HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 20831, 20 July 1929, Page 19

HOCKEY

(By

“Long Corner.”)

A CHANGE IN PRESIDENCY

The approaching transfer of Mr L. S. O'Sullivan, late president of the Southland Hockey Association, to the Otago district, will be viewed with regret in hockey and other circles where he has made many friends. During his term of office, Mr O’Sullivan has devoted a considerable amount of time towards fostering the game of hockey in the province. Since the formation of men’s hockey teams, he has been concentrating his interest largely on these and his absence from the Civil Service team will be severely noticed. Mr P. Gilfedder has again taken his familiar position at the head of association meetings and moreover at the head of all the administrative work which is so essential to the easy running of the association. GENERAL The Otago Ladies’ Hockey Association has invited the Southland Association to send a representative team to play. Otago at Dunedin on the suggested date of August 3 or 10. In view of selection matches and other important fixtures to be played during the next four weeks, it does not seem likely that the match will eventuate at that time. Ab the team will be travelling north for the “K” Cup tournament toward the end of next month, it should be possible to play the match on the journey up. The ’ treasurer of the association, Mr R. J. Surgenor, has forwarded an itemized aalance-sheet in connection with the Timaru tournament last year to the Western Dis;rist Sub-Association. Possibly at last the clamour from that direction will abate. SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR VARYING OPINIONS ON LIKELIHOOD. The president of the Southland Ladies’ Hockey Association, Mr Peter Gilfedder, has received the following interesting letter from

the New Zealand Ladies’ Hockey Association:

“At a special general meeting of the New Zealand Ladies’ Hockey Association held on July 9, the South African tour was again fully discussed. From replies received from the Affiliated Associations it was gathered that great hopes of sending a New Zealand team could be entertained, but the meeting was of the opinion that before committing the council to any definite undertaking, all associations should again be circularized. Some associations promised no financial aid whatever, no attempt being made to raise any part of the assessment, and it was thought that perhaps these associations would reopen the question, and make some effort to assist in some way, no matter how small. The definite entry of a team has been deferred till after the next meeting to be held on September 17, but in the meantime the selection of the New Zealand team will be proceeded with. Associations are asked to forward nominations of players to the secretary of the New Zealand Ladies’ Hockey Association before August 19, stating age, name, and position of player. The selector who will be appointed by the Management Committee at a later date will be instructed to give every consideration to players not present at the N.Z. Tournament. Associations which are not represented at the tourney, therefore, need entertain no fears that their nominees will be passed over without consideration. In the final selection of the team the selectors will visit the various districts to view the players. To those associations which have not given any definite assurance of assistance, the New Zealand Association would ask that they do their utmost to give this proposed tour a measure of support, however small, and to those associations who have accepted their quota, and are giving their generous support, the New Zealand Association desire to state that no stone will be left unturned in the endeavour to arrange the tour.” . Commenting on the letter, Mr Gilfedder said he was disappointed that the New Zealand Association had not finalized arrangements at its last meeting. September would be too late altogether to get the best possible team or to appoint selectors. However, he expressed the opinion that it would be possible to get the team arranged long before September. MEN’S TEIP TO DUNEDIN At something like half past five this morning, the two Southland Men’s Hockey teams were to have left for Dunedin where they are to play a return match with the Otago High School Old Boys’ Club’s teams. Good luck to them! If they play up to their last Wednesday’s form, they should give their hosts a good go for their money. Francis as goalie can be counted upon to stop all but the most impossible shots and his many years in the goal gives him plenty of that requisite—confidence. Patton and Lindsay who will be together in the full back line will play good hockey if they keep up to their form throughout the season. Fletcher, Hamilton and Lockhart as the halves are another dependable combination and they are sure to feed the forwards well. The forward line is particularly promising and the combination play is equally as brilliant as the individual capabilities. Comment was made previously on the forwards, and they could be summed up generally as easily the best forward line seen since the revival of men’s hockey. The two teams are as follows:— —"A.” Team.— Francis (Cen.) Lindsay Paton (Col.) (Cen.) Fletcher Hamilton Lochart (Cen.) (Cen.) (Cen.) Richards Wren Taverner O’Sullivan Oakes (C.S) (Col.) (Cen.) (C.S.) (Cen.) Emergencies: Hobson (H.S) and Summers (Cen.). —“B” Team.— The “B” team is as follows: Roff, Dennis, Logan; Jensen, Macklay, Taylor; Shaw, McKelvey, Smith (High School), Blee and Bayne. Some changes may be made in the actual positions in the teams.

COMPETITION RESULTS

LADIES’ WEDNESDAY GAMES.

RULES FOR THE WEEK

"BULLY-OFF.”—The game shall be started by one player of each team together bullying the ball in the centre of the ground (and after each goal and halftime). To bully the ball each player shall stand squarely facing the side lines and shall strike first the ground on his own side of the ball and then his opponent's stick three times alternately; after which one of these two players must strike the ball before it is in general play. Every other player shall be nearer to her own goal than the ball is (except in the case of a penalty bully), and shall not stand w;ithin 3yds. of the players participating in the bully. An ordinary bully in the circle shall not be taken within syds of the goalline. For any breach of this rule the “bully” shall be taken again. OFF-SIDE. —A player is off-side if he is nearer his opponents’ goal-line than the ball at the moment when the ball is hit or rolled in unless he is in his own half of the field, or unless there are three of his opponents nearer to their own goal-line than he is. He should not be penalized unless he is interfering with or obstructing another player, or gaining any advantage from having been in an off-side position'. For any breach of this rule the penalty shall be:— (a) Inside the circles. A free bit by one of the opposing team from any spot within the circle. (b) Outside the circles. A free hit by one of the opposing team from the spot where the breach occurred. EASTERN DISTRICT NOTES Congratulations to Hokonui upon winning the Premiership for the 1929 season. Mataura were not far behind and ran Hokonui very close in the final game on Wednesday. Although very fast the game lacked the combination that one would expect to see between two leading teams at this stage of the season. Hokonui were very weak on the lift and both the wing and inside left crowded too much into the centre of the field. The lefthalf was also weak. Mataura forwards played well until they reached the circle. Once there they lacked

cohesion and despite the repeated instructions of the “human gramophone,” they did not appear to know what to do with the ball.

Talking of the “human gramophone” he really was a peach and it is quite safe to say that few if any of the onlookers present had ever been privileged to hear such an enthusiastic barracker. He followed the play from one end- of the field to the other at the same time shouting instructions and encouragement to the Mataura players. The main burden of his instructions appeared to be “Get rid of it Browns, get rid of it, get rid of it.” Unfortunately the Browns occasionally got rid of it when it would have been better for them to have kept the ball, as the old law of possession sometimes holds good in hockey as in other games. Miss N. Donnell, Mataura’s centre-forward was too eager and this led her to get offside thus spoiling several good opportunities to score.

Miss M. Mailey, full-back, put up a very sound defence against the Hokonui forwards and cleared well.

But for the fine stopping of the Mataura goal-keeper, Hokonui would almost certainly have added two or three more goals. The goalie was very sure and kept cool even when three or four of the opposing forwards were almost up to her. Miss M. Nichol was the pick of the Hokonui forwards and her centring hits were always hard and well placed. It was surprising how frequently the inside forwards failed to accept her passes. Time after time golden opportunities went begging. _ Miss H. Crawford, centre-forward, did some good work, but generally spoiled it by hitting the ball too far forward. She also lacks the ability to accept passes. She has a lot of speed, is not afraid to follow up and should be above the average but is not.

Miss J. Wayte did some clever intercepting and cleared well. She was the best full-back on the ground. The ground was heavy and slippery, but quite a number of the players were wearing rubber soled shoes. They should have known better.

Influenza has affected several of the Eastern District teams with the result that there were three defaults on Wednesday.

It looks like High School B for the B grade competition. On Wednesday next teams representing the northern and Southern ends of the district will meet at Wyndham. This should provide a very interesting contest and help the selector or selectors to finalize their choice of players for the Eastern Southland team. An endeavour is also being made to arrange a match between B teams chosen from the north and south ends.

This season Eastern has many good individual players, but what will its team be like? It takes more than individuals to make a team and unless those chosen to represent the district have learned how effectively to play together before they leave for the tournament, they can have little hope of success. The success of the Southland team in recent years has undoubtedly been due to the coaching it has received equally as much as to the fact that the material has been good. Eastern are not lacking in material, what they require now is the coaching. The progressive euchre tournament held by the association in the Cosy Tea Rooms on Tuesday evening was a great success and accommodation could not be found for a number of those who wished to participate. At the end of an enjoyable evening’s play Mrs W. Muir and Mr G. Thomson had an equal number of games to their credit, but in the play-off the former won. She was presented with a ladies’ gold wristlet watch and in making the presentation Mr G. C. Hamilton had some interesting things _to say in regard to the forthcoming Dominion tournament and the proposed trip of a New Zealand team to South Africa next year. Two more'such evenings are to be held by the association and it is hoped that they will be equally well patronized.

Pts. Pts. 3 For Ag'st Pts. p w l : Collegiate A ..990 0 54 6 18 Winton .. .. 0 19 21 10 Technical ..844 0 15 30 9 Collegiate B ..826 1 11 31 5 Union A .. ..715 2 12 17 4 Union B .. ..314 0 5 11 2 Note: Union B defaulter once to Technical and once to Winton; Union A defaulted once to Collegiate B. LADIES’ SATURDAY GAMES. Pts. Pts. Teams .... P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Union A .. ..310 2 12 7 4 Collegiate .. ..310 2 15 8 4 Union B .. .. 2—2 — 3 15 — MEN’S Teams .. SATURDAY . P. W. L. GAMES. Pts. Pts. D. F. A. Pts. Central ..440 0 25 8 8 Civil Service ..422 0 19 14 4 High School ..413 0 8 21 0 Collegiate .. ..413 0 9 18 2 MEN’S WEDNESDAY GAMES. Pts Pts Teams .. .. P. W. L. D. F. A.’ Pts. Rangitata .. ..440 0 25 6 8 Central .. .. ..422 0 11 17 4 High School ..312 0 9 13 2 Collegiate .. ..303 0 2 11 0