CENTRAL HOCKEY TEAM’S LAPSE OF FORM

Southland Times, Issue 24138, 29 May 1940, Page 10

CENTRAL HOCKEY TEAM’S LAPSE OF FORM

Central’s defeat by Collegiate on Saturday, although it brought about no actual alteration in the position of the teams in the-men’s hockey competition, put Collegiate in a position to challenge Central’s, supremacy. Central,, whose defeat was the first it had suffered this season, still leads in the competition but Collegiate, with three wins to its credit against Central’s four, is now in a better position. When the match between Central and Collegiate first began it seemed that a good, close game would result. For. 15 minutes or more the exchanges were brisk and even, and some good hockey was seen but Central’s play began gradually to deteriorate, not to a marked degree, but sufficiently to enable Collegiate to see a weakness which it could turn to its own advantage. Individually, the Central players, or many of them, were not up to form and the sound combination of which they are usually capable was not apparent. In the later stages of the first half Collegiate was superior on attack and managed to gain a twopoint lead. Play in the second half was rather ragged and there was not a great deal between the teams. Collegiate netted the ball once and there was no further score during the game. Several good and promising movements were staged but neither team was able to take advantage of scoring opportunities. DAVIDSON IN FORM D. Davidson, in the Collegiate forward line, played an outstanding game on Saturday, and was more or less instrumental in bringing about Collegiate’s win. He was aggressive on attack and his passing was particularly accurate, and he scored all of Collegiate’s four goals. Hunt also played a good game at half-back and Speirs and Martin were solid on defence. N. Poole saved well in goal when necessary and only one ball got past him. It is hard to explain Central’s lapse of form as the team’s consistently good standard has hitherto shown no signs of deteriorating. There was much erratic passing and some players, perhaps because they were not in their accustomed positions, forgot the rules of positional play and drifted all over the field. Although the season so far has seen some good and interesting games in the senior grade the standard of hockey could be improved a great deal. One difficulty in Invercargill is a lack of competition but players could, by attention to the finer points of the game, and by turning out quite fit, raise the standard of play to some extent in Invercargill. The difficulties of holding practice nights, with the early approach of darkness and an absence of lighting facilities, foftn another drawback. HOCKEY ASSOCIATION In moving the adoption of the annual report at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Hockey Association the president (Mr H. S. J. Goodman) ex-

By CENTRE-FORWARD

pressed regret that the war had made impossible the proposed visit by an Australian team this season, and had also resulted in the cancellation of the Centennial tournament which had been planned and worked for ih Auckland. He asked delegates particularly to advise their respective associations that the parent body hoped that each association would continue to function throughout the difficult times ahead, and he appealed to the older members to see that the game was held together, even, if it were for the benefit of junior players only. The New Zealand Association has at least two officers who have given Particularly long service. Mr Goodman has been president since 1914, and has not missed a meeting either of the delegates or of the Management Committee. Although the office .of honorary auditor does not receive quite the same prominence as that of president, it is fitting to record appreciation of the services given by Mr Arthur Stewart, who was himself a prominent player in nis younger days. Mr Stewart has held the office of honorary auditor for more than 25 years. Considerable discussion took place, as to the advisability of discontinuing challenges for the shield and Nordon Cup during the war, the main point for discontinuing challenges being that with the various provincial teams depleted through their players being on active service there would be poor satisfaction in the winning of either of the trophies, and also that as they virtually represented championship events it would not be fair to record the holders under such circumstances. The main point put forward as a reason for. continuing the challenges was the desirability of catering for those players who, for various reasons, were unable to leave New. Zealand. The motion that the challenges be discontinued for the duration of the war was carried on the voices. UMPIRES The following have been appointed New Zealand Hockey Umpires’ Association examiners for the season: — Messrs Norton (Auckland), Scott (Taranaki), Tizard (Wanganui), Williams (Wellington), Gracie (Canterbury), Mulholland (Otago), Wilson (Manawatu), They have notified the names of 23 A grade umpires, who must be re-examined in accordance with the “five-year-rule.” There are 10 others who have passed the necessary theory I examinations and have applied for an I examination on the field. The president of the New Zealand Umpires’ Association for 1940 is Mr Barton Ginger, of Wellington. POSITION OF TEAMS

The following table shows the position of the teams in the senior competition:— ■ • - Pts. Ch.

P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Central 5 4 1 — 33 10 .8 Collegiate 5 3 2 — 23 12 6 Civil Service 4 2 2 — 17 14 4 Old Boys 3 — 3—4 31 —