LADIES’ HOCKEY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17030, 15 August 1929, Page 9

LADIES’ HOCKEY

N.Z. TOURNAMENT WILL BE MOST SUCCESSFUL YET “This promises to be the most successful ladies’ hockey tournament ever staged in New Zealand, and 1 have little doubt that it will rank as the most successful for many years to come.'’ This statement made by Mr. A. Cassin, organiser of the New Zealand ladies’ hockey tournament to be held in Gisborne From August 29 to September 7, just about sums up the feeling at a general meeting of tournament committees held in Le Grand Lounge last evening. The meeting was held to report on the progress of arrangements to date, and for the completion of the final details. It was a most enthusiastic one, and there should he little wanting in the perfection of the plans by the time the date of the tournament arrives. Transport arrangement were proceeding steadily, Mr. Cassin said, and it was known definitelv that at least six teams were leaving these arrangements in the hands of the tournament committee, while a seventh was also- expected to do so. '17:0 president, Mr. A. S'. Parker: The transport arrangements could not have been better.

1 The organiser also spoke of the good work of the entertainment committee, which had arranged a good programme. A wonderful improvement had been effected to No. 1 ground by the laying of field drains, and after lain, of rain recently the ground was dry, whereas previously surface water took from four to five hours to dry off. It was proposed to extend the' field drains to No. 2 area also, so that, with the present No. 3 ground, which had been always good in wet weather, 'the association would have three plaving areas which could be relied on in all but the heaviest of downpours. No other association, he said, would be able to provide such good accommodation. Rolling was proceeding well, and the patron, Mr. J. J. Martin, was keeping in close touch with Mr Allwood, the head borough gardener, who was in charge of the work, and between these two gentlemen the association should have no fear of a good job eventuating. BILLETING ARR A N GUM ENTS. “Twenty more and we will he all right,” asserted Mr. Cassin, when the discussion turo p d to the matter of billeting. The offers of hil'efs had come in so well that, with the placing of 20 more of the visiting players, lie expected there would he no more cause for worry in this connection. No other town in New Zealand 1 , he said, would have done so well, and he dmibted if nnv town would have done half as well. TTo had little doubt about the accommodation, being found when the billeting committee embarked on the campaign, hut. he realised that it had a strenuous job ahead of it. Mr. H. Stubbs at this stage offered sufficient beds and bedding for the remainder of the players not vet billeted, if this would act as an inducement for people to take some of the visitors.

This offer was immediately accepted bv one of the committeewomen present, who said she would take three girls under these conditions. Mr. Stubbs also donated £? 2s to the tournament funds. MAORI ENTERTAINMENTS Mention was made also by the organiser of the splendid response of the Te Karaka people in arranging a Sunday afternoon function. This would take place on September 1. Ovier 400 people would he catered for in the hall, which was being given free by Mr. Krause, and the cost of the whole function would be nil to the Poverty Bay Hockey Association. Mr. T. Smale mentioned that Mr. Ruru had arranged a real Maori welcome at Te Karaka for the visitors, while Mr. D. Gracie said the Waihirere Maoris desired to do something in this direction also, and Mr Hnapu would like, to know if there would be sufficient time at the disposal of the visitors.

It was stated that the programme was already full, hut if the visitors were staying over Sunday, September 8, such an entertainment could be provided.

(Canterbury’s tournament team is as follows: Goal, Miss M. Dnff (1): full backs. Misses D. Stubbs (3), A. Bruen R Milton (41: halves, Misses M. (riidsell 19), V. Mortland vice-captain, (T), B. Morrison (6), K. Bell (5); forwards, Misses J.i Furrows (12), J. Parsons. captain (101. F. Schluter (11), F. Gndsell 181. B. Billichamp (15). €. Lukes (141, and N. Tully. (15).

HARPER CUP AND SHIELD (Pnr Pf«l« Association 4 PALMERSTON N., Inst night. The Manawatu ladies’ hockey representatives to-day defeated the Wairarapa ladies’ representatives for the Harper Cup and Rhield by six goals to one, Manawatu holding the trophies ior the third year in succession. Interviewed at Hamilton. Mr. W. Whitfield, vice-president of the New South Wales Hockey Association, who accompanies the Australian team, said be had only one fault to find with hockey as plaved in New Zealand, the “hit and run” tactics of our forwards. Of course, as Mr. Whitfield admits, the grounds have a great deal to do with it, but/the IndiAt' -Al'.ra.Y.lloclfey team showed wliat could' fcc'dope in the way of clever stick-work, on slippery and heavy grounds. Apart from this and a tendency to obstruct, which could easily he checked bv stricter refereeing, Mr Whitfield considered the standard of New Zealand hockey to he very high.