HOCKEY SEASON OPENS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19314, 3 May 1937, Page 10

HOCKEY SEASON OPENS

BIG-MARGIN WINS TRAINING BEATS EXPERIENCE GROUNDS IN SPLENDID ORDER Tin' Poverty Hay Hockey Association opened its season on the Childers Road Reserve mi Saturday. Results were: Men's Senior Division.—Caledonian 6 v Weslevnn I: Y.M.C.A. A 6 v. Foresters 1 :'Defence 7 v. Y.M.C.A I! ml. Ladies.—Coronation 2 v Waituhi .nil: Km Ton A 5 v. Old Girls 2; Y.M.P. 8 v. Kin Ton 1! C. In the men's section teams which were in training and has been disturbed least bv ibe formation of a new team were pitted against, three wliich bad little opportunity of striking combination. This was one of (lie reasons for the large margins represented in the results.

Of the defeated teams. Foresters suffered severely by withdrawals, and took the field short, VVeslcyan was the new club, and Y.M.C.A. V. contains young players, many of whom yet lack siifiieicnl experience to seriously trouble the other elevens. Form on the lirst day is usually deceiving; the fit. teams often score at the expense of others who lack twining and combination but who frequently make up for this as the season progresses. Wesleyan and .Foresters should weld into strong combinations. There should be some good games this season. Experience, combined with litness, decided the issue in the ladies' section, arid the play on Saturday continued earlier expectations that Kia Toa A and the new team. Coronation, had the strongest, elevens among the town clubs, while V.M.I', also should bo among Ihe deciding factors.

MEN'S GAMES REVIEWED IMPRESSIVE FORWARD PLAY Y.M.C.A. A .. Opts Foresters .. lpt S,i far ys territorial advantage goes the game between Y.M.C.A. A and Foresters was one-sided, bill it was some time before Y.M.C.A. could secure Ihe detiiiile advantage in goals, The lirst goal of the match did uol come until nearly h.ilf-wav through Ihe opening spell." and then' Foresters equalised immediately. The half-time score was threeone. The final three goals came in I lie last, quarter of an hour. Y.M.C.A.'* forwards played a pretty name. It was practically the same hue as last war. and each member understood each other's play, anticipating the movements. This was (be most impressive forward display of Ihe day. Those most noticeable were I'.. Harrison, inside left, Prentice, inside right and I lie scorer of four of the six goals, and K. Harrison, rigid wing.

The team as a whole was well balanced. K. Nieol played a quiet yet clever half game, with splendid stickwork, and was well supported by R, Crosby, on the right. The fullbacks were sound. Slaeey doing heller than last year, and M. I.ynsky. a promoted P. player, co-operating well and showing promise of becoming a lirsl class back.

Fotesters' forwards did not combine and frequently hunched together. The material was there, but needed knocking into shape. Swan led the line again, hut as most of the others were new to their positions there was little concerted action. Ruki, inside right, shaped well, and should develop a good style. Foresters had only two halves, because the team was short. ft. File played a. brilliant game at the outset. quite up to his last season's best, but could not stand the pace, and tired towards the close.,Hueston was the best fullback on the ground, and showed promise of even belter form than last year. His partner. McTavish, was not •if his best, and was visibly off his game. Freeman was valuable in goal, and stopped numerous shots. The goals were scored as Follows: Y.M.C.A., Prentice four. Nieol one, and B, Harrison one: Foresters, Ruki one.

UNEXPECTED STRENGTH Caledonian .. Opts Wesleyau lpt The new team, Wesleyau, showed unexpected strength against last year's champions, Caledonian, whose training, however, enabled thorn to «put 011 lota goals in the second half. As was expected with ii new team, there was little cohesion among the Wesloyans, hut when this is developed there are s>ii(!ieieiil. experienced players in the team to make it a strong one. The Caledonian forwards did not give the same pleasing display as last season. This was surprising, because the line is practically unaltered. Snap-passing was entirely absent, and the half-second delay to try and deceive the opposition regarding direction lost them many chances. .). Harrison, centre, gave the lest display, being steady and with good control over the ball. J. Turbitfc was back again at. inside right, and was slightly above last season's form. Slade disappointed those who remembered his brilliant stick work and team play of the past two seasons, although lie'was still among the best in the line. Douglas and Lowe were again the mainstay of the halves, ami they let little past them. Harrison was the better of the fullbacks, giving an energetic display. The Wesleyau forwards produced occasional Hashes of combined play, suggesting much better things in future games. Watchman, recently from Wellington, showed pace and stick work ahead of anyone else in Ihe team, but was well marked and under the circumstances fed lon Frequently. Leach, from Caledonian, was also last, and used sound judgment in passing. These two, with If. Clarke, from Foresters, should make a good set of inside forwards, and when Clarice uses keener judgment in placing and direct ing his passes, he will make a very valuable.' unit in the attack. 11. Clarice and Ilanlon were (lie he.-.I I,l' (he halves, getting through some verv good work, particularly in defence,

Coals were scored by Ihe following: Caledonian, .). Harrison two, Made two. Turbitt one, and one was kicked in bv a defending player; Wesleyau, Watchnan one.

EXPERIENCE AGAINST YOUTH Defence 7pts Y.M.CA. B .. nil Defence ran it)) six goals in the first half against Y.M.CA. I'.. only one coming in the second. It was a game

with experienced men on I lie one side playing against youths on the other. Defence is one of the strongest teams in the competition,'and the boys did very well, making a good attempt at combined effort. Hayes and Lawtou were among the best of the forwards, with Ferguson and Crosby two good halves. Corhelt and 11 ills were sound fullbacks. 11l the Defence team. Nicol. Post and Odams made the most, of the opportunities in the forwards, and l.e P.as and A. Hall were the best of a strong half line. Punch, from Tarauaki. made his first appeavance at fullback, hut was not given much serious work. Don Scholium is following the family tradition, and is a splendid fullback in the making. Coals were scored for Defence by Post three. Rail two. Nicol one and (Sutler on*.

THE LADIES' SECTION

OLD GIRLS' GOOD DISPLAY Kia Toa A .. opts Old Girls .. 2pts Old iflirls put up a very good display against more experienced players in the Kia Toa A team. Mesdames be Has and Sungwcll. who secured two goals apiece. and .Mrs. Harry, who goaled one. were the best of Lbe Kia Toa forwards, while Miss Duusniore was the soundest half, Mrs. Watts and Miss ■). Allen making a pair of strong fullbacks. .Miss Q. .Monica, left wing, gave the most, trouble to the Kia Toa defence, and she scored both goals for Old Oirls, while Miss ..I. Oreig, centre, kept her line moving very well. Miss Gardner, fullback, was greatly improved from last year, and was a source of worry to Uvr opposing forwards.

FAIRLY EVEN PLAY Coronation' ... 2pts Waituhi ... nil Play between Coronation and Waituhi was very even for tin ist. part, the town team having the advantage of better combination, Mesdames Nicol and Nicholas, who scored the goals, were the best of the t'orotiat ion forwards, with Miss Rarkwilh the most prominent half and Miss Sim I he. belter of Ihe fullbacks.

EXPERIENCE TELLS Y.M.P Kpi,;; Kia., Toa. B .. nil Kia Toa ii. comprising first and second year player*, had no i liance against the heavier and more experienced Young Maori t'.oiv. Five of the goals wove scored I v Miss .1. 'JV.roa and three bv Mis,- M. Moeau.

WAIROA COMPETITION BRANDON CUP GAMES (Herald Correspondent.) The competition for (lie Brandon Cnp in both the ladies and men’s sections was commenced at (he North Clyde hockey ground, Wairoa, on Saturday aflernoon. There, was a fair attendance of spectators. In the men's section the match was fast and clean, the hall travelling rapidly ITom end to end of the field. Competition was very keen in the ladies’ section, with the. exception of the Aorangi v. Owhiti match, in which play was very one-sided. The results were Men’s section.—Waiau 2 v. Waihirere nil; referees, .Messrs. Rees and Light. Ladies’ section.—Tapuae drew with Buahine. one-all; referee. Mr. J. Pulpy; Old Girls 1 v. W'aipapa nil: referee, ~\lr. Boswell: Aorangi 17> v. Owhiti nil: referee. Mr. Bees. Other Sporting on Pages 12 and 14.