HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 21480, 24 August 1931, Page 4

HOCKEY

MEN’S TRIAL GAME. POSSIBLES DOWN PROBABLES. At Queen’s Park on Saturday afternoon a men’s trial match, Possibles v. Probables, was played for the purpose of affording the selectors (Messrs 11. S. Cordery and J. D. Gregg) an opportunity of deciding upon two teams to play Otago at Invercargill on September 5. The game was a ragged one and inaccurate shooting by the forwards was frequently evidenced. The Possibles gained the day by two goals to one. It was resolved by the selectors that a further trial should be played next Saturday and the following teams have been chosen: — Probables. V. Poole; Morgan, Gee; Lindsay, Darracott, Steel; Donaldson, Hardcastle, Lockhart, Dakin, Arnold. Possibles. Taylor; Mackley, S. Smith; Fraser, Hamilton, Hope; Blee, Boyd, Petterson, Tarr, M. Roberts. Emergencies: Hodgson, P. Anderson, Macdonald, Wills and Hughes. LADIES’ GAME SOUTHLAND v. THE REST. A match, Southland representatives v. The Rest was played by the ladies and was fairly evenly contested in the early stages but the tourists took charge later on and were never seriously troubled by their opponents. Promising glimpses of form on the part of the representative players was often witnessed and, with extra practice and more aggressiveness in circle work, the vanguard should give a good account of itself on tour. All players who are able are requested to attend at Queen’s Park at 2.30 p.m. today in order to give the representative team a practice. EASTERN SOUTHLAND TEAM LEAVES TO-MORROW. The Eastern Southland ladies’ representative hockey team, with Mr G. C. Hamilton as manager and Mrs Hamilton as chaperone, leaves by to-morrow morning’s express to take part in the Dominion tournament at Auckland. Eastern at present enjoys the distinction of being part holders of the K. Cup and it would be particularly gratifying to see them gain further laurels this season by winning the tournament outright. Any success which may come its way will be well deserved as it has been a constant competitor at the Dominion fixture for a number of seasons and has always acquitted itself with credit. Eastern has also been a particularly popular team both off and on the field and it will have many wellwishers.

It was unfortunate that such wet weather prevailed for the representative fixture between Eastern and Otago on Wednesday, but nevertheless the game should be of considerable benefit to the Eastern team. Otago this season has an exceptionally strong team and was more than a match for Eastern on the day. However, Eastern will be better suited to the hard fast grounds of the north as its players have any amount of pace and can last out a strenuous game. There is, however, some room for improvement, particularly in the play of the forwards, who made many mistakes in the match against Otago. The backs also displayed some weaknesses against Otago and one of the chief of these was their unwise distribution of the ball, when sending on to their forwards. Almost invariably the ball was sent out to the right, with the result that the Otago backs were waiting. After a time it must have been apparent to the Eastern players that their persistence was only leading them into trouble. In hockey, as in other games, it is very necessary to keep the opposing side in ignorance of your next move and this can only be done by frequently varying the method of attack. Despite the weaknesses mentioned, however, the team is a strong one, and it is not unlikely that before the tournament has progressed very far it will be playing much better hockey than it did against Otago. The prospects of success are fairly bright and it would not be surprising to find Kastern Southland become the holders of the K. Cup for a further period. The team is as follows: —

Goalkeeper: M. Wright (Riversdale). Full-backs: J. Wayte (Hokonui), C. Dempster (Edendale), Marion Maley (Mataura).

Halves: L. McDonald, deputy-captain (Waikaia), M. Gerken (LumSden), F. Allen (Ex-High), E. Maley (Mataura). Forwards: R. Mcßain (Waikaia), K. Bond (Waikaia), H. Reid, captain (Hokonui), M. Sherriffs (Lumsden), M. Nicol (Hokonui), M. Small (Lumsden). M. White (High School).