HOCKEY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16376, 25 June 1927, Page 7

HOCKEY

NOTES AND COMMENTS (By "Sticks.") One of the surprises on Thursday was the good form shown by Foresters B, a few valuable additions making this team quite a strong side, which, if kept together, should hold its own with any of the others in the competitions. The players now only want a little training together to give more understanding between each other for better success to attend their efforts.

Future games promise to be interesting, as all of the five teams are now of fairly even strength. Thursday's games produced some of the best play seen among the men here this season. The teams themselves are not strong; they are not well balanced and contain a lot of raw material, but a fairly even distribution of talent, giving the less experienced players a better chance, will bear fruit in future years. There are some men of outstanding merit, and if the best of these can bo got away, Poverty Bay's initial appearance' at a New Zealand championship tournament should be no disgrace to this centre. FORESTERS B v. DEFENCE

After Thursday's Defence-Foresters B game settled down properly, Defence found they had to battle hard if they wished to come out victorious; in fact, it was only after Foresters B had shown the way in the mat-' tor of goal scoring that Defence were able to penetrate right through into the goal. Moore, Foresters' newly-acquired goalie, used his feet well in the first half, but these tactics were not so successful in the second spell. Coi" bett, at full back, is also a now acquisition and he made a successful debut, but he was fortunate at times with his speculation. Olding made quite a good centre-half. The best of the forwards was Moore, on the right wing, and he made some tricky runs, but he should remember that he has other forwards to help him.

K. Ball made a creditable showing in goal for Defence, and as he is yet voting, better things are expected of him in future. The two full-backs, Lory and Scholium, did not give their usual sound display and once or twice they were beaten badly by solo efforts. The Defence halves all worked well, while the forwards made a fairly formidable line, improving as the game went on. Marshall showed good promise on the right wing, but spoils otherwise good play by attempting impossible shots instead of sending the ball to the centre men. KAI KARO v. FORESTERS Kai Karo were able to fully extend Foresters A, but the absence of Kai Karo's goal-keeper was a serious handicap to the team. Pollock got through some good work at full-back for Kai Karo, while Bramwell was the best half on the,field. Duncan stood out among the forwards, while Crafts played a good game and promises to make a first-class left-winger. O. File, the Foresters' goalie, left his pads behind after half-time. As a full-back he showed to even better advantage than he did between the sticks. Turbitt was the best of a fairly strong half line, but he tries to get through too much work and wanders a lot. from his position. Fit?.niaurice worked his forwards well and showed not only clever stick work, but also disclosed that he is a tactician. REP. MATCH PROSPECTS Several representative matches are looming in the near future, and there are prospects of arranging the following—Ladies: v. Ruahine-Danncvirke for the Lady Carroll shield; participation in the'New Zealand tournament at Palmerston North. Men: v. Wairoa at (Jisborne; participation in the New Zealand championships at Auckland.

J n connection with the challenge for the Lady Carroll shield, one of the conditions Poverty Bay has made, is that a date for the match should he fixed a few days prior to the New Zehland championship tournament, it is recalled that this was arranged when Ruahine challenged in 102;"), when the New Zealand tournament was held in Gishorne and when the Poverty Bay Association fixed the date a' few' days prior to the commencement, of the. tournament. It is hoped that the Ruahino Association will reciprocate in this respect. Wairoa's return match with Poverty Bay was to have taken place last season, one of the conditions upon which the Qisborne team travelled to Wairoa being that the visit was returned within a month. This arrangement was made between Mr. .Single, of Wairoa, and Mr. A. Cassin, chairman of the Poverty Bay executive, who also agreed that the Wairoa Association was to retain the whole of the proceeds of the match at that centre. By sending a team to Gisborne this season, Wairoa will be merely fulfilling an undertaking it should have contracted last season.

GRANDSTAND PROPOSAL The proposal to erect a grandstand on the Childers road reserve should meet with the approval of all those concerned, provided proper financial arrangements cr.n be made. It is not proposed to immediately provide dressing accommodation, but it is suggested that provision should be made for the serving of \ afternoon tea. From this, it is expected, a small profit will be made to help the grandstand fund; it is also calculated that this will be the ' means of inducing a larger attendance at the grounds. The stand will then have J ;ho two-fold benefit of providing shelter for hockey and soccer patrons in wet weather, and supplying them with refreshments. A conference of Coast delegates is to be held at the residence of Lady Ngata at Waiomatatini early next month, when matters of importance to the coastal districts will be discussed. Mr. A. Cassin, chairman of the Poverty Ray executive, will attend. In connection with the proposed match between a combined team, representative of the Poverty Bay and Mauawatu associations against a team selected from the minor associations, to be played in Palmerstou to assist the selectors for the New Zealand team to go to Australia, the chairman.of the Poverty Bay executive has sent a telegram to the Wanganui selector asking advice as to whether the members of the proppsed Poverty Ray-Manawatu team will be confined to players nominated for the team to tour Australia, and asking, also, whether the New Zealand Association had given any advice as to the expenses of the Gisborne players. So far no reply has been received to this telegram. ,