HOCKEY NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 111, 13 May 1931, Page 4

HOCKEY NOTES

(By

"STICKS")

There is still » great amount of w'<l hitting in the Wanganui senior matcues •Such hitting is not confined to the senior teams, but it is there that Jt I should be least apparent. Wild hitting may be termed thoughtless play, and is to be seen in the men’s senior bactv*. There is hardly a worse form ot plnx than not hitting clear of an on-ruslii it, forward. It is an old saying and t. true one, that the better the class of hockey ihe less-one is hurl. It. is 'be duty cr the player to make the game us sat ? as ptßsiblc for the opposing men. Jt is a noticcal le habit rmong th< backs, this not hitting clear—in other word... nut. working clear of m opponent before hitting t.Le ball, hut hitting iiitu him and assiD'iiag tlur. he will be •u( nt’ the .vay t ; i<?puw.” It . generallx an easy way i<>r a good player to draw the ball on one side when being rushed by an opponent, and he should have the advantage of knowing what ho is going to do with it next. It is with no deliberate intent to hurt that hitting is often done. It is due to lack of skill and coolness, and also, at times, the desire to wake the opponent a little afraid of the player bundling the ball. Wild hitting is only excusable when hard pressed in the circle, and even then a certain amount of cure can be taken. Unfortunately, wild hitting is infectious, and many good games are spoilt that way. Nobody wants to make tho game of hockey “pat ball,” and Jmrd knocks must be taken. Practically anybody can hit a ball hard, but good hockey is more than that. Ball control, judgment in pace of the ball, and brisk, clean hitting is far more to be desired. Support for the Wellington proposal that “gates” in connection with the visit of the All-lndia team next season should be bought instead of pooled was lacking at tho annual meeting of the N.Z.H.A. The argument against the suggestion was that, the minor associations, after having gone to the expense of entertaining tho tourists, might be unlucky enough to have wet weather on the days their matches were played, and their financial loss would be severe. This altruistic viewpoint admittedly has something to commend it. but on the other hand it must be conceded that it is unfair to ask those associations which work hard for success to carry those who are content to take a chance on everything turning out well. A Wellington writer has been informed that in at least one case during a recent tour a minor association which made a substantial profit on its match barely covered expenses under the pooling system. After its experience in connection with the 1926 Indian visit the Wellington Association is strongly in favour of buying “gates,” and it docs seem that the method is just and equitable. IDespitc the opposition which was shown bv the majority of the delegates to the N.Z.H.A., the W.H.A. has decided to move once more in the matter, and has framed a remit for the next annual meeting of the parent body, urging that all associations have the right to buy their matches. As the Indian players are not expected to arrive in New Zealand until the middle of August, 1932. there will be ample time to discuss the proposal. With the 1932 Olympic Games at Los Angeles, an effort is to be made to get a New Zealand team away. It was pointed out at the annual meeting of the N.Z.H.A. that it will probably be many years before the Gaines are held again so close, comparatively, to New Zealand, and if a team could be sent to them it would give the game a valuable advertisement. The chief difficulty is, of course, that of finance, and it has been suggested that an art union might provide the necessary funds. About thirteen players could be sent, including a player-manager, and the team need not bo away more than seven or eight weeks. Now that hockey is gaining ground in the United States some assistance may come from there. The Wesley v Star match proved to be most exciting and interesting. Although Star were the victors by 5 goals to 3, there was very littla difference between the teams. Star were certainly the better team in that their movements were more finished than i those of Wesley. The new players on the Wesley side are settling into their positioas and if f hey keep up + hcir prssmr. rate «»f improvement the team should develop into a well balanced side. Barwood, in goal kept well for his side and saved it time and time again. Tho backs, while playing well, would be of much more service if they put i more strength into their hitting.. The two important things about play at full-back are to hit hard when clearing and, if possible, to hit to a player on the back’s own side. If these rules are borne in mind, a great improvement, will be noticed in the defence of the team. The halves play fairly well together both in defence and attack. Whyman, at centre half plays a solid game and docs much to consolidate the team’s play. Hammond, who is a promoted junior, plays a good game at loft half and with a little more experience will make a first-class half-back. The Wesley forward lino is the strongest part of the team at the present time. Stevens at centre forward, who is also a promoted junior, plays a good hard game, putting plenty of vim into all his actions. He is inclined to hit up the field instead of across to his wing forwards, both of whom are al ways ready to make the most of their opportunities. There was very little between the Old Girls B and Wesley B teams on Saturday. The score 3—l was a fair indication of tho relative merits of the teams. Neither teams showed much

combination. For ’he winners Miss M. jSiddells, whu se<»red all the goah, | showed to the greatest advantage. Misi T. Herd (capt.) played her best game to date and is showing coiiaiderablc iniIprovemciit on last year s form. ' The various members of this team (would do well to remember that team | wr.rk will win more nratches than any jamount of individual play. If they I keep their places throughout the match their team mates would have no hesitation about placing tho ball to their position without having to look to see (if they are there io netive it. Numer- ' ous instances occurred on Saturday 'i when the ball was pur out tu the wings (arid they were not there tu receive it. [The left: wing especially is inclined to j wander in towards t)«<’ centre and she should also jenn’raber that when she has the ball her duty is d run straight up the wing with it and not b<>re into the centre as this throws th whole of the forward line out of position. Taking this team as a whole it is a stronger team than Jast year and would lie assisted greatly by a little coaching. It is to be hoped that this will be forthcoming. For Ohl Girls A tin’ outstanding player was Miss R. Brooks (capt.) and under her capable guidance this team will improve greatly. The members of the team are also inclined to wander out of their places and arc also given to over hard hitting when in their opponents* twenty-fiv<“. The halves should remember that hard hitting is only welcomed by the team when they are on defence. On attack the hits should never be too hard for the forwards to stop cleanly. Two new ladies have joined the club and should make theii presence felt next Saturday. These ladies are tho Misses Rice, formerly of the Rongotca team. Tho Rongotea team had a good reputation. Those players should be an | asset to Wanganui hockey. j In the match Old Boys v. Hinemoa ( which resulted iu a win for the latter i team by 3 to 1 some fine hockey was displayed. For the loosors (who by tho way were unable to field a full team and were loaned some players by their opponents) Messrs Hickman. Shepherd and Young showed up as outstanding players. Their masterly defence largely contributed to the evenness of tho game. It was only in the second half, after Young had to retire with an injury, that Hine.moa showed any superiority at all. Old Boys leading at this time one to nil. Hinemoa are to bo congratulated on the fine sporting spirit they showed on allowing Old Boys to complete their team with members they had over. It is by actions in this spirit that th<* game is progressing so well in this city. Owing to College being away on vacation, tho. Star v. College games were not played, but a practice match was, however, arranged between Aramoho and Star. Aramoho defeated Star A by 5 goals to I, while the other teams drew with two goals each. The team fielded by Star A was not of the best A grade strength. The * chief fault of the team was Jack ‘of combination and players being ouf of position. The players must remember to keep their respective position. Thus their team mates will have greater confidence in the knowledge that if they wish to pass the ball to r certain position the player holding that position will be in her place. That creates tho main factor in hockey—combination. Tho centre forward. Miss G. Cate, played a good game on Saturday but needs to keep up in her forward posi- | tion and not to worry about helping her backs. Una Pitt played a useful game but kept going in on the inside which hindered both. Also, the half-backs did nnt have any winger to pass to. T. Burchell on tho other wing has an inclination to hang on to the ball to long. J. Ditchfield, at right half, played a hard game on Saturday but had thtendency to go across to the right into the play, thereby leaving the right fullback with no piziyer to pass. That also may force the backs to come out of their positions. Tho other halves, Miss Alexander and Miss Gilbert played well, but need «■ remember to feed their wing more wit a tho hall. Of the backs Miss Ellen Delves played'the best game. It _s to be Hoped that the others will take a. lesson from her play and play the ball into position before hitting the ball and not taka speculation hits. By doing so they obtain a more directed hit to their forward line. The main factor in back play is accurate passing to the halves and forwards and accurate stopping of the ball which cannot be done bv speculating. It is a fact that most of the ladies’ teams in Wanganui should watch combination. Positional play is tho first stop towards that object.