LADIES' HOCKEY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 793, 25 August 1916, Page 2

LADIES' HOCKEY.

THE TRIAL MATCHES.

Senior trial matches have been played for the last two Saturdays, and will be continued this week. The A v. B. match played on Saturday last was certainly an improvement on the previous one, but both teams have a lot to learn before they are qualified for representative hockey. The forwards playing in the B team on the first day of the trials were promoted to the A iast Saturday, with the exception of the left wing. This change proved to be an improvement, although the right wing was very disappointing, and E. Preddy resumed her place at half-time, and M. Chapman was given a trial in the B team. The A forward line is precisely the same as last year's "rep." team, the only difference being the right wing. These girls are not brilliant by any means, but they are all fairly steady and reliable, and the most important item of all is that they know their places. Tljey could easily be replaced by swifter and cleverer players, but, unfortunately, clever players are very few and far between. Swift players there are in plenty, but that is usually the only qualification they possess. The majority appear to believe that pace is everything in hockey, and if they can run and hit the ball occasionally nothing more is required of them. To exercise their brains as well as their legs seems to bo quite impossible. If swiftness was the only qualification necessary, some of the B forwards would find themselves in the A, no doubt, as some of them have far more dash than their opponents, but they are too wild. They do not keep their places—just rush wildly all over the field, and rely solely on individual effort, instead of keeping in line and playing a combined passing game. Players of fair capabilities, who are accustomed to playing in weak teams, are apt to grow into soloists, but when playing in trials they should endeavour to remember that each girl is as good or better than they, and should play accordingly. The only other change made in the teams was in the back division, when E. Miller went up to the A. from the B, and A. Cross went

I down. However, the latter played so | well in the second spell that the change I did not seem warranted. E. Miller also i played well, so the selectors have evi- ■ dently solved the problem by putting A. Cross in the half-line in the A team. ! This should be a happy change, as she j has all the qualities of a good half, ; being a fast runner and having a strong, : reliable stroke. The left half is the one I weak spot in the line, and, if the Whare- ! nui player will only keep her place and remember she is a "half," she should fill the position very capably. The Tournament. It is rumoured that the tournament will lapse this year, as entries are not coming in with the usual alacrity. No doubt lack of money is the chief obstacle—the war affecting ladies' hockey in this way, just as it is affecting every other kind of sport and pastime. Two Northern Associations, whose entries were confidently expected, are expendI ing all their energies over a controversy with the New Zealand Ladies' Hockey I Association re the way they allotted the tournament this season. The net ; result so far is that a meeting of the I council has been called to consider I alterations to various rules. In the ! event of the tourney not being held, the I local association intends to endeavour to arrange for the visit of a provincial representative team to play the local '' reps.'' Notes. The Ashburton Ladies' Club has written, challenging a team again this year, j but as a Canterbury team went down to Ashburton at the end of last season it is probable that the local association will return the compliment and arrange a match to be played in Christchurch.

For the first time for many years the Canterbury Ladies' Hockey Association is without a lady at the head of its administration. Mr W. Simpson, a wellknown hockey enthusiast, has been asked to accept the presidency, and has consented. His installation should be an exceedingly popular one amongst all hockey players, as he is a very prominent figure in the hockey world, having followed up the game for many years.