HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 21997, 22 April 1933, Page 14

HOCKEY

(By

“Half-back”.)

To day the curtain will rise on the 1933 hockey season and both the ladies’ and men’s competitions will be commenced. Many of this year’s teams are, as yet unknown quantities but their strength or weakness should be apparent after the first three or four games. Though the Thornbury Club will not be sending in a team to Invercargill each week, the breach has been filled by the Drummond eleven who are entering in the ladies’ competition. A welcome must be extended to the country players who are to be wished every success in their games throughout the season. Their match against Ex-High A this afternoon should prove the most interesting in the draw which mainly comprises weak and strong teams. K. Hodgetts, the 1931 Southland B and 1932 and 1933 Southland A rep., who was the outstanding forward in the Maroon line at Dunedin last year, is a nurse at the Southland Hospital. While an inmate at that institution, Mrs Shaw, the enthusiastic Unionite, did valuable propaganda work for her club by inducing the ex-Thornbury player to join up in the Union ranks and her presence should considerably strengthen the Yellow vanguard. It is pleasing to know that Mrs Shaw, after a long spell in the hospital, has recovered to such an extent that she is now but an out-patient. Sb© was present at the ladies’ executive meeting on Tuesday night. The entries in the ladies’ competition are somewhat disappointing this season. True, Drummond has taken Thornbury’s place but a noticeable absence is a team from the Southland Girls’ High. Again, Technical College can muster but one eleven this year. It is understood that several High players keen on the game will be found wearing the Ex-High colours but regret was expressed at the Tuesday night’s executive meeting at the fact that a School team would not be playing. After discussion, it was resolved that Mr Burrell should wait upon the Lady Principal in the matter. Jack Wren is still feeling the effects of a bad leg and will not be turning out for Collegiate this year. He is still continuing to take an interest in the game which is fortunate for he is an enthusiast that can ill be spared. After a brief discussion, the ladies’ executive, at Tuesday’s meeting, decided in favour of three selectors, one to be in the Southern District. The appointment of the trio was held over until the next meeting. The delegates divided themselves into two bodies of opinion—one in favour of the sole selector principle and the other in favour of the three selectors—and certainly there is much to be said in favour of each. This column has never disguised its view that a good sole selector is preferable to three, but, the executive having decided on the trio, it now behoves everyone—whether they were of the one or the other opinion—to lend ail support and co-operation to the three who will be chosen as selectors and thus help to lighten their task which is certainly not an enviable one.