HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 25341, 20 July 1935, Page 14

HOCKEY

WOMEN’S NOTES.

(By

“Half-Back.”)

Fixtures Ahead.

To-day.—Northern v. Southland at Queen’s Park (2.45 p.m.); curtain-

raiser at 1.45 p.m. July 27.—Southland v. South Otago representative match at Inverts cargill; curtain-raiser to be ar-

ranged. t August 3.—Southland Association s seven-a-side tournament at Invercargill. ’ August 10.—Union v. Technical; Collegiate a bye. August 17. —Southland v. Eastern return match at Gore. August 24’. —Dey Cup match at Invercargill; Tokanui v. Union.

The four Easterners in the All Black team (Mrs O’Connor, goalie; A. McDonald, full-back;' N. Sanson, halfback and Mrs H. Reid, centre forward) were included in the eleven which in the opening match of the Australian tour, defeated Newcastle on Thursday by five goals to nil. This afternoon, the New Zealanders should encounter sterner opposition when they c loss sticks with New South Wales. On Tuesday the All Blacks play Melbourne in the first game of the tournament. Puffing away at cigarettes may be quite a relaxation to many players nut, smoking and becoming properly tit don’t work hand in hand. A girl who takes little trouble to consider that aspect when training can blame only herself if the selector gives little consideration to her claims when deciding the personnel of the representative team for the tournament. One Southern player on the sideline was actually overheard last Saturday to remark to a mate that she’d rather give up hockey than her smoking. Frank, at any rate. The Northern team and their officials are to be the guests o' the Southland Association at dinner at the Railwaj Hotel this evening. Next Saturday, the South Otago representative team will arrive in Invercargill by the 1.10 p.m. express and will be met by. executive members of the local association ana by the hosts with whom the visitors will be billeted. After the match m the afternoon, the South Otago players and officials will be tendered a dinner at the Railway Hotel, while the Collegiate Club extended to them an invitation to attend their dance that evening. It is hoped that arrangements can be made to take the visitors for a motor drive on the Sunday afternoon. Everything depends on the number of cars offering. Should anyone be prepared to assist in this direction, he should communicate with any member of the executive. The South Otago team leave for the north again by the 3.46 p.m. express on Sunday. , , The list of players advised to attend representative practices will be decreased after this afternoon's matches and the number to be taken in hand by the coach will thus prove more readily workable by him. The names of the players to attend future practices will be published on Monday. Southland v. Northern. Experiments—some may regard them as bold—have been made by the selector in deciding upon the Southland team to play Northern this afternoon Northern, who last year defeated Southland by five goals to one, will be fielding a strong eleven and the Maroons will have to strive hara all th< way to avenge that defeat. The selector badly wants really reliable full-backs and a good centrehalf for the Southland team. Because a player may happen to be the best in that position by no means necessarily means that she is up to representative form and the selector, haying certain other girls in view for particular positions, intends using this afternoon’s game to give those players..the chance to prove they are either the goods” or not. If one or more of them “flop” then he will be forced to reconsider his values in the light of that failure; on the other hand, tney may well justify their trial this afternoon. L. Shirley (left full-back) played sound defensive games at the South;ern seven-a-side. Last week she was on the disappointing side, but gets her chance again to-day. V. Robb is piaced, at the outset of the match, as right full-back. She is such a strong defensive player and so often virtually plays as a full-back in extricating her side from trouble, that she should give confidence to the front portion of the M. Gerken is left half, R. Beith (Tokanui) being placed as centre-half. She infused dash into her work on occasions and opened up the play well last Saturday. But, again, she was disappointing at other times—particularly in the last quarter of an hour when she failed to go back when the Town forwards passed her. She has the speed, however, to do so and if it can be impressed upon her that she must woik right to the end and virtually sit on the opposing centre-forward’s stick she might well turn cut trumps.. She is getting her chance—the rest is up to her. B. McCallum’s defensive work the last' two Saturdays has entitled her to another trial —but she simply must get rid of that turning-on-the-ball habit of hers. It is too costly. The coach, however, will give her some advice on having been consented to on both sides-the match pemg regarded really as a trial to assist the selectors in view of the New Zealand tournament ahead—the Southern rearguard can be altered if any of the members fail to “strike it.” N. McKenzie and H. Myers (backs) are to be ready to take the field at any time. The forward line is the same as that which represented Town against Southern last week except that M. White is getting a further trial as right inner• M. Belsham being placed as centre-half m a curtain-raiser team. In the curtain-raiser teams are at least four or five players still in the running for a position on the right side of the vanguard. R. Kevern, by the. way, pu in some bright work as right-inner last Saturday, and, as centre-half, too, today, her showing will be watched with interest. ± • It may yet be necessary to. bring in I Rewcastle to an inside position,, but that would mean filling the left wing s berth. M. Valli, however, is to be ready too, to take that position this afternoon if deemed advisable. . Likely backs, too, have been included in the curtain-raiser game but, after to-day’s match and those of next Saturday the selector should be m the position to practically determine the touring fifteen. , Though the local association decided to support the New Zealand Association’s proposal to invite a Fijian team to tour New Zealand next season, the Otago Association’s executive, at their last meeting, did not vie’ the suggested visit in such a favourable light. Otago decided that no good could result from such a tour unless the members of the visiting team were experts in playing the game and the executive resolved to mak the suggestion that probably a better team to invite would be an All-Australian one. In the event of that latter tour eventuating, then Otago would apply for a match at Dunedin. Mostly Brickbats. Although Town defeated Southern in the return match last Saturday by six goals to two, the work of several individual aspirants (in both teams) for Maroon blouses, did not, in many directions, approach true representative form. The game and the performance

of most of the players has already been commented upon but further criticism, if read in the light of constructive criticism, might prove valuable. N. McKenzie, it was gratifying to note, played a sound defensive game throughout and curbed any tendency to speculate. Her covering-up of E. McDonald when the goalie ran out to clear on one occasion showed that she has been listening closely to the coach’s advice. Fullbacks should always realize that wild and indiscriminate hitting won’t get anyone far; their function is not merely to hit and clear the ball but to pass it on to another member.

M. Gerken fed M. Mclntyre well—in fact, too generously. A smart opposing team would soon become awake to a centre-half feeding one player almost monotonously and would watch the forward closely. Centre-half should always endeavour to vary her passing. Again, M. Gerken when near the circle on two or three occasions in the second spell appeared—from the sideline, at any rate —to have splendid chances of invading the circle and finding the net herself when only a fullback and goalie were opposing her at some distance away. Instead, she passed to M. McIntyre who was being closely marked. If unmarked, the centre-half should always make a dash fox - the circle and have a shot at goal. Again, some of the Town backs often failed to get in their tackles quickly enough. They would wait hoping for an opponent to mishit. Those tactics only permit the opposition to come all the nearer. The writer does not advocate an impetuous tackle for it is simple enough for a clever forward to trick a half-back coming headlong at her. But tackle warily and choose the right' moment. Generally, such a good moment is when a forward has allowed the ball to get rather far in front of hex- ox - when she is looking about for someone to pass to. The circle work of the Town inside forwards made one almost cry on occasions. How on earth can such experienced representative players as Mary Mclntyre, E. Bell and M. Belsham excuse their failure to often rush in when the ball had been sent goalwards? Many a goal has been scored by such enterprise—as they know full well. And again there were split seconds ticking away before stick often connected with the ball. The coach will have a busy task during the next three or fouf weeks in endeavouring to correct this. He has already endeavoured to impress upon the inside forwards the cultivation of the push stroke. Those forwards and halves as well must realize that they cannot become firstclass unless adepts at the stroke. Its great value, of course, is that it can be made so quickly and without drawing the stick away from the ball, thus enabling the player to leave her shot as late as possible. The chief secret of shooting lies in the quickness of the wrist and forwards generally should shoot with the ball slightly in front of them for, by this means, a wrist stroke is far easier than if the ball is taken up near the legs. D. Gray, apart from a tendency (it’s time she was rid of that by now) to square pass the ball, and also a failure to draw the opposing backs sufficiently before centreing, put in some bright work on the riglit wing. I. Rewcastle was impressive when changed to the left wing and, if she can be spared from the inside positions, seems to fit into . the winger’s job well. M. Mclntyre ' could not get going in the first spell. L. McNatty hung to her like a leech—but showed up better after half-time. 1 MEN’S NOTES (By “Bully.”) The Seven-a-Side Tournament. Last week’s seven-a-side tournament i was as successful, if not more so, as I previous ones which have been held at the conclusion of the season. Most I provinces find it advisable to play their | seven-a-side tournament while play- | ers are still keen and the thought of , summer games has not obtruded. Nine : teams competed in the senior - compet- ' ition and five in the junior. j Although the seniox - competition was ! not finalized many interesting games ; were played and the two teams who were generally considered the strongest won through to the final. Central, who were runners-up last year, played well throughout, losing only to Civil Service, last year’s winners, in the final game. The Central team is a strong one, the three forwards being especially dangerous against a defence that j lacks compactness. It is a debatable | point whether a goalie is an advantage [ or a disadvantage. Mullen, Paterson I and Hughes played fast and accurate hockey throughout the tournament, but were visibly tired by the end of the final game. The final to-day should be interesting and it is difficult to forecast who will eventually win—good j fortune will probably play a large part in this game. Civil Service had a close call against Gore when they won by the odd halfpoint. Some of the visiting players expressed dissatisfaction at the stringency of the refereeing in this game. There can be no doubt about the fact that the referees were strict, but a general improvement would result if all umpires decided to penalize players for such common faults as obstruction and sticks. The writer has often commented on the glaring obstxmctions perpetrated by players of representative standard. Although a free hit may be awarded the chance of scoring a goal is often Last through some defending player charging into an opponent when a pass would have enabled a forward to score, j If players were made to realize that obstruction of any kind would not be tolerated the standard of play might improve. The Indians commented on the body-play indulged in by leading players in this country. To their minds and to the writer’s mind too, it is an admission of weak stickwork and lack of finesse. McKelvey certainly possesses a great deal of hockey ability, but does not always play well. Souness is a dangerous player in a seven-a-side game, his stickwork and speed giving the defence an uneasy time. High School were unexpectedly beaten by Gore B, but played some good games later. McLean and Kennedy did the most damage, but did not receive sufficient support from other players. Technical thoroughly deserved their win in the junior section, but High School were little inferior. Previous winners in the seven-a-side competition have been:— Senior. *l929.—High School. *l93o.—High School. 1931. —Central. 1932. —Collegiate. 1933. —Central. 1934. Civil Service. * Denotes five-a-side tournament. Junior. 1932. Technical. 1933. High School. 1934. —Central. 1935. —Technical. Weakness of N. Z. Forwards. The New Zealand hockey eleven made a strong bid for the world supremacy and failed. The New Zealand backs in the second Test more than held their own with the visitors, who were more nervous and reckless than I have ever seen them, and indulged . in long passes and hitting, (stated Norman Jacobsen in the Dom- ; inion). This was induced partly by the greasy nature of the ground and : partly as a defensive measure against the tactics used in the games played in Christchurch. The result was that we : saw little high-class hockey among the Indian backs, with the single excep- : tion of Masud. The New Zealand for- ' wards adopted more of the short- ■ passing game. But the scintillating, :

brilliant, triangular passing, among the backs, was entirely absent. New Zealand had a great chance, but its forwards did not seize it. The India backs have been vulnerable from the start, and cannot compare with the quality of their forwards, and were never more vulnerable than in the second Test. Masud, the Indian centre-half, was, as usual, the outstanding back on both sides. Next worthy of mention was Bowden, of Canterbury, and then Ewen, of the full-backs, and Spiers, Rogers and Moore played better than their corresponding Indian backs, Gopalan and Naem in the halves, and Hussain and Ahmed. McLeod put in a tremendous amount of work, but still plays too far back as if for defence. If he plays farther forward he will send his forwards off much more often and more effectively. But the story of the forward lines was exactly the reverse. Man for man, the Indian front line outclassed the New Zealand line, first, in positional work, and secondly, in skill. This is not surprising, because Rup Singh and Dhyan Chand are the two best inside men playing to-day, and Wells fits in with them. The two wings, Shahabuddin and Fernandez, are lOsec. men, but were ineffective on the day, owing to the difficulty of centring on a slippery field, and to a knock that Fernandez received early in the game. The same excuse could be made foxour own forwards, but theix - positional play was lamentable. Seldom did they preserve any semblance of alignment. Some of the New Zealand foxnvards have been tried out. Why not discover some more Turbitts by trying new blood? There are plenty of young players worth trying who would benefit by the experience, and use it in New Zealand’s interest in later international games.

Reg. Watchman, of Wellington, has the speed and shooting capacity required for a New Zealand centre-for-ward. His stickwork has improved out of all sight, and also his power - to combine with his inside players. Brown, his club-mate, and Wlxeatley, of the Huia club, the Wellington right inside, are quite worthy of a place in the third Test. So also is Martin, of the same club, worthy of consideration as left-wing. Duffield, of Canterbury College, should run Watchman of Wellington, close for - the centre-for-ward position, but coxtld be tried out in one of the inside places. McKay, of Hawkes Bay, played the best game, after Turbitt, that I have seen played on this tour. So, retaining Turbitt as left inside, Watchman, Duffield, Brown, Wheatley, McKay and Welbourne could supply the men for the othexplaces in the front rank. I am sure Eric Watts would be the first to suggest standing down to give a younger player a chance. PRIMARY SCHOOL JOTTINGS. The primary school boys are now very enthusiastic and the annual competition promises to be both keenly contested and succesful. There are seven teams in the competition this year and the third round was completed last Friday. In the first round the stronger teams were not extended to defeat theixless experienced opponents, but many of the games were closer than was anticipated. In the second round one could gain some definite idea as to what teams were likely to be in it at the death. South A were not impressive against North B; they will have to improve greatly before they can hope to defeat middle. St. George possesses little finesse, but cannot be taken too cheaply. Middle A and North A appear to be the strongest teams this year and several players of undoubted promise are making rapid progress. The visit of the Indian team has affected the play of some of these players to a marked degree. Many of them use their wrists to advantage and push the ball cleanly from one to another. If they continue to adopt these tactics they will do well. In the third round North A scored a comfortable victory over South A by six goals to nil. Whereas the winners endeavoured to keep the ball with them all the time, making good use of the push shot and the flick, their opponents played energetically but without any cohesion. Until these players learn to combine and adopt the correct tactics they will not rise above the mediocre. Too great stress cannot be laid on the question of obstruction. Senior - players offend badly, but primary schoolboys must learn while they are young that hockey is a game of science, not brawn. Middle, who did not field their strongest team had to fight all the way to defeat St. George by two goals to nil.

The following table shows the positions of the teams after the completion of the third round:—

A rule for to-day.—Off-side: (a) At the moment when the ball is hit, or rolled in, any other player of the same team as the striker, or roller-in, is in an off-side position unless: (1) He be inside his own half of the ground; ox (2). There be at least three opponents nearer to their own goal-line; or (3). The striker, or roller-in, be nearer to the opponent’s goal-line, (b) A playexwho is in an off-side position shall not be penalized fox - off-side unless, in the opinion of the umpire, he is, by his position, gaining some advantage, or influencing the play of an opponent, (c) A player who is in an off-side positiox. shall not be put on-side by reason of the ball having touched, or glanced off, the stick ox - • person of an opponent. Note.—lf the ball rebound off a goalpost or cross-bar it shall be deemed to be a direct pass.

P. W. L. D. Pts. F A. CP. Middle A 2 2 — — 11 0 4 North A 2 2 - — 18 0 4 St. George 3 2 1 - 9 9 4 South A 3 2 1 - 8 8 4 Middle B 1 2 - 1 9 2 South B 2 — 2 - - 21 North B 3 - 2 - 2 9