HOCKEY NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 245, 13 September 1933, Page 12

HOCKEY NOTES.

(By “Tich.”)

The Manawatu team to play Auckland for the shield on Saturday were given a good trial by the Wellington eleven at Wellington. The trial as a try-out was/ satisfactory in as much as it showed that our forwards are a force to be reckoned with when they get possession of the ball, and they revealed some very, pretty combined movements. The same good work could not be said of the halves, but this weakness was recognised by the selectors early in the season when they started combing the teams for their prospective players. Hansen, at centre half, is inclined to wander out of position. This no doubt is due to the fact that in club hockey he has to be here, there, and everywhere, but in the representative team he must keep his place as he will cause others to be put out ol position, and if that is allowed to occur the Watt brothers will be through the opening like a shot. However, in Auckland it may be different; in fact it will have to be if the shield is to be won.

Pratt and Sutton played sterling games at full-back, the former at times playing true representative hockey. Sutton has a bad habit oi getting in on top of his goalkeeper after the latter has stopped a shot. This prevents the goalie from clearing, and a fast follow-in by an opponent results in a goal being scored.

In both the Auckland and the*Wellington representative matches Manawatu have taken about 15 minutes to get over stage fright. Next Saturday they will have to go from the first bully, otherwise Auckland will have scored a couple of goals before Manawatu realise the fact, and those two goals always take some making up against a good team. Best wishes are extended to the team for their success and I anticipate a great game will result. Manawatu have always fought their best battles when hard up against difficulties, and there is no doubt that Auckland, the shield holders, are a very strong combination this year. Mr F. Cousins has put in some sterling work on the team in coaching them, and he will be repaid should the team bring the shield to Palmerston North once again. The suggestion of including a masseur in the party is an excellent one, as the team should be landed on the field as fit as it is possible to make them. The vain© of having him was proved on the Wellington trip. Next week the final of the sealed handicap competition will be played, and on the following Wednesday the winning teams of the A and B sections will play off for the final.

The season has worked out well and is a credit to those responsible for organisation of the respective sections. Congratulations to Mr Byers ror the successful way in which he conducted the friendly five-aside tourney on the day the representative team was in Wellington.