HOCKEY NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2694, 12 July 1923, Page 9

HOCKEY NOTES.

(By “ BULLY.”) The Manawatu representatives are to be. congratulated on their win over Hawke’s Bay by three goals to one in the. first Shield match of the season. Unfortunately the game was playcct under the very worst conditions possible, the heavy rain on the Tuesday night and Wednesday morning turning the playing area into a regular quagmire. 1 The local men were, quickly Into | their stride and the veteran forward, J. Fitt, found the net before ten minutes had elapsed. • The selected team played quite up to expectations with the exception or Mayo (wing half) and Hearfleld (full back). The former has been suffering from an injured knee and evidently did not feel at homo on the slippery ground. Hearfieid attempted to field the ball too much, and his hitting was weak. No doubt Ire would show to better advantage on a dr> ground. The Hawke’f.\ Bay representatives did not adopt the correct play under the conditions, with the result that the well intentioned passes stopped short of the mark wore quickly intercepted by the Manawatu backs. West, at full back, shone out repeatedly in defence and saved his side from a heavier defeat. Nelson have the next challenge In and will meet the local men on the Sportsground on Saturday, July 14. Given fine weather during the week, the- oval will be in good order, and a good, fast game should eventuate. The visitors have a reputation of being hard to beat and play clever hockey. The North v. South Island match takes place ap Wellington in August. Hanson, full back or centre half, C. Burgess, full back, J. Fitt, Gibb, Fitt and Ho'stick have been nominated from this association,*and the selectors choice is anxiously awaited. With Kiwi Perrin (now playing for Karori) and Hanson, the selectors have not far to look for a couple or safe, clever backs. Either player is quite at home at full or half-back. The Australian tour by a New Zealand eleven is near at hand, and J. Fitt and N. Hanson have been norniated from here. No doubt the t'eam for this tour will He selected after the North-South match, and those lucky enough to catch the selector’s eye will have an enjoyable five weeks’ trip. The Wairarapa Ladies’ Hockey Association has received an invitation from the Wellington Association to play a match as a curtain-raiser to the North v. South Island ladies' match at Wellington on July 28. The ladies’ selectors have nominated Misses E. Green and E. Holmes for the North Island ladies’ team. There appears t - o have been a pretty twitter in Victorian hockey circles (says the "Christchurch Sun”), when news was received that the New South Wales Association had invited the New Zealand Hockey Association to send a (.earn to Australia this season, and that New Zealand had accepted. Victoria previously had informed the New South Wales Association that it was of opinion that the invitation should not be extended until 1924, when an English team would visit the country. An international triangular contest could then be held. It was taken for granted that the New South Wales Association would fall in with this view, and the Victorian Association went ahead with its own intpr-State programme for this season. But it's calculations were shattered. WEDN ES D AY COMPET MTU\. The Wednesday competition was continued at the Sportsground yesterday, When C. 5.0.8. A met C. 5.0.8. B. Thg game was swift from the first bully-off. A scored within the first' minute, and B within the next minute. From then on B began to press, and Cochrane, A’s goalie, was called upon to do so mV nifty work, he making a particularly good save from a shot at a very awkward angle. From a corner immediately following, however, J. E. Fitp beat him and found the net. Hard up and down play followed. Blundell and J. E. Fitt again scoring for B, while A added to their goal by Anderson through Dixon, half-time findingd the game 3-2, in B's favour. Upon ‘resuming, B pressed again, and after they had been pushed back returned for a hot tussle in front of A’s goal. Cochrane was again found very much alive in the goal-mouth, .and did splendid work, making a m«nber of really excellent; saves. The game was then switched down suddenly into B’s territory, and from a corner V. Tucker made a beautifiu shot for A. The latter were then hard pressed, and Blundell found the net again for B, scoring them the victory, 4-3. Messrs. Cousins and Johansen controlled the game. SHIELD MATCH. SECOND CONTEST ON SATURDAY. The Manawatu Hockey Association’s representa l ive eleven will be called/ upon on Saturday to defend again possession of the New Zealand Challenge Shield. The challenging .association on this occasion is Nelson, which can field a very strong e,evon, as was evidenced in the match against Australia last year, which it won fairly easily. The Manawatu players gave a splendid exhibition against Hawke’s Bay last Wednesday on a very wet and muddy ground, so that' a keen, fast contest .should be witnessed on Saturday, if th e weather conditions are favourable. The local team has undergone two alterations for this match,which it is expected will strengthen the rear division. As a curtain-raiser to the big match the Manawatu ladies will play Feikling ladies. The local team is: Goal, E. Dalton (Technical); backs, G. Gibson (Technical), F. Holmes (Rosco); ha’Jvqs, : K. McMlnu (H.5.0.G.), V. Isaacs (Technical), D. de Cleene( H.S.. 0.G.); forwards, F. Smith (Rosco),

D. Ellis (Technical), E. Green (H.S.0.G.), captain, S. Pen-in (Rosco), M. Scotf (Rongotea). Emergencies: Back O. Bearsley (Rosco); half, D. Robinson (H.5.0.G.); forward, A Marshall (Technical),