A Diary of Sport HOCKEY OF POOR STANDARD

Southland Times, Issue 24161, 25 June 1940, Page 9

A Diary of Sport HOCKEY OF POOR STANDARD

Men’s Matches Last Saturday TEAMS SHOW LACK OF COORDINATION By CENTRE-FORWARD Few of those who saw the match between Civil Service and Central at Queen’s Park on Saturday, afternoon could have been impressed with the standard of hockey at any stage of the game. It was a ragged display by two teams which are capable, as past games have shown, of better performances and there was little cohesion about either backs or forwards. The best efforts were individualistic _ ones and the combination without which no team can hope to become a formidable side was not in evidence. The actual difference between the teams was slight and a draw would have been a fairly accurate indication of the merits of the teams. Civil Service was on top for most of the first half and was leading by three goals to one at half-time. In the second half, however, Central launched attack after attack on the Civil Service goal and scored two goals to Civil Service’s one before time sounded. Central was in better form after the interval but its forwards missed many opportunities through faulty passing, poor stick work and the committing of minor breaches. Infringements were too frequent, and obstruction was one of the faults which repeatedly held up play. In the other senior game, in which Collegiate beat Old Boys by 10 goals to one, Old Boys did not maintain the improved form evident in its game the previous week with Civil Service. The match was one-sided and Collegiate was never hard-pressed. Old Boys showed speed on attack and played a good, willing game, but it could offer little opposition to the Collegiate attack. W. SEMMENS ENLISTS Yet another - prominent Southland hockey player has enlisted for military service and has been passed as fit. He is W. Semmens, who has been one of the stalwarts of the Central Hockey Club since he left High School some years ago. Semmens has given much good service to his club and hockey in general has profited in Southland through his participation in the game. He has always been a keen player and as centre-half for Central has contributed in no small way to the success

of that club. Semmens enlisted some time ago and is waiting to be called up. He follows K. Lythgoe, who was the last to leave the ranks of Central, and there is no doubt that the club will feel the loss of these men. It seems certain, now that compulsory service has been introduced, that the ranks of active players will be still further reduced but it is not likely that there will be any complaints on this account. A sterner struggle than that of the playing fields lies ahead and those who are leaving, or have left, to join the forces will carry the good wishes of all their team mates. POSITION OF THE TEAMS The following table shows the position of the teams in the senior competition:— Pts. Ch.

P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Central 9 6 3 - 45 21 12 Collegiate 9 6 3 - 41 19 12 Civil Service 8 4 3 1 30 23 9 Old Boys 7 - 6 1 11 54 1