LADIES' HOCKEY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1735, 5 September 1919, Page 4

LADIES' HOCKEY.

LACKADAISICAL PLAYERS. A ladies' hockey trial match was arranged to be played at Hagley Park ! on Saturday last, but the action of the | ladies' association in calling this game jcaused such dissension from the men's association that the game was transferred at the eleventh hoiy to English .Park, where a short practice was held [at the conclusion of the Shield match, j The men's and ladies' associations have always been two distinct bodies, each controlling its own affairs and interests, so the idea of the ladies' trial game in any way interfering with the men's Shield match did not occur to the ladies, who were immensely surprised to find that the men took sufficient interest in them to worry about what they were playing. However, as soon as exception was taken to the trial match, the alteration was made. By the time the Shield match was over and the_ girls were collected there was very little time left to practice before darkness set in. What game there was,! however, was not particularly impres-j sive. Both teams seem to lack everything that a representative team should possess, and, except for a very few- individual players, the girls might as well bo on the line for all the use they are on the field. Their play is full of faults, and they seem to be too languid to run beyond a stodgy trot. The lackadaisical spirit of the teams has evidently infected some of the emergencies, as several have not even, put in an appearance; neither have they taken the trouble to explain their absence. This was particularly conspicuous on Saturday, when it was necessary to fill the place of D. Webster, who was unable to play. The only emergency that could be found was not prepared for action, so an old player, who happened to be a spectator, very sportingly offered to fill the breach. Her assistance was greatly appreciated, and she no doubt quite enjoyed the temporary spasm; but it should not have been necessary, and it makes one wish that all players were sports, and would play the game for the love of it, not only for what they can get out of it. Of course, the girls who attend the trials and practices, will have preference, unless it is absolutely impossible €or the selected ones to attend.'

Hockey is evidently indulged in as a pastime at Darfiold, and the Canterbury Ladies' Hockey Association has been asked to send a team there. This would probably give the.girls the impetus they need, a 9, in playing against the game team Saturday after Saturday, practically without any sense of rivalry or competition, their interest and energy must wane. If the match is arranged, it will be played on Saturday, September 13, and the trip will be made in motor cars. Besides giving the girls new zest, it will encourage the game in the outlying districts, and would perhaps be the first move towards forming a sub-association. The entries for the Dominion tournament close to-day, and, as there is no rumour abroad of the railway restrictions being removed, probably the entries 'frill not be numerous.

A trial match will be played at Hagley Park to-morrow, commencing at 3 p.m. The following are the players:—

A Team.—Goal, T. Dohbyn; backs, M. Cawlcy (right), A. Cross (left); halves, D. Irvine (right), P. Leslie (centre), G. Cross (left); forwards, M. Fulton (right wing), E. Ritchie (inside right),. G. Barr (bully), M. Pcarce (inside left), V. Rossiter (left wing). B Team.—Goal, I. Rossiter; hacks, D. Webster (right). A. Drayton (left); halves, R. Burgess (right),-N. Rogers (centre), A. Jardcn (left); forwards, M. Chapman (right wing), E. Preddy (inside right), M. Papps (bully), B. Jarden (inside left), V. Morgan (left wing). Emergencies.—V. Moody, I. Langrldge, T. Lowe, I. Taylor, E. Scrimshaw, S. Bugg.