ON THE HOCKEY FIELD

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 205, 28 July 1928, Page 19 (Supplement)

ON THE HOCKEY FIELD

NOTES ON THE GAME. FROM FAR AND NEAR. (By “Half-back.”) Against Wellington. Wellington Association lias accepted the local association’s suggestion for a representative game, and at the last meeting of the Wellington executive the secreetary was instructed to arrange a suitable date. M cllington wilf bo the venue for the game.

Possible Match With Ruahine. . The secretary of the Ladies’ Association lias received word that a Ruahine team may be playing here next Wednesday. Nothing, definite lias vet been settled. % but it is hoped that'a match may lie arranged with the local representatives. Referees. Referees have been required badly during the past season. With live games each Wednesday and three on Saturdays, there has been plenty ot work for the willing few who have held the whistles. There has been too much of the same men finding it necessary to turn out time after time, instead of being able to have an occasional dav to themselves. The thanks of ail players are due to the referees for the work done during the past season. Services have been gi\en regularly and freely and invariably with absolute impartiality. Players

who no longer turn out should join up with the referees’ association and do their bit for the game.

Lady Referees ? Why is it that no ladies are referees? The ladies play good hockey., and the game locally and in most parts of New Zealand has most of its supporters in the ranks of the fair sex. It the ladies can play hockey, surely they can referee the game? Men, caring no longer to take the field as one of a team, but wishing for some milder exercise, turn out as the holder of the whistle, but to do so never appears to have occurred to lady players. There seems no reason why ladies should not referee the women’s matches, and “Half-Back” commends the idoa tq tho earnest consideration of various clubs and to be brought before their members. Wednesday’s Fixtures.

The most interesting contest on the Showground on Wednesday was that between Central A and Broadway. The game was last and willing and at times Hashes or bright stick-work were witnessed. W. Sutton, lor Central, played dashing hockey and was always on the ball. He understands the value of feeding forwards who are in a scoring position. Broadway were much of a muchness with.no outstanding players. Their defeat was due to their backs holding oil to the ball too long instead of clearing, thus enabling the opposing forwards to beat them for possession. The junior Central team were overwhelmed by Palmerston and this match was played in a friendly spirit, Palmerston lending a player to the weaker side to made the game more equal. The play was not such as to give any member of the teams a chance of showing what he is really capable of. The game, however, had a real value in that it gives match practice to the younger players. Central B team is composed largely of school-boys or lads who have just' left the primary school, and they thoroughly enjoy the regular contest against better players than themselves.

The Winter Shield. Of the game for the Winter Shield played at Dannevirke, when Wanganui challenged, the News says: —The strongest assault this season on hockey supremacy in Dannevirke was made when the Wanganui representative team launched its challenge for the Winter Shield. The first spell ended with no score. Wanganui opened their account early in the second spell and shortly after notched a second

goal. "With only 20 minutes to go, and two goals required to draw, the prospects of retaining the coveted shield were not bright. The Dannevirke team, however, rose to the oc-

casion. Cheered on by the spectators, they swept play to the 'Wanganui end, where McPherson, getting control of tho ball, centred beautifully and Robinson shot a fine goal. This inspired the local men, who kept command of the game, but' the minutes slipped

away and the equalising score could nob be made. In the last minute of tire match there was a melee in front of the Wanganui goal. Mclntosh hooked the ball out from a clatter of sticks to Smith, who, in a flash, banged it into the net, equalising the scores in the nick of time. This was followed by the greatest scene of enthusiasm witnessed on a hockey field in Dannevirke. The main characteristics of the contest were the fine goalkeeping, and stubborn defence of tk/e Wanganui halves, the combination of the local forwards, and the great game played by Pickard, at full-back, for Dannevirke.

Judging by the report, Dannevirke put up a performance that will take a great deal of beating and from what “Half-back” has seen of form in the men’s competitions t.liis year, prospects for' Manawatu annexing the shield would not appear to be very bright. However, hockey is a game in which one can expect tiro unexpected, so perhaps we may yet see the local team returning victorious. Commenting on tho interest show n

ill Wanganui's challenge for the shield, the Chronicle said: There was a ‘ football - ’ crowd present to witness the game, the stand and side-lines being packed. The barracking was vigorous all through tire second spell, though the crowd were very impartial. The din was deafening when'the home team netted the equalising goal. If the same degree of enthusiasm were shown by the public in Palmerston North, hookey would flourish and soon ho in a much stronger position.

Norden Cup. In drawing with Taranaki, one goal each, Dannevirke played their fourth representative match for the season. They drew with Wanganui for the Winter Shield and had previously sustained challenges for the Norden Cup from Wairoa and Wairarapa. Nopera Cup.

Also on Wednesday the DannevirkeRuahine ladies’ representatives were called upon for the first time this season to defend the Nopera Cup. East Coast Association being the challengers. Dannevirke won bv seven goals to nil.

N.Z. Tournament. A Southland writer, apropos the forthcoming New Zealand ladies’ tournament, which commences on August 29, says that it is expected a large number of entries from all over New Zealand will ho received, as Timaru is ideally suited for the tournament. Good grounds, billets, and a low hotel

tariff have been promised by the South Canterbury Association. The Southland Association has already advised the tournament committee that the Southland team will be taking part in the championship. Air A. \\ . Stead, manager of the South Canterbury Ladies’ Hockey team last year, has been appointed chairman of the tournament committee, and Miss Duncan has been appointed secretary. The committee is doing its best to make the tourney a success and will, as far as possible, follow the example of Southland when the tourney was held

iii Invercargill in 1926. The Southland Association lias proimsecr to give the Timaru people every possible assistance and with this object in viewall papers and files in connection with the tournament held in Invercargill have been forwarded to the South Canterbury Association. It is likely that these papers will be of great assistance to the committee and will tend to make all arrangements run more smoothly.

No Local Team. The much discussed Question of sending a ladies’ team to tne New Zealand tournament lias at last been settled, the association having decided that financial obstacles were* insurmountable. As pointed out by the chairman, Mr C. Aitehison, a substantial loss was sustained when the tournament was held here last year; for that reason the association is entitled to consider itself as having already contributed considerable support to the tournament generally and may be excused if it hesitates before undertaking further heavy commitments. AA hile it must be disappointing to the girls not to have a trip to Timaru, they will probably be compensated with a tour of associations in the lower half of the North Island. Fixtures are to be made, if possible, with Kuahine, AA airarapa, AVollington and Hastings. Such a tour would give more pleasure, from a travel pomt ol view, than a trip to Timaru alone, though, of course ,nothing can actually, replace the experience of meeting the Dominion’s foremost teams in the national tourney.