LADIES' HOCKEY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1329, 17 May 1918, Page 6

LADIES' HOCKEY.

THE COMPETITION MATCHES.

The ladies' hotkey competition matches in Chrlstehurch wore continue! last Saturday. The juniors made a modest start with one match, the other one. Normal v. Technical College, having to be postponed on account of its being holiday time at the Normal Training College." Digby's ami Sydenham met on the new ground at Hagley Park, and had an even game, the score ending 2 all, which was no doubt more appreciated by Sydenham than the previous one.

A senior game was played on the other ground between Wharenui and Oxford Terrace. It was a fairly easy game for Wharenui, although in the early stages Terrace played remarkably well, ar.d managed to prevent Wharenui from scoring. The marked improvement came to a sudden climax, however, when M. Drayton received a nasty bump with the ball, and was temporarily disabled. Oxford TerraceV confidence and superior form, which had been noticeable before, now vanished, ami the game changed into a persistent struggle to keep Wharenui out of the circle, varied occasionally by a few spasmodic rushes, on the part of an Oxford Terrace forward. They still have the same old faults, but they are not quite so glaring. The forwards do not pass, nor do they keep in line. The player who happens to get the ball sticks" to it until it is taken from her, or is hit over the line. She invariably hits the ball too far ahead of her, instead of giving it little dribbly taps, and either hits it most conveniently into the opposing back, or loses it as before mentioned. Seldom are they seen to pass, and if they were guilty there would probably be none f o pass it to.

The halves do not follow up closely Vichiinl the forwards us they should, iiml hardly ever look where they are hitting. The bocks are good except when they hit across the goal, and the goalkeeper is also good, but she would be Letter it' she kept on her feet, wore a shorter skirt, and cricket pads. Then she would find it much easier to defend her goal than by the method she now uses. When the ball is stopped by kneeling down it is so awkward to get it away in that position, and if the backs had not repeatedly come to the rescue on Saturday the Wharenui forwards would have pushed the ball in as they rushed on. That method may be sreeessful against some teams, but seldom when there is a line of fast forwards to beat. By keeping in a standing position a goalkeeper has her feet a« well as her stick at her service, and her limbs have perfect freedom of movement.

The game was too easy to bring out the Wharenui girls' real capabilities, but to-morrow they will need them nil when they play Waimairi, who are said to be very strong this year in spite of depletion in their ranks. Wharenui will no doubt prove a good match for them, xnd a very line.game should result. "It will be played on the Papanui Reueatiou Ground. If Ngaio had built any very hign castles in the air regarding their game with Waimairi last Saturday, they soon fell to earth, as Waimairi were much too strong. As the score mounted up the losers' defenders became disheartened, and there is never much hope for a team then; so Waimairi just lumped home. Technical College put up a plucky Cglit against Digby's, the score at halftime standing at 2—l: but their dash diminished in the second half, while the score rose to 5 for Digby's, ami Technical Collegers remained at their-modest 1.

awful, frightful, to think of the expedients to which I'v been reduced. I've been unlucky all my life." lie bemoaned himself steadily until Laline, rousing herself, told him that she would see what could be done, and then she left him. Downstairs, in the hall about which there always hung the scent of cooking, Miriam Oowden awaited her. Laline. half stunned by the appalling fact that it was Eldred Sartor whom her father had robbed, would have passed Miriam, but the latter detained her.

"Tie has told yon what is wrong?" poor Miriam said with white lips. "Miss Dagway, yon are going to help him?"

Laliue looked at her distrustfully. Had her father, she wondered, made a confidant of this woman? T>id she know that Stephen Pagway had sunk to the base sin of robbing his benefactor. "T can <lo nothing," La line said coldly. "My father wants money. I have none to give him." Mrs Cowdcn gazed at her, then she put out a hand and drew Lal.ine (dose. "He never will tell everything," she whispered hoarsely. "He —lie always keeps something bark. Did he tell yon that, if he didn't have this money—if he couldn't pay it to those who demand it of him, he—he would be arrested by the police."

"He told me that," said Laline re luctantlv, "but "

"Did he tell yon that the charge upon which he would be arrested would be one of murder?" (To be continued.)