HOCKEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 688, 13 June 1929, Page 13

HOCKEY

By

Rakaunui

The close of the first round of the Auckland Hockey Association's senior competition, wliic-h ended last Saturday, leaves Mount Eden leading by only one point from SomerA'ille, North Shore and St. Luke’s, Avhich are all equal. Tho position is interesting as Avith another complete round to come, and possibly a third, according to the number of outside fixtures during the season. there is not, at present, the slightest indication lioav the competition will end. Of the six teams in the competition at least five still have what must practically be considered an equal chance as there are only tAvo points betAveen the first and the fifth team, a difference of the value of a single game. Challenge Shield Match.—The following players have been selected to go into training by Canterbury for the match for tho Ncaa* Zealand Challenge Shield against Wellington on June 29: J. Robb, E. Rhind, E. Dash, J. Soper, C. Rogers, H. More, B. Rogers, G. Chautrell, J. Anderson, S. Bell, R. Huston, R. Collins, W. Rushbridge, W. Lucas, W. Grade, D. McCormick and C. Mayston.

According to a writer in “The Graphic” hockey is in a bad Avay in England. Although once England Avas acknowledged supreme in the British Isles she is now being challenged seriously by Scotland and Ireland and she only beat Wales by a narrow margin. Nevertheless the game appears to be more popular and there are probtibly more players and more clubs now than e\*er before.

Australians May Visit South.—lt is rumoured in Wellington that the Australian team shortly to tour Ncav Zealand, may arrive in Auckland on July 8 or 9, instead of in Wellington oil July 10. This extra week in the tour will give the visitors time to play an extra match at Feilding on about July 10 and to play Canterbury on Saturday, July 13.

Tho rest of the itinerary Avill probably be tho same as that announced earlier. The Canterbury Association has made arrangements with the Canterbury Rugby League to play the match on the Lancaster Park ground as a curtain-raiser to a Rugby League match and a team has already gone into training for the match. It is to be hoped the rumours are true as the game against Canterbury should be a good one and the neAV itinerary AAill also allow of another North Island game.

Some Notes on the Science.—From an exchange: “To be a good halfback a player wants to bo quick, agile, fast, of unlimited energy and should be a glutton for Avork and should never tire. Alert and watchful, he should altvays be on his toes ready to dart whichever Avay is necessary. His Avatchfulness should enable him to anticipate in a manner that seems almost like second sight. He should be an opportunist, quick to see an opening and quick to seize it. He should be cunning at deceiving his opponents and should aA-oid doing the obvious thing. Versed in the tricks of dribbling, he should know how to bring them to nought Avhen used against him. He should be safe and clever with his stick and an adept at every stroke in the game. Ris specialty should be the A\*rist pass. To these A’ii-tues he adds pluck and unselfishness.”

Again: “It is of vital importance to a team to keep its forwards fresh. Very often the condition of the forwards during tho last quarter of an hour is the deciding factor in a game and they must not be called on to waste their energy on defensive work or useless running and charging. During an attack the halves must keep their places and be close enough to saA - e the forAvards all but a limited amount of tackling. They must hit with' care and judgment, making their clearing shots as much in the nature of a pass to a forward or half as possible. A long drive through both teams to the opposing backs will never start an offensive and generally involves the forwards in a tiring and useless rush. This nursing of the forAA'ards should constantly be kept in mind by the halves and backs, but it is an aspect of back play which is often lost sight of.” ON THE WOMEN’S GROUNDS Saturday saA\* the beginning of the second round of the Auckland Ladies’ Hockey Association in all grades, Mount Eden defeating Y.W.C.A. and Wesley beating Somerville in the senior grade.

Next Saturday, when the second round will be played, Arawa will meet Wesley and Mount Eden will play Somerville in the senior grade. In the junior grade Technical A Avill play Y.W.C.A. and Papakura Avill play Mount Eden in the A section. In the B section Manurewa will play Wesley and Somerville will meet Technical B.

Association Meets.—At the fortnightly meeting of the Ladies' Association held last evening it Avas decided not to support the scheme for sending a team to the Empire Tournament in South A_frica in 1930. Instead, the association Avill urge that an invitation be issued to an overseas team, preferably an Australian one, to visit Ngav Zealand.

A special poll having recently been .taken to fill the vacancy on the execut.i\e caused by the resignation of Miss BroAvn, it Avas announced at the meeting that Miss Una Hall had been elected to the executive. It was also announced that Miss Joan Wilson, of Wellington, had agreed to act as the association’s second delegate to the N.Z.L.H.A.

The association granted affiliation to a new sub-association, Rodney. The total of affiliated sub-associations is now 14, despite the fact that Te Puke and Rotorua have broken aAvay this year.

Country Week Teams. —Elimination trials for country Aveek teams Avill be held after games on Saturday, June 22, and on June 29 all ordinary games will be postponed to permit of final A and B team trials taking place. All ordinary games Avill be played early on June 22 to leaA’e more Lime for the trials.

Three North Island associations have applied for the Ncav Zealand Ladies’ hockey tournament for 1929. They are Rotorua, Poverty Bay and Auckland. The centre to which the tournament Avill be allocated Avill be decided by the council of the N.Z.L.H.A. on June 24.

This evening Miss P. H. Dawson will giA’e a blackboard lecture in the Y.W.C.A. on “The Game.” The lecture will include a demonstration and it is hoped that as many players as possible Avill attend.

News From the South. Other hockey associations seem to be in fa\*our of sending a New Zealand team to the Empire Tournament in South Africa. The Southland Association has already guaranteed its assessment of B 200 and there are indications that Canterbury and Wellington •will soon folloAA* suit.

Complaints are being heard in Wellington that too much talking is going on among players, especially in the junior games. This does not seem to be a fault That has yet affected Auckland.