ON THE HOCKEY FIELD

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1933, Page 10

ON THE HOCKEY FIELD

COMMENTS ON THE PLAY LADIES’ GAMES STARTED. VARIATION FOR INDOOR PRACTICE.

(By ”

“Sticks")

Weather conditions on the racecourse made good hockey almost impossible at New Plymouth on Saturday. Nevertheless aU the games were hard and fast apH, in the men’s section at least of quite a high standard. Saturday’s Games. The first game in the men’s competition on Saturday was remarkable for the pace which was set in the first spell. Both Territorials and Wanderers played strenuous, and on occasions good, hockey. The teams were very even, the advantage, if any, being held by Territorials, the losers. Wanderers were not up to their best form, and were very lucky to win. A feature of the match from the Army team’s viewpoint was the form shown again by Mathews and Smith, both of whom improved very much on their performances of the last three or four games. With Goodwin these forwards were the heart of the Territorial attack, getting away time after time. Treeby was sound enough when called upon, but showed no enterprise. Hulmes was his usual self, very good when the ball was near him, although his great save when he ran up to take the ball from an unopposed line of Wanderers’ forwards near his goal was perhaps the brightest spot in the game. Westwood is always reliable and always fit, and playing a strenuous game did great work. R. Ward was the outstanding player on the day for Wanderers. He was responsible for many good rushes and clever runs. The full-backs, L. Innes and Sole, probably come next; they were consistently safe all clay and cleared effectively before many a dangerous Territorial 1-ush. Booth, too, ,did quite good work and generally maintained his recently improved form. The others; even Pago, did not do one half as well as they might. The Rivals-Opunake game was equally strenuous, and again the result was sui»prising. Opunake has always seemed capable of winning, and never more so than on Saturday, yet bad luck dogged it all the way. Rivals’ only goal was scored a few minutes after the start and it never looked particularly dangerous at any time after that. Heibner and Cameron, on the other hand, had always to be watcher, and many of thenshots at goal missed by inches only. Both teams showed very sound defence, Coad and T. Ward being the outstanding full-backs. Ladies’ Games Started.

Another step in the progress of hockey in New Plymouth was made last Saturday, when the first game in the newly-arranged ladies’ competition took place. As was only to be expected, the standard of play was not particularly high, but there were many features which promised rapid improvement. The first consideration of the New Plymouth dub should be the stabilisation of its teams and the provision of a distinguishing name for each. There were many occasions in the game when confusion as to which team a player belonged to arose, on the part of both the players and tiie referee. This cannot be remedied until distinctive colours are worn by the teams, and the matter is therefore urgent.

Team Visiting Opunake. To give Opunake a chance of meeting an opponent on its own ground, the Wanderers team is to travel to Opunake next Saturday. Although the New. Plymouth grounds are' far from good, the Opunake area is worse, but the fact of playing at home should give Opunake a better chance. It seems remarkable that with such a good all-round team, Opunake cannot win, but the opportunity may come this week.

For Inside Practice. A hockey enthusiast forwards details 'of “flick" hockey, a game new to this country, and which he describes as a fine game for members of gymnasium classes. A team comprises six players—one back, two halves, and three forwards—but where floor space i» limited a smaller number may take part. The ball is to be flicked throughout, that is to say, it must be lifted off the ground with the stick, and hitting the ball is not allowed, nor is the scoop stroke permissible. The> hands and feet must not be used to stop, the ball except by the back when defending his goal within the circle; he may then use his feet to stop a shot. The offside rule operates with only one player instead of three as in field hockey. The end and side walls are used for “behind" and side-lines respectively. When the ball goes behind it is flicked into play again by the back from within' the circle, and when it goes over the side-line it is flicked in by the half standing about a yard in; as an alternative the ball may be played off the side walls which speeds up the game. The rules governing comers and other situations are the same as in field hockey. To prevent crowding on the ball when floor space is limited, the backs and halves should not be allowed to cross the half-way line; this line and the circles are marked out with chalk, the size of circles being reduced from the standard if necessary. The goals are made from 3in by 2in timber in the form of a frame with wire-netting at the sides and backs, 3ft high, and 3ft 6in wide, and the circle is six yards out from the goal-line. “Flick” hockey is a fast game giving excellent practice in the particular stroke used, and making for speed and combination. Championship Points.

The position of the teams in the Saturday vision of the North Taranaki competition is:— P W D L Pts. N.P. Wanderers . 6 4 2 0 10 N.P. Rivals ..... 6 4 2 0 10 Territorial Pirates .... 6 2 1 3 5 Opunake 6 0 2 4 2