HOCKEY NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2648, 17 May 1923, Page 7

HOCKEY NOTES

(BY "BULLY.”) The competitions opened on Saturday with live rounds in the ladies’ section, and three in the men’s. 'The ground was far too soft for brilliant hockey, but nevertheless the play was good and fast for early in the season. The outfield at the Sportsgrounds is even better than the Oval this year,and, will witness some good battles before the season closes. While no doubt the ladies will all settle down to strict practice soon, the way Ramblers have bucked into it is very commendable. They have applied themselves assiduously to practice, and one cannot over-estimate the value of training. It is the last few minutes of the game that count, and it is then that the non.trainer bethrays himself or herself, and possibly ruins the chances of the side. In this connection it is gratifying to note that some of the Maawatu Association are seriously cosidering the male players ta go for a run some evenings during the week. Morning runs or practices have been found a failure, so these evening runs are just what arc needed.

The Manawatu Association has de. cidcd that the Saturday tournament be of two rounds, in both ladies’ and men’s sections'

The sub-committee appointed by the Association to endeavour to have the game introduced into the local primary schools, geems to be late in getting to business. ‘When the schools open again, however, it will undoubtedly make a move.

One headmaster, hears the writer, has been unofficially approached, and while favouring the idea, will give the matter further consideration when the schools again resume.

The proposed alteration in the pro. sent system of challenge shield matches is not meeting with much support from the various Associations, in conjunction with Manawatu, the Hawke’s Bay and Wellington Associa. tio do not favour the idea.

The proposed British team to visit New Zealand is to be thoroughly inter, national, and most of the leading English players have signified their intention of being able to make the trip. Difficulty is being experienced by some of the teams in getting enough men, and it has been proposed that members of different clubs be transferred. The proposition is a good one, far the more clubs there are the more competition. It is in the interests of the game that every club should be kept alive and at playing strength, and the temporary transfer of emergency players from over-full clubs to enable weaker clubs to avoid defaults, should be allowed. Changes from club to club are to b e dcploxcd, and "Bully” does not suggest that such transfers should be permanent or continued season after season in respect of the same un. stable club. But there arc cases where it is undesirable to spoil the chances of strong junior clubs in favour of senior teams that have no. serious hopes in the competitions, and for a Saturday or two the latter might give better class senior teams drawn against them a better game if the system of temporary transfers wer e permitted. MID.WEEK GAMES. Yesterday’s hockey fixture played at the Sportsground resulted in a dc. cisivc win for Y.MC.A. against Campbell Street Old Boys’ A team. The game was moderately good, and marked by a fair amount of individual effort. Y.M.C A. scored 6 (Bason 2, Dundy 2, Smith 2) but their opponents did not open their account. Mr h. Cousins was referee. The Sanson Girls’ Hockey team played Marton, at Marton, and had a decided win, the final scores reading: s—o.