HOCKEY IN LONG GRASS

Southland Times, Issue 24167, 2 July 1940, Page 9

HOCKEY IN LONG GRASS

Women’s Games Were Spoiled

(By ROLL IN)

Saturday’s women’s hockey games were spoiled by long grass and very heavy grounds. However, everything considered the games were interesting and some good hockey was seen. ExHigh proved too good for Technical, although the younger team showed some good hockey movements and the forwards made repeated attacks, breaking through the Ex-High defence time after time. Considerable improvement was shown by the Technical forwards and it is only because of a weak left wing and outside half-backs that Technical was unable to penetrate the opposing defence more often. Technical would do well to concentrate on practising corners, from which goals are often scored.

The Collegiate-Invercargill game was a fairly good one, but Collegiate had to play hard to defeat the greatly improved Invercargill team and by no means had its own way. The change in the forward line, G. Tomlins replacing M. Howie at centre forward, did not improve Invercargill’s play, as M. Howie is much the better centre forward. Tire rough state of the ground resulted in four stoppages of play for injuries, but fortunately none was serious. This number of accidents is as many as for the remainder of the season put together. REPRESENTATIVE TEAM With a representative match against Northern District on July 13 the Southland team will be announced shortly. “Roll In” reviews the Southland probables and possibles and picks the following players as having chances of being selected: — Goals.—A. Bateman or F. Monk.

There is a difficulty when it comes to full-backs as the following players all have chances of gaining representative honours: Right full-back, E. Blackie or M. Kelly; left full-back, F Foulston or I. Hunter. The half-back line is difficult also, as there is a number of players available. For centre half it appears that H. Hansen will be chosen, but M. McLeod may 'fill the position, while B. Swale also has a chance. Left half appears to go to L. Fraser as the only suitable one available. The right half position could be filled by M. Kelly, already mentioned as a possible right half, M. McLeod, P. Millard or H. Sandri. In the forwards a difficulty also arises from the number of players available. Left wing position must go to L. McDonald as the only one available. Inside left could be taken by M. Woods, M. Howie, A. Shaw or L. Purvis, while the centre forward position could be held by any one of the last three named. The only seasoned inside right player is D. Gray and so the position may go to this player. For right wing there are two available and these are N. Wylie and J. Anderson. With D. Gray in the inside position it would appear as if N. Wylie, a team mate, will get the right wing position. “Roll In’s” choice of a team would

be: — Goal.—A. Bateman. Backs. —E. Blackie and F. Foulston. Half-backs.—M. Kelly, H. Hansen, L. Fraser. Forwards. —N. Wylie, D. Gray, L.

Purvis, M. Woods and L. McDonald. Reserves.—l. Hunter, M. McLeod, P. Millard, J. Anderson, A. Shaw. TEAMS FOR TRIAL MATCH The following women’s hockey teams have been selected to play a trial match at Queen’s Park next Saturday at 2 p.m.:— Probables. —A. Bateman, E. Blackie, E. Fox, P. Millard, H. Hansen, L. Fraser, J. Wallace, D. Gray, L. Purvis, M. Howie, N. Wylie. Possibles. —F. Monks, M. Kelly, J. Hunter, O. Butler, B. Swale, M. McLeod, J. McDonald, M. Woods, A. Shaw, S. Monks, E. Edwards. Emergencies. —A. Anderson, F. Foulston, F. Watt. The Probables will wear red and the Possibles white.