HOCKEY NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 151, 29 June 1932, Page 4

HOCKEY NOTES

(By

"STICKS")

Although the Old Boys-Hinemoa game ended with the J**ore two goats to nil in favour of Old Boys on Saturday, it is doubtful if the difference between the teams was as great as that margin appears to indicate. Heavy ground and evenly matched teams brought to light the difference between youth, and age, and toward tho end of the game some of the men who have been playing hockey for years were evidently finding the puce rather hot. Old .Boys fully deserved to win. Their team had no weak spots, while the wet ground and bustling play found several Hinemoa men not up to the opposition. Combination on tho part of the Old Boys forwards was better than it has been, and tho half line played rea’ly well. The two full backs did everything asked of them, although Le Brun was particularly lucky with several speculations. In the latter part of the game, when the light was bad, ho was connecting well with the ball. Mitchell, in the Old Boys goal, saxed his side on a number of occasions. Hinemoa’s full backs failed to ulear cleanly on more than one occasion. After checking Old Boys forwards, S. Hughes returned to an old practice of his in stopping the bp.ll with his stick and then kicking stick and ball together. The ball travels only a few yards, and more often than not is a present to opposition halves. Young has played*many better games this season. lie was not clearing as well as the Old Boys backs, but he also attempted flying hits with a reversed stick to his forwards. The result was of the usual type with that method. Hinemoa halves played well, but the left half is inclined to wander overmuch. lie is a young, keen player and likes work, but although his tvanderin£ usually pulls his side out of a difficulty, he will have to pay attention to that tendency to roam. Bannin plaveff a good game, but he was caught with the ball several times through delaying his hit. It is a point on which to think as to whether he is wise on all occasions in remaining silent when, as captain of the team, he might “shake” his team along. Luck was not with the Hinemoa forwards. They had a poster and several near-goals after a strenuous battle against a solid defence. Generally speaking their work in the circle was not. up to standard. As against that Old Boys were lucky in scoring their first goal, as it was a “snap” goal at best.

Among the winning team it is difficult to single out any one player who stood above his fellows on the day’s play. All played well, although individual play was too much in evidence. Jostling came in ‘for some comment. The majority of instances of such jostling (bumping and using the shoulder to deprive an opponent, of possession of the ball) take place when a side is defending and hard pressed. For young players it might be excused, but not for older hands at the game. Mild treatment by the referees is liable to encourage those given to using tho questionable tactics. Mclntyre was taking no risks In Saturday’s game. He was to be seen about his own circle on many occasions, and twice at least his absence from the forward line left a gap that was felt. He has abundance of energwand that iu itself stood him in gooff steaff on the heavy day. Cairncross is shaping well in the Old Boys right half position. TTis work is improving with every few games. * * * * * The Rat ana girls’ team has improved out, of sight with the passing of tho season. They showed up well on Saturday and were using co-ordination, especially in their left wing area. Evidently the members of tho team play well on a wot ground as thov boat Aramoho the previous week at Ratana. The ground then was wot. * * * * * Something of a cricket score was registered in the Aram oho-Girls CoToge B. match. Both teams were playing short, and that was primarily the reason for tho big total. w * # :1! # Considering the state of the ground the standard of play in tho junior matches at Belmore Street grounds on Saturday was good. The game between Hinemoa and Star was a drawn one. the former team being unlucky on several occasions. Over-eagerness when within striking distance spoiled several chances. The game between Technical College A and Wesley was more even than the four-goal lead Technical College had would indicate. Only hard hitting by tho Technical backs kept the Wesley men out on several occasions. Playing for thp college team Ginn was outstanding in the backs. Byres, Hutchens and Sheriff were prominent in the forwards, their passing at times being practically faultless. Weakness in defence was a big factor in Wesley’s failure. Bull, playing in goal* put up a good performance for a first game, although he must not leave his charge so often. J. Whitlock, at full back, might practise hitting harder, ns that would make a more certain transfer to his forwards. Hard hitting is not always good hockey, but r full back must use his strength with the ball on occasions. Hartnell, who changed position from, m the forward line Iu full back in the second spell, showed that the change was more than justified, lie played r good game in the second spell, and many times his hitting saved Wesley anxious moments. M. Whitlock, centre half, is the mainstay of the Wesley team. He should go Close to representative honours In the junior section and it was noticeable during tho game that ho kept tho score down. Neale, in the half line also, is a new player this season. He is improving every game, but as a fault, of not keeping in position. He is inclined to wander into the forward line. It is a distinct possibility that Greenfield would play a bettor game in the halves, as ho is rather slow for tho forwards on recent showings. Ho also is prone to wander, although he has r liking for halves. He might, with profit, to his team, use the passing game more when at the circle. Had he done so on Saturday it might have boon a different tale with the goal total. Smith, Spurdie and Williamson combined well in tho forward line. Talking on the field is a point both teams must watch. Tho captain is the onlv one to talk with authoritv, » * f. ♦ ' • When a national sports team is chosen it is very seldom that there is no criticism nf the result oi else the method of selection. 1\ is r good sign

if there is a certain amount of criticism, as it shows that interest is being taken, and will also aid future selectors. If the criticism is of the right kind it keeps the methods of selection up to date, and provides a certain amount of braking power on the scope •of the men making thu final selections. One letter published by the Evening I’ost, Wellington, is penned in the right spirit, a constructive one. The letter reads: “Am the Minister of Internal Affairs has agreed to further art unions I suggest that the New Zealand Hockey Association unite with other sports bodies in securing financial assistance to be used as a reserve fund for other overseas representatives. As it is at present it cannot be said that the team selected for the Australian tour is really representative of the strength of New Zea’and hockey. I venture to say that there arc at least four local senior teams that could more than hold their own with the team for Australia. The chief qualification for selection is L. s. d., and not ability. Why. some of tho selected players are not even chosen for interprovineial fixtures. Is it right, then, that a premium should be placed on wealth instead of ability? Under present conditions it is only a matter of being able to purchase a New Zealand representative badge, bringing the coveted honour to the level of a Yankee diploma. “A nominee for tho Australian tour has to find £25 for the association. Besides this there are the out-of-pocket expenses for a six weeks’ sojourn in Australia. Evon if the members of *he team are billeted on the other side of the Tasman a player cannot “sponge” on his host without giving some token of gratitude and appreciation. Then there is the loss of wages for six weeks. All told thf trip will cost the players, each, anything between £7O and £BO at least. No young fellow can afford this in these days of depression. As things are at present he may be the next to swell the ranks of the unemployed, and oven if he has tho required cash, as no doubt many of them have, is be justified under present conditions in squandering his savings on a joy trip? “I am perfectly aware that the Hockey Associations throughout the Dominion are not in the happy financial position of the Rugby unions. They receive no ‘gate’ money. How they carry on is a mystery to me, and they deserve every credit for doing so. But in the interests of tho players themselves I make the suggestion that the New Zealand Hockey Association participates in an art union and establish a reserve fund for their future tourists, and thus ensure a thoroughly representative team being sent abroad. £lO9O. or £l5OO invested for three or four years will bring in quite a tidy sum, and this will enable the cream of our hockey players to be

When the writer of the letter suggests that the New’ Zealand Association might combine with other bodies for an art union, it looks as if he is leading rather a forlorn hope. “►Sticks” believes that sugh a suggestion worth only its face value—a suggestion. Unless thu New Zealand oouy has the power of importance that will carry some weight, it has “BucKley’s hope” of receiving money from an unions. There are euuugu applications m to keep the country supplied with art. unions on the old basis of onu at a time for 25 years, and even with the present method oi grouping there must be some measure of priority given to those who applied years ago ior permission to hold the money drives. When the letter says that there are at least tour Wellington senior teams that could more than hold their own with the New Zealand team, a sweeping assertion is made, but the fact must not be overlooked that tho team was chosen from nominees, and before a mau was nominated, the association found if they were able to go. borne of the best hockey players will remain in New Zealand, certainly. That is to be regretted, but tho New Zealand body has not the money to send them, and either they are not in a position to spend the necessary money themselves, or they have ties, in the way of business or family, that force them to remain in tho country. The writer also remarks that to send men under the present conditions is reducing national representatives to the position of those holding a Yankee diploma—“they had tho money to pay for it/* To that might be asked, “When was it otherwise?” Force of circumstancel make it so. There were some remarks on Saturday as to whether the matches should not have been postponed in view of the bad weather There was nu postponement, and the great majority did not think there should have been. When players were on the ground they found that matters were not so bad as they might have been. In one ladies’ match the girls were asked if they would continue, and refused to stop. When the men ’« niatchea wore played, although the day was cold, weather conditions, in regard to rain, were fftr better and the games proved enjoyable. It might bo remarked that in the Southland Association recently the ladies’ matches were played but the men’s postponed. Yet Shakespeare said “Fraily, thy name is woman . ” Publication ot’ teams’ personnel is not an altogether unappreciated feature, but. for the convenience of all the publication day must be regular. Several of the team slips have been late recently. For tho convenience of all, those responsible are asked that the teams should be addressed to “Hockey Reporter,” and left with the “Chronicle’’not later than 5 p.m. each Thursday. Publication on Friday allows a player time to notify the captain or secretary if not available for the game the next day, and regular publication on that day will be of greater convenience to players. Junior teams and ladies’ teams will be welcomed. Heroine worship is all very well in its place so long as it is not overdone, says a Southern writer. Players in one team, let their emotiona, instead of their attacking sticks, run away with them, and time and again they handed out, generous praise to their mates whenever any particular one happened to clear or carry out a good piece of work. If players are qualifying for jobs as broadcasting announcers, the best course for them to pursue is to use the local station rather than the park hockey field.