HOCKEY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26775, 19 May 1948, Page 3

HOCKEY NOTES

Grading Proves Successful

The wisdom of the decision made by the North Otago Mens’ Hockey Association at the beginning of the season to grade teams has been established. In all grades games have been more even than they were last season. This was proveu on Saturday when the Oamaru v. Tainui senior A game ended in a draw. In an unofficial game at the beginning of the season between these two teams the score was the same. The selector, Mr N. Pinder, will have a difficult task this season, as he has a wealth of likely material from which to select. The goal-keepers who have proved their worth this year are Lowen, Tyson, and Blair. Maynard. Kilpatrick, and Goodall are playing good defensive games at full-back. North Otago has always been strong in the half line, and it would be difficult at this stage to sort out any particular player for this position. In the forwards Ryburn, Sowden, Duns, Brown, and Smith are likely candidates for a representative side. Players who proved themselves in last Saturday’s senior game were G. Amies, J. Sherwin, K. Duns, D. Tonkin, G. Maynard for Tainui, and D. Smith, R. Brown, A. Minty, and N. Goodall for Oamaru. The Senior B match on Saturday resulted in the leaders, Rovers and Tainui, drawing 4—all. The game was hard fought and evenly contested. McFadzen and McCabe made some good breaks for Rovers. D. Fogarty’s stick work in the circle was of a high standard, and he was always a source of worry to the defending backs. The Waimate Club was again unable to field a team on Saturday, but the association hopes that the players will rally round, and place hockey on a high stardard in Waimate again. Kurow was unable to travel and evidently the petrol restrictions are telling on country teams. Australian Tour The games for the Australian team’s tour have not yet been allocated by the New Zealand Association. In all, the visitors will play 17 matches, but 22 applications have been received from associations and sub-associations. Indications are that the Australian team will be a young one, but the final selection will not be announced until later this month.