HOCKEY NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 246, 14 September 1935, Page 14

HOCKEY NOTES.

(By “Tactics.’') How tlie short-passing' game had prevailed against a iiaid-lntting, very fast type of pl'ay, was touched upon by K.M. Strutliers in the course of an interview this week, lie haying been a member of the Universities’ hockey team which recently made a visit to Fiji. The players there had exceptional co-ordination between the eye and the stick, he remarked, and they were also very fast. Speculative hits were most frequent, but because of the perfect ground and the ability of the players the speculations by the Fijians did not appear to be such. There was no stopping the bail with the hand, It being done all off the stick. The visiting team had played the short-passing type of game with marked effect, exploiting the back pass between the forwards and the halves also. The ground was ideally suited for such a game and toward the end of the tour the home teams were adopting the same tactics. H. B. Lawry, of Massey College, who was also in the touring side played in all the games, Struthers being included for all except the second Test. An extract from a letter received by an Auckland enthusiast from Mr Behram Doctor, the Indian hockey team manager, shows how they enjoyed their tour of New Zealand. It reads: “I was really sorry to leave the people of New Zealand. They are a ‘topping lot’ and worth the friendship at all stages. I think the objects with which I had brought my contingent have been absolutely fulfilled. My mission is well achieved and now we have to wait and watch the good that comes from this tour. I wish hockey in your country all prosperity. 1 wish New Zealand a bright future and to you, all the great stalwarts of sport, a great life.” Coming from the manager there is no doubt that it also expresses the feelings of the players. Connected with hockey for 22 years and a prominent umpiie for over 16 years is the proud record of the Auckland veteran umpire Fred Nicholson. A foundation officer of the Tui Club, vice-president and selector for five years for the Areta Club,and examiner, secretary and later president of the Umpires’ Association, are only a few of the executive positions he has held. He has umpired representative fixtures, the most important being the Indian Army game at Rotorua in 1926. Vice-president of the ladies’ association for eight years he now holds the positions of vice-president and one of the selectors of the Wesley Club. He earned the distinction of life membership to the Umpires’ Association in 1931. „ . Ten years ago the Wesley Hockey Club was formed in Auckland, absorbing tli6 old Gordon Club, which had junior teams consistently performing at Remuera for several seasons before. Similar elute are in existence in Christchurch. Wellington. Wanganui, Feilding and Whangarei; and they compote annually for a trophy presented by the father of that well-known player, Ray Rhillpotts.