HOCKEY NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 139, 15 June 1932, Page 4

HOCKEY NOTES

(By

"STICKS")

Forty-two nominations were received for the New Zealand Hockey Team to visit Australia. In that number is included the cream of the Dominion’s hockey players, and had the selectors had a clear choice of the whole of the players of the Dominion they could have done little to improve the standard of the team which leaves Wellington on July 15 to arrive on July 19 at Sydney.

As far as the halves were concerned, Bannin, Wanganui’s nominee, was pitted against Munro of Waikato and Clark of Auckland, Bollard of Wellington and Joblin of Wellington. These players stand head and shoulders above all others in the Dominion. They were closely followed by Wells of Canterbury (who is a young player of considerable promise) and Lett of Bush, Andrews of Canterbury, Darracott of Southland and Melville of Wairarapa. One glance at the list shows that it was certainly no discredit to Bannin that he was not selected. It is rather a feather in his cap that he was nominated for inclusion, for that is an honour in itself. Bannin was not in the first four, but it is understood that should one or two drop out he will be well within striking distance of going. It was bad luck foi& Bannin, but he was up against four really high-class players who have been in high-class hockey, when the standard is compared with that of yVanganui. Hockey is like tennis in that you jjlay as well as your opponent allows you—or, it might be said, makes you.

All those selected for the tour have paid their deposit, and it seems as if the team will go forward as at first selected, although there is always the possibility of last-minute defections. The selectors were fortunate in seeing the game between Wellington and the combined Universities team in Wellington, and as for other players, all those selected had been seen in action bv at least two of the selectors, and some by all three. The selectors were anxious to include players from some of the minor associations and it is possible that some of the nominees from the minor bodies have suffered slightly because of their not being before the eyes of the selectors, but, as in every other sport, the selectors most probably had private and confidential reports on the standard of their play. Nominations came forward from tho following districts: Wellington, Poverty Bay, Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Auckland, Waikato, Rodney (sub-association of Auckland), Bush, Wairarapa, Dannevirke, Nelson and Wanganui.

Giving some idea of what is expected of a New Zealand representative, a circular letter is to be sent to each of the team asking if he can dance, and if not, suggesting that lessons should be takefl. The members are expected to give a good account of themselves off the field as well as on it, and have been' selected with a view of representing tho country in manliness as well as good play. Each man must take two pairs of boots (one for hard ground, the other for soft conditions), the usual stockings, shirts and jersey, two sticks, a sweater, a wrap, a blazer and evening dress. \ Sixteen matches are scheduled for the team. It is to travel as far as the North of Queensland. During their stay the members of the team will be playing an aU-Australia combination in Sydney, some of the members of which will have travelled well over 2000 miles from Perth to take part in the tournament at Sydney. While in Sydney the team will aiso play West Australia and South Australia, States which they have not met on previous tours. Three of the selected players, P. Spiers, D. Reid and P. Anthony have represented the Dominion previously and their experience should be a big factor in the success of the side. Spiers is a very stout defender, while Reid is a brilliant right wing. Anthony ia a good scoring man. Moore, the goalie, has had a long experience in Wellington representative hockey and reports indicate that he is playing brilliantly. Ewan is a big fellow with a great hit, while Parker is another sound back. 8. Andrews, has no provincial experience but he is a young player who has forced his way to the front and should go far. The halves are a strong set. Munro has good provincial experience and Joblin also has proved himself. He should be one of the stars of the side. Bollard played for the New Zealand University team and is a solid player, while Clark, of Auckland, is a very sound man. Bay, the Auckland forward, was another member of the New Zealand University team and is a very clever leader and scoring man. He has also plaved for Otago. Turbitt is a brilliant individualist who will develop combinaton on tho tour. He played in the Canterbury Shield team last year, but is now located in Dunedin.

D. Reid and P. Andrews, of Auckland, have previously won Dominion representative honours. Both played against Australia in 1929. Reid, who has played on the right wing for North Shore for many years, has represented Auckland both as a right winger and a left winger. Anthony, another North Shore player, has played in most forward positions for his c’ub, and has represented Auckland as •centre forward and inside right. H. Jones and F. Wellbourne are two ex-Mount Eden forwards, who have shown exceptional improvement in the last two years. Wellbourne, who usually plays on the left wing, represented Auckland with success in 1930 and 1931. H. Jones, usually inside left, has played in most positions of the forward line, and until two years ago was half-back. He represented Auckland in the B team’s game against the country representatives last year. This season he has improved 100 per cent. M. Bay has played senior grade hockey for Training College, St. Luke’s and University. He represented Auckland in the B match against Waikato last year. His form in the inter-Univer-sity tournament last week-end impressed the selectors. The half-back, T. Clark, has been one of St. Luke’s most consistent players for many years. For the past three years he has represented Auckland in all representative games. Parker is noted for his sound game. He wmn representative honours last year. In view of the excellent condition of Gonvillc Park on the previous S»t’nr!:«V if sAPTnprl tlini llio nmnr.rl

was a little bit rough for last Saturday’s play. The position is that players, once they have taken part in a game on the ground when it has been in really good condition, find that it I might go back a bit, but it must be I remembered that is onlv in comparison jwith the condition of the Saturday before. Actually the ground is in better condition than it has been in previous seasons. So far this season it has been cut twice and rolled three times. Worm casts form one of the great nuisances on the ground.

Right up to the time that Hinemoa scored their first goal, the Star men had them thinking what, was the probable result of the game on Saturday. Watching the match from the line, the writer formed the opinion that the Star team is a far and away better combination than it was at the opening of the season. At the beginning of the season Hinemoa would have run through the Star men, with the standard of play shown in the last game, but on Saturday the Star men stood up to them, and fought back.

With the score still unopened on either side at the end of the first half anything might have happened. Each team had had a fair share of the territory, and it looked as if the training that the Star team is reported to have been doing might have swung the game in their favour in the closing stages. But other factors entered into the picture, and Ransom, playing inside left, put a finger out and the forward line showed signs of weakness. The halves then went up, and Pitkethley was practically playing forward. With a good gap in the middle of the Star field the Hinemoa men used their wings to go round the attack, and the forwards coming through smartly had a good area of open ground to work on. They made good use of it. With only Hasler, the Star goalkeeper in front of them, it seemed on several occasions that they would pile on a goal total, but he was playing right above form, and did some really fine defensive work. Only once was a goal truly scored against him. On the other two occasions it was a case of crowding and one goal even then was doubted. Still, the goal was scored and it made no vital difference to the final result of the game. The game showed two points. One was the value of Hinemoa’s using the wing-forward to open attack and the hard job Star had in trying to drive through the middle of the field with a wedge shaped attack. The other point was that the halves are the key to play. Hinemoa have a great set pf halves, and that is where most of the other teams are lacking. One other point with regard to Hinemoa. Their backs made a good showing in covering up. When one came at the attack, he might be beaten, but it was seldom that he was the only defender. The other back was behind him, and ready to make use of the pass or hit that beat his team-mate. It was on few occasions that the Star men broke right through to make the Hinemoa goalkeeper defend his charge. Finally, the result of the match was correct on the play of the two teams. Hinemoa played the better game, and deserved their win. Had the Star team won. then the Old Boys-Hinemoa match would have been of unusual interest, as the black and white men would have had a fighting chance for champion ship honours.

Every player, no matter how good he or she might be, is liable to make faults, and the following comments by Mr. A. Stratton, selector to the Wellington Ladies’ Hockey Association, should be helpful to players, and assist them in improving their game. 4 ‘ Most of the ladies’ teams,” states Mr. Stratton, “appear to play the game without any idea of a planThere is no team plan or tactics. The players merely chase the ball endeavouring to get a hit at it. The backs are fully occupied in stopping the op ponents’ attacks and the forwards are individually wholly concerned in getting the ball upfield. With such teams games resolve themselves into mainly a scramble for the ball. They are not spectacular; there is not much pleasure for the players themselves, and hard knocks are frequent. Teams must consider some style of play, or at least some general idea of a plan or method in their play. “It may perhaps put these teams on the right lines if they will realise that the best form of defence is attack. Halves should give up the idea that they are defenders and concentrate cn backing up their forwards and feeding them accurately with the ball—thej can still mark tho opposing forwards at any time by placing themselves in line between the ball and the forward they wish to mark. Fullbacks are not helping in an attack by merely slogging the ball up the field. They can keep further upfield than tho general idea of their place, and should dirct their hits so that the ball is received by one of their own players. A wild clearing hit generally means giving the ball to an opponent- The secret of keeping on the attack is retaining possession of the ball. Fullbacks should not be satisfied unless they clear tho ball to one of their own players (sometimes to the other fullback is a good move). By keeping near your own players it is generally easier to pass to them. Halves should know just where their forwards are, and keeping near them, should pass quickly to one that is unmarked. Forwards must assist by keeping in touch with the halves when they have dropped back. When the forwards have got. the hall they should endeavour to keep it and not hit it ahead. Always try to pass the ball to one of your own players, not necessarily the nearest one, but place it where one of your players can pick it up. By glancing at your opponents you soon learn to notice tho gaps in the defence. In short, don’t play the game with the idea that you must stop your opponents from scoring. It doesn’t matter what they score so long as you score more. Concentrate on attack and endeavour to keep the ball with your own players. You may not attain success for some time, but you will at least develop a much more en- ’ joyable game and one that quickly ’ends itself to improvement.”