WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Southland Times, Issue 23287, 25 August 1937, Page 10

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

ARRANGEMENTS FOR TOURNAMENT MEETING OF COMMITTEE A meeting of the tournament committee of the Southland Women s Hockey Association was held last evening. Mr W. R. Patrick was chairman. Reports on the programmes for the games and the entertainments were discussed. It was decided that a P ar ~ ade of all the hockey players from the Post Office to the High School grounds in Herbert street on Saturday afternoon would leave at 1.30 p.m. On the arrival of the parade at the grounds, the civic reception to the visitors would be given. * The following programme of entertainments was approved:— Saturday.—lo a.m., morning tea for all players at H. & J. Smith’s; 10.45 a.m., umpires’ meeting; evening, dance at Smith’s Hall. Sunday.—Free. Monday.—7.3o p.m., managers meeting at Everybody’s. Tuesday.—Theatre. Wednesday.—Free. Thursday.—Hockey ball at Smiths Hall.

Friday.—Free. Saturday.— Farewell dance and presentation of trophies. It was stated that a telephone was being installed at the ground and arrangements to house it were left in the hands of the chairman and the secretary, Miss M. G. Watson. The secretary reported that 24 billets were still required. The committee decided that the season tickets which had been issued would entitle the holders to the matches at Rugby Park on the final day. The secretary reported that the Nelson, Wairarapa, Wellington and Ashburton teams would arrive tomorrow evening and Auckland and South Canterbury on Saturday .evening. The South Otago A and B, Eastern A and B, Auckland, Central Otago and Canterbury teams would reach Invercargill on Friday evening. Mr A. St. C. Macgregor presided at a meeting of the management' committee and it was decided to ask the various clubs to send any money they had collected to the association. It was decided also to write to the Southland Technical College congratulating the girls’ hockey team on its recent successes against Dunedin and Christchurch. Eastern Southland TEAMS FOR THE TOURNAMENT Two very strong teams have been chosen by the sole selector (Mr G. C. Hamilton), to represent Eastern Southland at the Dominion women’s hockey tournament which begins at Invercargill on Saturday. A notable absentee from the A team is Mrs H. Reid, who will be missed for her fine leadership. The team, however, includes the majority of last year’s players and is a particularly strong one. There are also some very good players in the B team and both teams should perform very well at the tournament All the players picked are keen, and by Saturday both sides should have worked up strong combinations. There was some keen competition for the position of goal-keeper in the A team and M. Wright (Hokonui) who has been selected for the position jis very sound. She represented the side in 1931 and last year she made a return to form being selected to play at Blenheim. Ulis year she has maintained her good form, and although B. Reid (Hokonui) and M. Chamberlain (Mataura) were strong contenders for the position, she is perhaps the best selection. She uses her feet to advantage, clears cleanly and is always alert. The full-backs, A. McDonald (Waikaia), M. Small (Lumsden) and M. Webb (Mataura) are all reliable.. A. McDonald, who gained Dominion honours in 1935, is a tower of strength and is recognized as one of the best full-backs ever seen in New Zealand. M. Small is a tried player and was selected to travel to Blenheim last year. She was unable to travel with the team last year because of illness. Her form has been good this year again and she thoroughly deserves her place. M. Webb (Mataura) first represented Eastern Southland as a full-back at Auckland in 1931. She is a versatile player and played as goal-keeper the following season. She is very sound and possesses a good hit The half-backs, M. Sanson (Riversdale), R. Mcßain (Waikaia), A. McLaren (Wyndham), and D. McDonald (Waikaia) should prove a great combination. M. Sanson Js a very clever player and was chosen as centre-half in the New Zealand team which toured Australia in 1935. She has only been five years in big hockey and in those five years she has developed into a first-class player. She is playing at the top of her form this year and is showing plenty of dash. R. Mcßain will make her eighth trip with the team. She is a fast hard-working half-back and is also a useful full-back. It is understood that this is her final season in'the game. A. McLaren has represented the side on two previous occasions. She has plenty of ability and is not afraid of hard work. D. McDonald is the youngest member of the team, being only 15 years of age. This is her first year of club hockey, and to be included in a side as strong as Eastern Southland is a tribute to her ability. She is a clever player and understands positional play very well. She is a sister of A. McDonald, the full-back. THE FORWARDS The forwards, with the exception of G. Jones and J. Adam, have represented the team for a number of years. M. Nicol (Hokonui), who has been selected as captain, is one of the most outstanding right-wings in the Dominion today. She was extremely unlucky not to be selected to represent New Zealand when the team toured Australia. She has great speed and splendid control of the ball. M. Sherriff (Hokonui), deputy-captain, who has been chosen, to fill Mrs Reid’s position, is a versatile player, and should fill the position with merit. She was chosen as inside-left in the New Zealand team which played Fiji last year. This year she has been playing at centre-forward and has a good sound knowledge of what is required of a player in this position. G. Jones (Riversdale) secures inclusion in the team for the first time. She has been playing club hockey for seven years and was a member of the Eastern B team in 1934. She has been playing a consistently sound game this year and deserves her place. J. Adam (Mataura) also gains representative honours for the first time, and while a comparatively young player shows promise of developing into a good forward. The other forwards. K. Soper (nee Bond, Lumsden), J. Mcßain (Waikaia) and M. White (Riversdale), are all tried players. Their play this season has definitely warranted their inclusion in the side again. Although there are some very young players in the B team, the side is a particularly well-balanced one and should perform very well. Some of the players were unlucky not to gain inclusion in the A team, but when they have gained a little more experience they will no doubt be considered.