HOCKEY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 165, 13 June 1936, Page 14

HOCKEY

KEPI IESENTATIVE TEAM

TO MEET WELLINGTON

Tlie following team lias been chosen by the selectors (Messrs R. L. Aitchison, l l '. McLachlan and W. Lundy) to represent Alanawatu in their match against Wellington at the Showgrounds on Wednesday next: —

Goal.—Bone. Backs.—W. Sutton and Drinkwater. Halves.—W. Burnc, Anthony (capt.), and M. E. Smith. ! Forwards.—Turner, Strothers, Morgan, O’Brien and C. Ward. Emergencies.—Forward, D. Hoarc ; half, Murray; back, Alackley. j The team to represent Manawatu against Auckland in the challenge match for the New Zealand Shield, to be played on Saturday next at the Showgrounds, is to be selected after the Wellington match. NOTES ON THE GAME. (By “Full-back.”-) With the match against Auckland for the New Zealand Hockey Shield not far distant, the local representative team is out for all the practice it can get and was unfortunate in experij dicing inclement weather on AVednesday for the trial game. However, the I team showed quite good combination, especially in the first half, and should provide plenty of fast, exciting hockey next week when they meet the Queen City team. Though “Full-back” has not _ been able to ascertain the final decision as to the personnel of the visiting eleven, it is understood that the following players were picked to train last week: —Goal, Anderson (Grammar), Wattam (St. Luke’s), Henderson (University); full-backs, Bowden (Mt. Eden), Clark (St. Luke’s). Halliwcll (University); halves, N. Broun (University), Dowling (l’apatoetoe), Robertson (St. Luke’s), Boss (Grammar), Watson (University); forwards, Twigden, Houghton, L Boss (Grammar), A. Broun. Lawry, Cooper (University), Monteitli. Chapman (Papatoetoe), Fenton, Vipond, Corin (St. Luke’s). . By making Anthony captain of the local representative team, those who were responsible have done a wise thing, for with his knowledge and experience he will be able to give sound leadership to his side. The captain who is a tactician and can guide his team'is a tower of strength; so many captains are elected on account of popularity, and not ability, that the writer would urge all clubs when they are considering who should lead the various teams, that they should seriously consider this aspect. When two evenly matched teams meet it is the team with the captain who works to a definite plan of attack that will win. Many of our captains arc weak in this respect and they do not seem to study the opposing team to find out its weak places. Those places are to bo found in every team. and having found them, the captains should get their respective teams to concentrate on them, and sooner or later, the weak defender will let them through'. A QUESTION OF TACTICS. Undiscerning players think they are doing their bit by distributing their passes well; that is, by sending them to the right and the left promiscuously. Such passes never worry an average line of halves or backs, who have only to be within ordinary reach to intercept them or to tackle the receiver, but when the attack is made time after time on the weakest defender, and now a lid then a surprise pass goes to the idle wing, the defence lines become rattled, not knowing whether to cover the weak link or watch the wrole line. A captain who can get his team to do this makes his team strong, but the average captain fails in this respect. All should study tactics, plan out movements, practise them with their teams, taking one idea at a time and concentrating on it, and not leaving it until it is well grasped by all players. A team with two or three well-con-ceived plans of attack will always defeat the team that plays haphazardly. “Tactics” writes, pointing out that Phoenix have adopted the plan of playing three full-backs and no goalkeeper, and as he contends that this style of play spoils the game lie desires to know if there are any restrictions on it.

Under the rules a team can play its players in any formation it likes, but the" third fall-back, who may be described as the “kicking’; back, must bo nominated to the umpire before the match starts, and, like a goalkeeper, can only kick the ball while it is in the circle. This “kicking” full-back may be described as a “nuisance,” as the opposing forwards are apt to forget about him and find themselves offside. Umpires, too. are apt to bo caught when they see him kick the ball in the circle, but this could be remedied by the player wearing a jersey of a different colour like the regular goalkeeper. Opposing teams can easily beat this type of defence, as it has obvious weaknesses; otherwise it would have been universally adopted years ago. As an indication of an unusual formation in the field, the case of Victoria College in their match with Massc-y College on Thursday may be cited. The visitors on this occasion employed four forwards, four half-backs, three backs, with no goalkeeper. This formation, however, did not work very well with their “push-stroke” methods of controlling the ball and it was noticed that they were inclined to bunch a good deal. The trial game on Wednesday was productive of some bright individual play on both sides, and towards- the end of the second spell the B team were well up on the attack and were harassing' their opponents on many occasions. THE PLAYERS. I). O’Brien went well in the forward line for the A team, his stick-work being good. On several occasions, however, he missed shots that were, quite easy ones and displayed a tendency to over-run the ball. Demonstrating his undoubted ability with the stick, J. Morgan, in the A team’s forward line, again gave, a

good display in shooting five goals against a good goalie. Morgan’s main asset seems to be the ability to get into action swiftly and his speed, while he maintains control of the ball, nonplusses his opponents. D. Ward went well in goal for the B team and gave several good exhibitions in using his feet to clear. This method is too often neglected by goalies. For the B team R. Jones went well on the wing and sent in good centres after taking the ball down. Unfortunately. the forwards did not always seize their chance until too late.