LADIES' HOCKEY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21493, 17 May 1933, Page 16

LADIES' HOCKEY

OPENING OF THE SEASON ✓ The season of the Auckland Ladies' Hockey Association was opened on Saturday, when the grounds were soft after rain. Many changes were noticed in the teams, particularly in the senior grade. Kiwi, in particular, is a much changed team. Three of last season's Elgin team are now included in its ranks in Misses L. Blakey, G. .Tones and J. Carlaw. newlygraded senior team showed itself to be much stronger than was anticipated, Misses Bullians (Mount Eden), P. Boyd (Elgin), M. Sprnggon (Y.W.G.A.), and V. Mull ins (Papakura) being new players. Miss Rossiter, late of Wliangarei, and Mrs. "Wylie, of Northern Wairon, wero Wesley's only changes. Miss Main Donald and Miss Marion Reader were promoted from the lower grade. Prominent among last season's players not taking part this year are Misses M. Raisher and S. Needham (Kiwi), Mrs. Nicholson (Clevcdon), Mrs. Stacey and Miss Burton (Wesley), Mrs. Nash and Misses Goldsbrough and Hoyte (Mount Eden). Few of the teams have yet settled down, through lack of practice. In the senior grade the games were expected to bo slightly one-sided, both Kiwi and Wesley being matched with opponents who were recent entrants to the grade. Although Technical had gained several players without previous senior grade experience, no one expected that Wesley would have such a struggle to defeat it. Against Kiwi, Ngaro did exceedingly well. Both games were very patchy, lack of combination being most noticeable. In the Wesley-Technical match no score had been secured tin til after half-time, when Miss M. Reader netted Wesley's one and only goal of the game. Miss Rossiter was prominent in Wesley's team, as also were Misses Moor, Saunders and Sampson. For Technical, Misses Bullians, Mullins and P. Boyd were continually to the fore. Kiwi had much of its own way with Ngaro, although the lattor battled gamely throughout. Ngaro's weakness was lack of combination and finish when on attack. Ngaro lost several good chances of netting because of overeagerness in the circle. Miss Clegg, in goal for Ngaro, deserves credit for her many saves, and Miss Bragg, with her fast sideliuo runs, troubled the Kiwi defence, particularly in the last quarter of an hour. Misses Waters, V. Isaacs and M. Grahame played well for Kiwi.