HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 21732, 18 June 1932, Page 15

HOCKEY

(By

“Half-Back.”)

The match between Thornbury and Collegiate A ladies last Saturday was somewhat disappointing, but allowances must be made for the greasy state of the field which militated against a bright exhibition of hockey. Nevertheless Thornbury should have given a better showing than they did, for they went down in defeat to the slicks of their rivals by five goals to two. It was gratifying to see W. Clark, the ex-Maroon rep., between the Thornbury posts, where she was responsible for effecting several saves. Though she was recruited only for the occasion, it is to be hoped she will continue to make her appearance on the field during the season. E. Hillis, Thornbury’s left full-back, was generally sound, but she must curb a tendency to speculate at times. She has a wonderful eye in taking the ball on its flight, but this gift would perhaps be better employed in duck than on the hockey field, for it hardly makes for those ‘‘safety first” tactics so desirable in a full-back. The right full-back should watch her position closer as she was frequently absent when required, and consequently the dashing Green forwards often found a passport to the Thornbury circle handed out most willingly to them. E. Lambert (Thornbury right wing) has been showing improved form lately and some of her centres were welljudged and crisply sent across. She was often starved, however, by her halves who swung play over to the left side far too much. M. Hillis (centre forward) played quite a good, solid game and combined well • with her outers. She, too, however, could Have sent play to the right more often than she did. K. Hodgetts (Thornbury left inner) Seems to stand a good chance of getting a week’s rest from housework, for Mr Hinton will probably tell her to again pack her suitcase for the north when the Maroons go on tour later on in the season. She has shown a pleasing return to her true form and the two goals from her stick on Saturday were splendid efforts. This player no longer fiddles around so much in the circle (a bad fault with her last year), but, in recent games, has transferred the ball quickly and used her forwards to advantage. The Thornbury left wing (I. Fallow) gave quite a fair performance, but she should learn to use her reverse stick occasionally. 0. Stott, the Collegiate A custodian, though prejudiced by a greasy goalmouth, put in some sound work. The writer clings strongly to the belief that if she procured a pair of heavier shoes from her bootmaker her kicking clear tactics woqld be productive of better results. Of the Collegiate full-backs K. Breen was solid without being brilliant. M. Dawson, on the day’s game, outshone her mate. She must rid herself, however, of her tendency to frequently obstruct t. tackling on the left of her opponents. At times, again, she provides evidence that she has not lost her last season’s bad, though doubtlessly an innocent, habit of still fending off her rivals. On the whole, however, she is a good, clean, sporting player and a grafter all the time. If she can put these faults behind her, she may well knock for a Maroon blouse when they are given out by the selector. M. Wall, in the Collegiate centre half’s job, played soundly, but the state of the ground did not tend towards sure-footedness. H. Myers also worked well in her usual determined manner, while B. Thomas proved that she is a reliable club player. In the Collegiate vanguard, E. Bell (centre forward) shone like a meteor, and, with each game, she shows a distinct improvement. She is as fit as a fiddle, as keen as Colman’s and always a splendid opportunist. In many respects she gives the impression that she will ultimately, with further experience, become as versatile a centre as May Hislop, the brilliant Southland exrep. Both the Collegiate inners (E. Smith and L. Baird) were always useful on attack. D. Gray (right wing) still continues to maintain promising form, and she, too, especially if a junior Southland team goes to the tourney, should be well in the running for rep. honours this season. The performances of practically all the lady left wingers this season have been disappointing and well below rep. standard. M. Mclntyre, the Collegiate left winger, played quite a good club game against Thornbury, but, as is the case with all the others holding down the same job, her stick work could show an improvement. Unfortunately Southland is badly in want just now of a winger of the type of the ex-Mar-oon Huia Horner, who was unquestionably one of New Zealand’s finest exponents of brilliant stickwork—either reverse or full. It should be remembered that a left-winger who can prove herself an adept at the reverse stroke possesses a distinct asset at the very outset for that job.. Both the High A fullbacks (T. James and P> Staite) gave good performances against Union ladies last Saturday, the former, especially, being very sound. The Yellow vanguard was disappointing, for the forwards should have finished off several of their attacks to better advantage. M. Balch (Union’s centre-forward) is playing enterprising hockey; she is keen, fast and a good type of player for that important position, and she will undoubtedly be knocking hard at Mr Hinton’s door for a Maroon blouse later on. The Union . halves (the Robb sisters and D. Cockcroft) proved useful in confining the School attackers to their own territory. The Robb sisters are both solid grafters, while D. Cockroft also is not afraid of work. She should, however, watch her position closer as often last week she was well ahead of her centre forward when the Yellows were attacking. With further experience, the young School A forwards should improve ois. ut sight. They are keen enough, but seem to suffer from (perhaps, but naturally) an inferiority complex when opposed to the leading elevens. V. Brown (centre forward) and Eula Ewen showed good form, but the vanguard, as a whole, found the defence too sound.

D. Anderson, School A's left inner, has been improving out of sight recently, and in the clash against Central men last Saturday, he gave a bright display and was aggressive throughout. Robertson, on the left wing, also played well, though, he was inclined, on occasions, to be a trifle slow in pulling up and sending in his centres. Still the position is admittedly a difficult one and, on the day’s play, he acquitted himself with credit. Poole, as centre, was also always in the limelight and, especially in the second half, he shone very brightly.

I Morgan, Central’s right full-back, did tfot relish the heavy going, and, though 1 his work was generally sound, it was not up to its usual high standard. Carman (right half) is another player who has come ahead well this season and he is well worth his place in the half line. Darracott, notwithstanding that on occasions he step-danced and minueted from his true position as centrehalf, bore upon his capable shoulders a fair burden of defensive work, while Fraser also was very reliable. Roberts was the outstanding forward in the White vanguard though Hamilton (right wing) showed improvement and kept his position well. Lockhart’s heart seemed willing, but his feet didn’t appear to let him—he was quite off colour. Mayston, too, has played better games.

Ex-High had a runaway victory over Technical B, who went down in defeat by 17 goals to nil. Success has come to the Ex-High colours during the last three or four weeks when their representatives have generally been opposed to weak elevens, but the real test will again come when they meet Collegiate A, Union and Thornbury in the second round. It is to be hoped that they will throw overboard their suicidal policy of endeavouring to play without a goalie—that formation may have been quite all right against weak teams, the forwards of which could rarely evade the halves, but to persevere with such tactics in the face of formidable opponents would be tantamount to the furtherance of a policy of false security. The early stages of the Central A v. High School men’s clash last Saturday were marked by such a babel of squealing, moaning and appealing on the part of several of the players that spectators could readily be pardoned for gaining the impression that they had wandered into a dog or poultry show. Ultimately Mr Gregg (one of the referees) had to reprimand the players as a whole, and, for the rest of the game, there was a gratifying lull after the storm.

Heroine worship is all very well in its place so long as it is not overdone. The Technical B girl players, in their game against Ex-High, let their emotions, instead of their attacking sticks, run away with them, and time and again they handed out generous praise to their mates whenever any particular one happened to clear or carry out a good piece of work. “Well Done!,” “Jolly Good Hit!” and so on and on and on were examples of the lavish eulogy bestowed. And the girls in question were not too haughty in.manner as to refrain from occasionally retorting to sideliners who (whether rightly or wrongly) urged them to “Get into it.” If these players are qualifying for jobs as broadcasting announcers, the best course for them to pursue is to use 4ZP as their station rather than the Queen’s Park hockey field.

At last Tuesday’s meeting of the Otago Ladies’ Hockey Association, a letter was received from the New Zealand Women’s Hockey Association advising that the Dominion championship tournament for 1932 had been allotted to the Otago Association. It was decided to call a meeting of the whole of the executive, together with representatives from all the clubs, to commence making arrangements. The secretary was also instructed to get in touch with the authorities controlling the Logan Park grounds for the purpose of ascertaining whether certain of them would be available for the tournament.

All indications at present point to the Southern Sub-Association’s seven-a-side tourney at Fortrose on July 9 being a most successful fixture. The Southland executive, at its meeting on Tuesday evening, decided not only to postpone all town matches on the day of the tournament, but also to subsidize the bus fares of the players from Invercargill and Thornbury who intend competing. Further, as it was considered that the playing of the game between Northern and Town (tentatively arranged for the 9th prox.) might result in certain Town clubs being unwilling, in the event of their having certain players selected for that match, to send representatives to Fortrose, such fixture was held over until later on in the season. The Southland executive has, therefore, whole-heartedly demonstrated its keen desire to support the Southern fixture by every possible means. According to the delegates present at last Tuesday’s ladies’ executive meeting, teams representing Collegiate, Union, Ex-High, Technical College and Thornbury intend visiting Fortrose for the tourney. Last year there was a very disappointing representation from the Town Clubs, but the subsidizing of the bus fares is playing an important part in stimulating healthier entries this season. The Ohai Club’s colours will also be seen at Fortrose, permission to play having been granted the club by the Southland executive. Certain officials of the executive, Invercargill referees and, if space is available on the bus (or buses) a fair number of supporters of the various teams competing, intend actively supporting the fixture by being present.