good game on the left wing, and gave the forward some nice opportunities for scoring. In the second spell, the training of the A players began to jliave its effect and they gradually wore their opponents down. Over-eagerness lost them many opportunities, however, and numerous breaches of the rules rather spoilt the exhibition. The game ended with the score 5-0 in favour of the A team. Mr Aitchison refereed.

At Woodville the Manawatu C representatives played a friendly game with a local team and suffered defeat by four goals to one. Lack of combination was responsible for the defeat. Mr H. R. Robinson refereed.

YESTERDAY’S TRIAL,

NOTES ON THE GAME, "

The following notes on yesterday’s trial match prior to the Indian Army game next Wednesday ar© supplied by a local enthusiast:—“The game was, from an enthusiast’s point of view, disappointing. The forwards of the A team lost many opportunities to make tho most of the openings made for them; they are inclined to overrun each other, and are over anxious when ifi the circle. A careful study of position would greatly assist in improving their play. * “Anderson, at centre, should use more of the liberties given in a bully, and feed his outers and inners more freely. Lundy at inside left was not •very successful, his shooting being erratic. He should always remember that, when beaten for the ball, he should always try to recover it, without using body play.’ Brace,*on the outside left, played a very creditable game, fast and always handy when needy. He should cultivate the holding of his stick with two hands; one hand 1 play is very dangerous, and may lead to trouble when near the circle. Kyle on the outside right gave a good exhibition of wing play, but should endeavour to centre the ball from the 25 yards, as not doing so has a big tendency to cramp players when the ball is carried too near the circle. A good player, he should get his stick to the ground more Smartly. Half the success of a good hockey player is the secret of quick stick work.

“The halves were a fairly even lot. Mayo is out of placo; he is a very safe and heady player, but should be on the right wing, as he has a big tendency to always play to the right and would make a very dangerous player at inside right in the forward line. Davoy would be better in the centre; he should get rid of the ball more quickly and refrain from using his feet as an obstruction, a fault which may cause his side trouble in a tight corner. Hearfield, as left half, is fairly safe, but should study the side-stepping policy when being attacked, instead of driving the ball hard up the field. TKe halves should always remember that hard l hitting i3*fatal to gjood forward work, and try and assist their forwards more by watching the direction of the hits. . “Of the full-backs, who are sound, McLaughlan at left is fairly strong on attack, but needs to use more judgment on defence; undercutting is a dangerous practice, and needs to be severely penalised ; this player should always keep cool, with mind alert, when hard pressed and should cultivate a better knowledge in the finer _ points of the game; otherwise a creditable showing. Burgess at right-back is very safe, and a hard man to beat. He should get tho ball away quicker; delay ends in trouble. He is inclined to hit too hard, and should watch more closely the direction when placing the ball. Cousins at goal gave a good all round display and showed clever stick work; a good goalie and a hard man to beat. McLaughlan is a good goalie and with representative match experience will prove a firstclass custodian. He uses his feet well, but is a trifle slow in clearing. “Of tho B team the outstanding player was Stuart at inside right. A very heady player, his s'tickwork is good, and he uses his knowledge of the finer points of the game to the best advantage. It is hard to understand why the selectors dropped him in preference to Lundy. He was a much better man on the day’s play. “The game was ably controlled by Mr R. L. C. Aitchison, but he would do well to bo more strict on obstruction, and also to blow the whistle immediately tho breach of the rules has been made. He should also, penalise the un-

dercutting as no hockey ball when hit fair and square on the ground with the flat side of the stick will rise in tho air. Undercutting is a dangerous practice. The team as chosen should give a real good display, but unless Lundy improves he should give way to Stuart. “Remarks: Players send the ball about; avoid hard hitting, cultivate the short, nippy passes, and save your forwards unnecessary running about; practice stick work; avoid body play and don’t speculate; stop the ball first and watch where you hit it; always see that a player is there to get the ball when you hit; avoid giving sticks,_ the tendency of the team in general is to commit this breach; swing more round to stroke, and don’t forget to get your feet in position.”