HOCKEY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 189, 12 August 1931, Page 4

HOCKEY

I (Bi

“STICKS.")—

Wanganui suffered defeat at the hands of the Manawatu representative team last Wednesday, and as far as the Wanganui men are concerned, there are no excuses to bo made. The Manawatu mon played a different type of hockey to that of the Wanganui representatives, and hit very hard —especially in the backs. The ground was also something new to the Wanganui men, and gave them some thought of the fine grounds that arc available for hockey in Wanganui. Wanganui could not combine, and, even as individuals, they could not reproduce form that they have shown in club games. On the day tho better team won and there were no excuses to be made. For the time the Norden Cup stays with Manawatu, but should Wanganui try to lift the trophy jn future years the game will doutless be better than that at Palmerston North a week ago. After the game the teams were entertained by tho Manawatu Association and a most enjoyable time was spent. The Manawatu officials assured the visitors that if the game had not been the closest of those played by them in defence of tho trophy it had at least proved the most enjoyable. Manawatu have challenged for tho Winter Shield and if Wanganui retain the trophy against Bush next Saturday will play hero in about three weeks’ - time. Heedless to say the Wanganui team arc keen to show that their form at Palmerston last Wednesday was all wrong. Each year the Rev. H. G. Goring has invited hockey players, referees and all connected with the game, or interested in it, to attend a service at the Ingestre Street Baptist Church. Mr George Childs, of Palmerston North, who was taken seriously ill just before the commencement of a hockey match at Feilding on Saturday afternoon last, passed away at an early hour on Monday morning at the Palmerston North public hospital, having failed to rally after being admitted on Saturday. The deceased gentleman, who was 52 years of age and who was well-known in hockey circles in the Manawatu, was the coach of the Palmerston North Central Old Boys’ Club. A Matter of Finance. Supporters of "the game throughout the Dominion will hope that the financial considerations involved in a tour by the Indian Olympic hockey team next season either before or after the Games, will not be so formidable as to turn the Management Committee of the N.Z.H.A. against the proposal. Judging from the announcement made by the president (Mr H. S. J. Goodman), the financial aspect of the tour is giving the committee some concern. Without further information it seems that unless the terms laid down by tho Indian authorities are altogether unreasonable, the N.Z.H.A. cannot go far wrong in committing itself to the tour. The 192 G tour was a financial success, and did more for the game in New Zealand than all the other tours combined, and if the Indian players, holders of the world’s title, pay another visit to the Dominion the same public support as before should be forthcoming. The Wellington association has nothing but happy memories of the match played here on June 3, 1926. Not only was it an exhibition of the game at its best, but it placed the association on a sound financial footing. The 1932 team will be available f o tour Australia and New Zealand for ten weeks from the last week in April, cn route to the Games, and for live weeks starting jn the last week of August on the return journey from Los Angeles. If either country is unable to accept the tour the whole fifteen weeks may be spent in one country. It would seem that if the tour eventuates it will be advisable for the N.Z.H.A. to arrange a visit before the team go to the Games. It will be rather late in tho season after the Games, as most grounds will then be closed to hockey. The Indian authorities appear to be keen to undertake tho tour before the Games, as it will give the team some valuable practice, and, provided the financial considerations are satisfactory, this should be the wiser course to adopt. Saturday’s Games Hockey in the men’s senior gamei last Saturday did not produce anything startling, the two fixtures in fact developing into rather typical end-of-the-season games. Old Boys were up against the strongest team of all, Hinemoa, and then had the added handicap of being a disorganised combination. The game was soon one-sided, the Old Boys attack not being up to its usual standard. In the Star-Weslcy match matters were fairly even until well on in the game, and then Star were definite in their superiority. Wellington’s Country Tour. The decision of the Management Committee of the Wellington Hockey Association to send a strong senior team on tour towards the end of August is a most commendable one in these days when everything possiblo should be done to encourage and increase interest in the game (says a writer in the Wellington Evening Post). It is perhaps easier to invite representative teams to visit Wellington, although the financial aspect must be considered, but if the game is to progress care must be taken to see that the minor associations have their share of public support. With this in mind, the Management Committee has acted wisely in undertaking a tour of the country districts. Two at least of thja. matches in view had to be played in any case by way of return for games played in Wellington, but if they were to be decided on separate visits the expense would be considerable, and ths same interest would not attach to them as will be given by a touring team. There is only one aspect of the arraiqr*ments which may be open to criticism, and that is the strain which will b* imposed on the touring team by baring to play six matches in six days. This, however, is inevitable if the tour is to be conducted at a reasonable expense, and while it is hardly likely that the team will be at its best for th* final games of the trip, the visits to the various towns should have a most stimulating effect on the game locally, and that is the prime consideration after all. A considerable amount of travelling will be involved, hence the decision that a game against Wanganui cannot bo included in the itinerary. This is regrettable in view of the eagerness with which the Wanganui Association hailed the previous suggestion of a match against a Wellington team on its way to play Taranaki, but the difficulty cannot be overcome so far as the present tour is concerned, and no doubt the Management Committee will keep the matter in view for next season.