HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 19546, 9 May 1925, Page 16

HOCKEY

“Hoquet.”)

(By

The opening match of the season m Invercargill was played on Queen’s Park last Wednesday afternoon between Winton and High School. Both teams gave quite creitable performances, especially considering that it. was the first match of the season. The Winton players were in exceptionally good form and some fine play was witnessed from several of their players, more particularly by Miss H. Horner on the left wing and by Miss M. Horner at bully. Both these players were responsible for initiating many fine forward passing rushes and being possessed of a hard hitting set of forwards the visitors were able to drive home the attack to some purpose. Though High School were defeated by a fair margin of points their display nevertheless was quite a good one and demonstrated that the material is there for moulding into a very creditable eleven. The players were small in stature compared with Winton, but all the same they played a very plucky game and with a better idea of combination and the ability to hit hard success should at some future date crown their efforts:

The first matches of the Saturday competition will take place to-day, when Union will meet Rosedale and Collegiate will try conclusions with Technical College,

The length of the grass on the Queen’s Park ground militated to a certain extent against the playera in the Wmton-High School match last Wednesday afternoon. No doubt it is a matter which can be remedied if a request is made in the proper quarter. The formation of a Referees’ Association in connection with hockey is going to fulfill a very important function in obtaining a uniform interpretation of the rules on which for many years past there has been a wide divergence of opinion. The founders of the Association are taking the work of the Association up whole-heartedly and they are deserving of the support of all players and enthusiasts who are anxious to see the game progress in Southland. EASTERN DISTRICT NOTES. (By “Circle.” The Eastern District competition opened on Wednesday and considering the conditions under which the fixture at Gore was played the standard of play on the part of the Wyndham A and the Gere ladies’ team was very satisfactory. The Eastern Southland Association has recently acquired the use of a ground adjoining the western end of the Public Gardens and owing to its proximity to the town it should in time make an ideal playing area. A substantial sum of money has been expended by the Bcrough Council and the Hockey Association in the preparation of the area, but the results have not been ! entirely satisfactory. The surface is still very uneven and an unlimited growth of docks will probably prove troublesome as the season advances. It is understood a proposal was made that the area should be planted down in turnips or potatoes, before < being finally prepared for play, and had this been carried into effect, it would in all probability have been the means of giving a much better surface than at present. The Council intends to beautify the reserve by planting trees around it and also to convert a portion of it into a children’s playing ground. When this is done it will form a great centre of attraction, but in order to make it really satisfactory from the hockey jxiint of view, further steps should be taken to improve the surface. The delay would not greatly inconvenience the Association, as it has other grounds on which to play its fixtures in the meantime. At one time nt appeared as if the Gore Ladies’ team would find it difficult to,secure a sufficient number of players, tfut on Wednesday it too the field with a full team and should now be able to fulfill its engagements throughout the season. The present team includes several new players and one or two who took part in last season’s I primary schools’ com petition. Under the I circumstances its play on Wednesday was I very promising and when its players have become accustomed to their positions on the field the team will be a fairly strong one. Each and every player in the team has a distinct duty and a certain area to watch, and by encroaching into another’s territory she is leaving an opening for the opposing side. On Wednesday the two wing players in the Gore team’s forward line came too far infield, with the result that many of their attacks were not effective. Very often they were getting in one another’s way and by this means allowed the Wyndham team not only to concentrate its defence, but to clear to its own wing players, who as often as not were unmarked. While the centre-half and right-half kept up with the forwards well, the left-half kept too far back and did a lot of work which should have rightly been left to the fullbacks. By keeping up in her correct position she could have tackled the opposing forwards on her side of the field, before they got moving. One of the greatest advantages to be gained from players keeping to their correct positions is that when passing the ball can be placed with a certain knowledge that there is a player there to take it. On the other hand, when players are out of position, the one with the ball has always to look around to locate one cf her own team, before sending the ball out. When in a tight corner this is impossible. There is also the necessity on the part of the Gore team’s forward line to guard against off-side play. On Wednesday they were penalised on several occasions for this fault. This was largely owing to the fact that the centre-forward kept too far ahead of her other forwards. The formation of the forward line should be slightly semicircular, with the two wing-forwards the furthest advanced. If this formation is adopted it will be found that the off-side difficulty will be largely overcome. The Wyndham A team also includes several good players and on Wednesday it was rare to see a member of the team out of position. This gave the team a great advantage and the forwards often had clear openings when the opposing backs were out of position. Their passing was clean and well placed, and there was very little individual play on the part of any member of the team.

OoO SOCCER

(By

“Centre.”)

xr»e opening of the local Soccer season for Saturday players by the famous little Scotch comedian, Sir Harry Lauder, was an excellent move on the part of the Southland Association, and brought the game some of the prominence and publicity that it so badly needs in Southland. What would have been a comparatively obscure and ill-attended opening was transformed into a bright and popular function, and although the onlookers were not many they were in considerably greater numbers -that is usually the case. An energetic cameraman was on the spot and prior to the match being kicked off by Sir Harry Lauder, a photograph was taken of the comedian in the centre of a group of players. It should be in time, of historic interest to the Southland Association, marking as it does the taking over of the Show ground as a playing area. It is as yet, early in the season and so far, few players have got into training. Now that the opening has taken place and the weather is so suitable for the game it is to be hoped that all clubs will get off the mark right away and be fit and ready for the first matches of the competition. It is rumoured that there were high doings at the Association meeting on Monday. The trouble evidently arose over the question of keeping Ohai and Nightcaps in the competition, and was as one who was present put it—“a storm in a tea,cup.” Nevertheless it was some storm and in the heat of the moment there were bright and breezy exchanges, both personal and otherwise. There is no doubt that the position from the players point of view was not satisfactory last year, and both the country and the town players felt that the distance was too great for regular journeys to be made. Still, it will not be for the good of the game if the two clubs are excluded, and it is to be hoped that on Tuesday evening, some suitable solution will be found. THE ENGLISH TEAM. Although the English team is not coming to New Zealand, lovers of the game will by interested to know a little abo.ut the players about to tour Australia (writer “Corinthian.”) S. H. Hardy (Stockport County, Second Division), goalkeeper: Many Soccer enthusiasts are under the impression that it is the famous Sam Hardy, but it is not, but a relation. This player' kept goal on 42 occasions for Stockport during the 1923-24 season, and is still going strong. Was given a trial for the North v. South last year. C. Poynton (Tottenham Hotspurs, First Division), back: Appeared on ten occasions for the Spurs in the 1923-24 season, and has appeared regularly this closing season. T. Whittaker (Arsenal, First Division), back: Appeared in Arsenal’s first eleven on eight occasions in 1923-24, and up to time of leaving appeared regularly this season.

J. E. Davidson (Sheffield Wednesday, Second Division), back; Played on 26 occasions last seasoq, and appeared regularly lately. A sound defensive player. S. Charlton (Exeter City, Third Division) K half-back: Was on deck 39 times in season 1923-24, and was a regular member of the City this season, appearing in their Cup ties. C. Spencer (Newcastle United, First Division), centre-half: Transferred from Scotland in 1923-24 season, and appeared on 19 occasions; was a member of the Cup-winning team of that year; a real clever player. J. Hannah (Norwich City, Third Division), right of centre-half: Appeared on 40 occasions in 1923-24 for the Canaries (Norwich), and is a very clever and polished half-back. L. Graham (Millwall Athletic, Third Division), half-back or forward: Joint occasions in 1923-24, but played so well this season was kept back to play for England v. Scotland this season. W. Ceaser (Dulwich Hamlet, Amateur), half-back: Has represented England as an amateur, and holds an Amateur Cup medal. J. Hamilton (Crystal Palace, Second Divison), half-back or forward: Joined the police towards end of 1923-24 season, appeased on nine occasions, and is a regular member this season. Stanley Seymour (Newcastle United, First Division), outside-right: Was top goal scoreY for the Magpies in 1923-24. Is one of the stars of the team. Was a member of the Cup-winning team 1023-24, appearing on 23 occasions. J. Elkes (Tottenham Hotspurs, First Division) : A versatile player, and can play a good game anywhere. Joined the Spurs from Southampton. Was held back as first reserve for England. Played on 37 occasions, scoring 11 goals 1923-24. (W. O. Bassett, of West Bromwich and England fame, said: “Elkes was the best centre-half he had seen for many years.”) W. Williams (West Ham, First Division), centre-forward: Represented England as a West Ham schoolboy, and signed forms for West Ham at the age of 15. The Hammers are nursing him; he played on five occasions last season, but has appeared quite a few times this season. Is reported to be very clever and full of tricks. C. Hannaford (Clapton Orient, Second Division), centre-forward: Appeared on thirteen occasions in 1923-24, but is a regular member for the Orient this season. E. Simms (Stockport County, Second Division), inside forward: Played 17 matches scoring nine goals for South Shields in 1923-24, and was transferred to Stockport, appearing 20 times for eight goals. W,hen with Luton was a prolific goal scorer. H. G. Batten (Plymouth Argyle. Third Division), inside or centre: Toured the Argentine with the Argyle last year. Is a good goal-getter, and appeared 37 times for the season, 1923-24. J. Walsh (Liverpool, First Division), forward, any position: Appeared on 37 occasions for Liverpool, and scored 16 goals, being top scorer. Appeared in Cup match this season. Is a good shot. W. Sage (Tottenham Hotspurs, First Division), outside left: Was understudy to Jimmie Dimock in 1923-24, and appeared on six occasions in the first eleven, and is now appearing regularly. OoO