HOCKEY NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 141, 17 June 1931, Page 4

HOCKEY NOTES

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The match for the Winter Shield played on Gonville Park last Saturday between Wanganui and Fcilding, resulted in a draw, each side scoring two go Is. Wanganui had much the better of the first spell, scoring two goals to nil. The visitors’ halves were giving their forwards little support, hangingi bad' dose to their own full backs, and on one occasion at least, two of them were to be seen in their own half of the ground when their forwards were in Wanganui's circle. That stylo of play gave the Wanganui defenders an easy task, and at half-time it looked as it they would I i have a sure win. After the interval, however, the whole character of the play altered, and Wanganui were fortunate not to come oil the Held a beaten team. Almost from the bully the visitors adopted rushing tactics, with the halves well up behind the forwards, which at ouci changed the aspect of the game. From then on Wanganui’s defenders were often in difficulties and only sound keeping by N. Hughes saved several more goals. So 1 serious did matters become that Le Brun was taken froir left half and put at full back. It is quite possible that this move saved the game. The unusual state of the ground doubtless told against Wanganui. For the first time this season it was heavy and greasy. The Fcilding team was probably more at home on it than the Wanganui men, who arc used to fairly dry conditions. Yet, making ail allowances, the play on {Saturday was disappointing and must have left a feeling of uneasiness in the minds of enthusiasts who were watching the game as to the results of future matches. Although a draw is a fair enough performance, there is no blinking the fact that Wanganui owe what measure of success they attained in no small degree to the mistaken tactics of the Fcilding team in the first spell. Had the latter played throughout the same style of game that they did in che second half, how would the game have resulted? The weakness was not in the for wards. Although there might be room for improvement, they showed very fair form considering the state of the ground and did no appear to disadvantage when compared with the visiting line. But the individual play of the defenders was weak. With the exceutior of N. Hughes in goal, Wilson and Le Brun were the only two, either halves or backs, who acquitted themselves well. With other matches in view the selectors are no doubt considering what can be done to improve their team, and it must be allowed that their task is no easy one. Some of those who gave a disappointing display on {Saturday could not in fairness be dropped out because of one w r eak game. Aor could their places be satisfactorily filled. But it seems to the average spectator that there are one or two real weaknesses for which new blood will have to be found, ft is unlikely that any impiovemcnt could be made by wholesale changes of personnel. {Several opinions have been ventilated that younger players are required and urging the selectors to include more young men ir the team. It is certain, however, that the selectors feel the responsibility too much to select any player, however young, who has not proved himself in his club team, there are some very promising juniors am' a few young players in the senior team who show real ability. No doubt the selectors are watching them closely and will be only too pleased to give them their chance when their play m shield matches warrants it; but the representative team is not the place for experiments, ft would not be fair to these players themselves nor hockey in general to put them in before they have a lair chance of holding their places. It is an extremely rare thing to see a young player of real merit have to wait long for his opporunity. Team Units. Last week the play o f the oentre"hU was jluvttssed. Now the duties ol the wing halves are to bo conAU the Kenoral duties ol’ halt-backs apply to these players but those general duties have already been enumerated. The wing halves have, however, special tasks which do not attract the attention of the centrehalf. In selecting teams the greatest difficulty is experienced in Hading players with ability to fill the very important position of left half. No players are so scarce as left halves of merit. The reason is probably that, while the left half is not usually so hard worked as his partner in the centre position, he is nevertheless called upon to exhibit a market] degree of skill in bis play. Thi a is because much of the tackling of the left half must be from across his opponent's left. Unless the half is skilful in slick work he will •concede many penalties for obstruction, and, in audition, get somewhat knocked about in the process. He can avoid much illegal tackling by keeping well out towards the side-line and not wandering across Held as so many wing halves are prone to do. The particular charge of the wing half is, of course, the opposing wing-forward. The left half finds it difficult to deprive his opponent of possession ano the inexperienced half does well if ho worries Hu; winger into passing infield, where the defence is better plaited to deal with the situation. It the winger is forced to part with possession prematurely, the whole attach will be disorganised. The task of the defenders is simplified if the attack is foiled down the middle of the field. The dangerous attack is the one where the defenders are drawn out to the wings and then cut out by a simple pass to the centre. Thus the first task of the wing halves is to prevent the opposing winger from gaining ground along the side-line. If he. can rob the latter of possession and give it to his own forwards, then so much the better, but his first duty is to ‘‘bottle” the winger. From the foregoing it must not be inferred that the half-back follows a primarily destructive policy, lie must also concentrate on constructive schemes. lie must keep his own winger and inside forward well supplied with the ball, though he is entitled to some support from these players by way of tackling back. The position of right half involves similar duties to the foregoing, but the task is rendered much, easier by reason of the fact that almost all the tackling van be from the right side. It does not follow, of course, that the

"STICKS")

right half position is by any means an easy billet to fill. No position in the half-back line can be, since the duties of the three are so many and varied. But for a tyro the right half position is the best in which to gain the necessary experience which goes to make | a first-class half-back. Another duty of both wing halves is to take the roll-in from the side-line. This should be studied and not treated carelessly. The ball must be rolled — not thrown oil the ground nor bounce*! in. Far too often half-backs are penalised for carelessness in this respect. They should realise that an effective roll-in can be just as useful in most •eases as a free hit. Except w..en play is near the corner of the field the rollin should be down-field, towards the opposing goal. This can always be varied where a player on the same side is unmarked. Where the opposing half has the roll-in the defending half will take his place on the seven yards line to intercept same if possible. It should be remembered that a forward can be penalised for off-side at the taking of a roll-in. A clever half can exploit this fact by working in conjunction with the full-back. Din ing the progress of the roll-in the half should station himself in front of the opposing wing-forward and is thus in a position to intercept the ball as it. is rolled in. Some teams advocate the faking of corners by the wing halves but the writer is a definite opponent of this policy. All three halves an, necessary for the retrieving of clearing hits following corners, and the absenvn of one of the trio prevents the attack being sustained. Corner hits are much better left to the wing-forwards. Rules of Hockey. The Manawatu Hockey Referees’ Association held a meeting last week to discuss various rules of the game. There were delegates from Fcilding, Bush Union and Oroua. On behalf of the Manawatu Hockey Association, Mr R. L. C. Aitchison welcomed the visitors. Mr Aitchison said that after visiting the New Zealand conference he had realised that there existed a diversity of opinion over the interpretation of the rules. This was fully exemplified at a recent Fcilding tourney. A meeting of hockey referees had recently been held in Feilding tn work for the uniformity of rules and regulations, and after this the rulings at tho recent Feilding tourney had been more satisfactory. Ho regretted that the Ruahine Association was not represented. Mr Aitchison felt that the respective associations should be in a position to appoint their referees for representative games and not be dictated to by the New Zealand governing body, which knew little of the merits of many officials. The coming together of association officials in conference benefited the present manner of controlling tho game, tending to give uniformity in rulings to the ultimate satisfaction of players. Mr V. Wallis, Feilding. considered that it was time something was said concerning the Ruahine Association which was not pulling with tho adjacent associations in an endeavour to promote a better grade of hockey. He felt that at present few players were conversant with the rules. That of scooping into th° circle warranted ven tilation and called for unanimity in tho ruling applied thereto. Mr Aitchison, in regard to the rule, favoured Mr Wallis’ contention and, before opening tho subject for discussion, said he desired that the meeting bo, of the same opinion on this issue. If such could not be obtained the combined associations should write to the interpretation committee asking for a definite ruling, to be circulated to such associations as Patea, Oroua, Feilding, Horowhenua, Bush, etc. Mr Iwikau considered that the scoop was always dangerous, but in most instances it was overlooked by the referees. If such pertained, the referees were in the habit of allowing play that might do bodily harm before calling for a penalty. A Marton representative stated that this stroke was rarely used, but should be halted when it took place in the midst of a number of players, whereupon Mr Cavanagh stated that he found the stroke objectionable amongst lady players, but usu ally in order in men’s games. Ladies did not throw the ball as high and forcefully as the men. Mr A. E. Blackbourn thought that the danger aros*» when a player scooped and flighted th*' ball, which invariably caused a player in the circle to swipe at the ball in th* l air. In answer to a question, Mr Aitchison stated that the governing body nil ed the scoop into the circle as dangerous and. to bo avoided. Ho personally, would penalise each instance on which the centre halves cooped into the circle. There was fault if the wings were permitted to use tho stroke, but it whs debarred from centre play. Mr 0. Sporle, Feilding, considered sidered that the scoop should not be i allowed outside the twenty-live line. Mr Sheldon considered that tl.e scoop was nut dangerous in the field and that »i* referee should be allowed to rule as he saw fit when the ball was intended for the circle. On Mr Aitchison’s motion it was agreed to write for a ruling as to whether the ball scooped into the circle was to be left to the discretion of the referee or whether it was a fauli in all cases. Mr W. 11. Wilson questioned whether a player in the face of forwards should be permitted to cut the ball into the air and hit at it with a “cricket” shot. Members were of the opinion that suHi a stroke was dangerous in the face of oncoming players, Mr Sporle stating that it was certainly dangerous amongst the backs, even to the point of injuring team mates. It was decided to penalise such strokes. Mr Sporle asked for a ruling on hooking sticks. In the Bush area sticlthooking was disallowed as it tended to produce rough play, Mr Sheldon stating that hooking was allowed, but only as a lift, as in rule hooks. Favour w:i< given the upward hook in men’s matches, downward hooks being penalMr Wilson was of the opinion that the New Zealand body should be asked to state in all instances whether the rules applied to ladies’ or men’s hockey. This arose as the result of discussion on the penalty bully rule in ladies’ play. It was resolved to write for a ruling on the all-English ladies’ rule in the event of an attacker creating a breach.