HOCKEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18954, 30 August 1923, Page 4

HOCKEY.

By Bui.t.y. The men’s cup fixtures have now been concluded, and each grade the winners have a substantial lead over the runners-up. The University A team First Grade played 11 matches, winning 9, drawing 1, and losing 1, with 19 cup points. City was the runner-up, with 10 matches played, winning 6, losing 3, and drawing 1, with 13 cup points. Technical Old Boys wore the champions in the Second Grade, winning all 10 matches played, having scored 38 goals, with only 5 against them. City was the next on the list with 11 matches played, with 7 wins and 4 lasses.

High School A was the Third Grade successful team, with 7 wins and 1 draw out of 8 matches played. These teams are to bo congratulated on their wins, and during the latter part of the season for the very fine performances put up. If practice had been indulged in hookey would soon become a very popular game, and would draw spectators, but. wo cannot expect people to come to see games that are lacking of interest. In the seven-a-side matches, Technical Old Boys carried off the Second Grade trophy, and High School A won the Third Grade. The First Grade seven-a-side will be played on September 15, and entries for this tournament close on September 8, no entries to contain other than registered First Grade players. Quite a host of hockev players will he travelling this week. The First Grade representative team is going to Timaru on Friday and the primary and secondary school teams are off to Christchurch by the same train. The school boys arc requested to bo at the station at 7.40. where they will be mot- by Mr Hubbard, the manager, who will give them full instructions. Tlie South Island men’s tournament will he held in Dunedin on Friday and Saturday. September 7 and 8. Trams from South Canterbury, Christchurch (2), and Dunedin (2) will participate. Other districts jiavo not been able to send teams owing to different reasons. Play will commence at 9.30 on Friday, September 7. The following is the drawing: Friday, September 7.—9.30 a.m., South Canterbury v. Canterbury A; 10.45 a.m., Otago B v. Canterbury B; Otago A, a bye; 2 p.m., South Canterbury v. Otago A; 3.15 p.m., Otago B v. Canterbury A; Canterbury B, a bye. Saturday, September 8.—9.20 a.m., South Canterbury y, Otago B; 10.45 a.m., Canterbury B v. Otago A; Canterbury A, a bye; 2 p.m.. South Canterbury v. Canterbury B; 3.15 p.m., Canterbury A v. Otago A: Otago B, a bye Each match to be of two spells of 30 minutes, with five minutes between the spells. The original team for Timaru has been altered, as some of the selected players are not able to get away. The, substitutes are all fairly good players, and the team should give a good account of itself. For Saturday last a match was arranged to be played. between the A and B teams, but a number of players from! both sides were' conspicuous by their absence. The selector should note this when choosing the teams for the tournament. I know there was a big football match on on Saturday. I was there myself, but the hockey match was put on for 1.50 to 'give all players a. chance to sec the football, and it was up to all players to turn up. The same thing happened regarding the ladies’ teams. A coach was appointed to give some hints to the two teams, and it was not very encouraging for him to go on the field to coach about a dozen players. This sort of thing is not fair to the selectors or the coach, and goodness knows the ladies’ teams need a groat deal of coaching, especially those players who did not roll up. If the Otago ladies wish to como anywhere in the New Zealand tourney they will have to buck un a bit and get into solid training. The coach appointed has given assurance that he will give the necessary time to the teams if only the teams will do their little bit, but he cannot be expected to come along to coach a handful of players. I believe that the ladies’ teams have been altered for the reason that players cannot get away. It is a pity that the names of the players were not published before Friday last, so as the selectors could be notified .as to who could not go. In selecting the team for the tournament, the selectors should get to work right away and pick the teams immediately. The No. I team chosen is a very good selection, but I notice that some players are in places where they do not usually play, whilst players are left out who do play in these respective places. One instance I can quote is that of Miss Andrews (Momona). whom I consider the best inner forward in Dunedin. She has not oven got a place in No. 2 team. Why? The Training College No. 1 team is to bo congratulated on winning the- A grade cup. This team played 12 matches, winning II and drawing one. Tin’s result was only secured by an effort at training, for in watching their play cne noticed that the players had hud some coaching, but I am afraid their coach was not firm enough in keeping the players to their places. A very nice game was played on Saturday last between the Training College and a team of Southland school teachers and ■resulted in a win for the local girls. There was a lot of individual play on both sides and occasionally a little bit of real hockey. The Southland team would make things warm for Otago if they would learn to keep their places, and have somebody to teach them the game as it should be played. OTAGO . CENTRAL NOTES. By Enthusiast. The season just ended has proved a triumph for the Olyde team, which once again won the Bodkin Cup. i.jio team played and won six matches and compiled 60 goals, with only one goal against it. Cromwell and High School (Alexandra), the runners-up, came equal with three wins and three losses each. Alexandra Ladies’ Club came last with six losses. The county match Vincent v. Tuapeka was played at Alexandra before a large attendance. Vincent won by 8 goals to 2, The game was not as one-sided as the score would indicate, as Miss Hilda Iveddell took a heavy toll of the Tuapeka team. The annual six a-side tournament was this year held at Clyde, when two grades were provided for, Clyde winning both grades. Throe teams from Roxburgh took part, two from Cromwell, six from Alexandra, and four from Clyde. The residents, and more especially the players in this part, haye_ been looking forward to the promised visit of an Otago team, but at the last moment conditions which tend to discourage the players and supporters have been proposed by the parent body, giving the local officials no option but to refuse. I have always beep led to believe that the Otago Association wished to encourage hockev in the country, but when it asks a Hub-association, which lias been in existence a rear, to provide cars and accommodation for 14 to 15 players and officials, at a total cost in cars alone of £ll to £l4, as well as paying their own team’s travelling expenses, one is forced to the conclusion that the parent bodv will encourage country teams if they will nay well for it. The sub-association lias agreed to give the team all gates, and to hmet players, which might mean a matter of £5 to £lO each game, and there may be three games, which would leave the travelling team with a credit. On the other hand, if the gates did not realise the amount mentioned the players would still bo getting their tour pretty cheap, and surely the Otago Association is more able to finance a tour than are rye hero. It is to bo hoped that the Dunedin officials will realise the injustice' thev are doing the country clubs, and send along a "-oofi team without imposing any restrictions on the local teams. If thev do this lam sure it will bo to their advantage.