LADIES' HOCKEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10536, 10 August 1912, Page 5

LADIES' HOCKEY.

It is rarely that bad weather so persistently interferes with hockey as it has done recently. It is a month oj two since anything like a hard surface was available for a game, and the wet has closed down all matches for a week •or two past. An important game in _ connection with the Peninsula .Association's competition was decided at Barry's Bay on Thursday, when United defeated Okains by a threo goal margin. That the bad weather has not been confined to Christchurch is evident from the fact that the game mentioned was played after having been postponed no less than five times. The ground at Barry's Bay was i$ excellent condition, considering the rain which had previously fallen, and the marking was as itshould be in all games. There was little if anything to choose between the play of the two^teams in the field, but thu winners were the more heady and vigorous in their opponent's circle. Judging by the play in the above garni,, it would appear thai, the players ,on the Peninsula have a better knowledge of—or more respect for—the laws of the game than players in the city teams. Although the game was fast from the start the whistle was not blown for one penalty until play had proceeded for fully six minutes, and that w-as not the fault of the referee. Instead of following the very wrong style of playing "go on until you're stopped," they made most appreciable efforts to keep their play well within the rules. Thero is, in our local hockey, a largv. measure of poaching attempted. Players will knowingly infringe rules in the hope that they may not bo noticed by the _ referee ._ Of course, if they are noticed it is bad luck. If tha*t is not true of many instances there must be a large number of players who have a very poor knowledge of the laws of the <rame. In the game at Barry's Bay there was only one case of "sticks" which required penalising right throughout the play, let another good feature of the play was the absolute silence of those participating. Against the good points mentioned T would like to refer to the faulty fielding. The teams competing did not shown any marked ability nt (Stopping the ball, except with their skirts, and this was _ overdone. This was more noticeable on occasions when penalty corners I were taken. The forwardto whom the I corner hit was sent invariably stopped j the ball with her skirt, and the pre- , cious seconds wasted while she sidestepped to locate the ball for a shot at goal gave the defending forwards time to get out to her. If the ground I will not permit of the ball being stop- j ped with the stick, hand fielding is surer and permits of the hall being; l get "away more quickly than skirtfielding. The latter also very often causes obstruction, although it ; s rarely penalised. I understand that the Peninsula Association intend sending a team to Christchurch during this week, and it is to be hoped that something approaching a good ground will ha "available, for it is under such conditions that the Bays' teams 6how to advantage. The question of where this season's tournament is going_ to be held in figuring prominently in hockey circles j just now, and 1 understand the matter j will be finally decided at a meeting of ! the New Zealand Association in Wellington in about two weeks' time. Auckland has turned the tournamentdown owing to a disagreement with j the governing body, and whether that : disagreement is absolutely beyond ] amicable settlement will not transpire until the meeting referred to. In the meantime then* has been seme talk of the tournament being held in Chr ; . ; t- j church, and the local Association has been communicated with asking whether—if asked—it would have the annual tourney here. The local Association is agreeable to the holding of the big event here, and if. that course is adopted will make every effort to , ensuteit being a great auccess. For J the information of other Associations in New Zealand it is fair to state that the suggestion came from the New Zealand Association. There has been no attempt made by the local body to influence in any way the decision in this matter. The feeling of members, or a majority of them, is that if Auckland will not have the* tournament u has got to be held nevertheless, and if Christchurch refuses it some other j Centre will be offered the management ! and accept. The whole question is j really undecided, and it is to be hoped that'the difference between the parent | body and the Auckland Association is not" insurmountable, but that will not ba known definitely until after the j meeting in Wellington.