THE HOCKEY GAME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 121, 25 May 1938, Page 4

THE HOCKEY GAME

PLAYERS, THEIR PI.AY AND CURREN I FORM . By“VANGUARD” Wanganui hockey enthusiasts are steadily improving their game, the visits of the Indian team and the touring English ladies’ team being factors .vhicli trill spur them nil ♦ n (rl'plllni l

Conditions at Gonville Park ui Saturday were not of the best, owinj to the somewhat rough state of th? grounds, and a very glaring sun. Consequently, the standard of hockey displayed by the various teams was noi as good as one would wish to see. The match between Y.M.C.A. aiic Wesley was notable for the spoiling tactics adopted by both teams. The long grass on No. 1 ground spoiled th. few attempts of combined effort thai were made, and hard hitting and fast following up was the general ordei of the day. Wesley did not play the same game as on the previous Saturday against Hinemoa, and it was hard to imagine it was the same team. However, any team can only play as well as its opponents let it. On the Y.M.C.A. side the line leadership of Leo Page was very much in evidence, and there’s no doubt that given a couple more games he will oc well in the limelight when the Indians get here. His forwards will Howatson, who incidentally, is the fittest player in Wanganui, outstanding, were a fairly good quintet. AL gave creditable exhibitions considering the conditions. The Y.M.C.A. half line with Page at centre and Cairncroft at left, tl i 2 a solid trio, though the latter is inclined to hit toe far past his forward.'. Draw your opponent and then push the ball infield to your centre and change the direction of play from there is a good rule. At tne same time always be ready for a return pass. Sid. Price will need a few moic games to get back into foim, but al the same time must not forget, he is a full-back and when playing in that position he should not get up witn and ahead of his forwards, as happened on Saturday. Eric Taylor, at right, played a splendid game and appears to be using his’head more than in the past. He is a very hard man to get past when on his game. Among the Wesley players Tizard, Thrush and Barlow among the foiwards, were always in the thick of it and the former was very unlucky in not capitalising after one tricky run, Ogle will be an acquisition when he gets used to conditions. He was all at sea on the soft ground after the hard fields of India. Ginn did not play as well as on the previous Saturday, and appeared to be out of form. Greenfield, at full, played a very sound game and with Connett again in excellent form, was responsible for keeping Y.M.C.A.’s tally down to two. This game was played in fine spirit, and one hopes this will continue m future games. On No. 2 ground Technical College found Hinemoa a tough proposition and the game generally was scrappy rather than productive of good hockey. I had hoped my remarks ol last week would have borne fruit among the Hinemoa forwards, but they still persist in hitting up-lielc and relying on their speed. Slow up the game, boys, and keep control of the bail. Draw your opponent and then short pass to a member of your own side, or to where one of your men can get before the opposition gets to it. I am still of the opinion that Len Stewart is not as fit as formerly. He should do some training. The Hinemoa half-line was agaii the mainstay of the team with Gibbons and M. Stewart again in the limelight. At full back Breed anc George Young had a fairly light time of it. The latter, in spite of hi? years, is still one of the best of local full backs. The three-back game may not be so good next weetk against Howatson Ransom and Company. Frazer and Naidu were the pick ol the Technical forwards, while Hughe? on the left wing, worked hard and die all that was expected of him. The halves and backs all worked hard and played as well as allowed by the fast Hinemoa forwards. The men's teams could all take e leaf out of the Aramoho ladies' teams play. This team is a good all-rounc side in which every member display that requirement of good hockey “team spirit.” Their combination keenness and sound tactics are pretty to watch. The players generally car always be found in position, with Mrs. Conybeer a good leader in the forwards and Miss Gurr a sound tactician and skipper at centre half. The Kaiwhaiki-Technical Old Giri: match also produced some gooc hockey and both teams were unlucky not to score. B. Good at right-hab for Technical played an outstanding game and if she will cut out some oi her hard hitting and revert to th< flick pass she will go a long way 111 the hockey game. Among the Kaiwhaiki players, M and T. Wiwi at bully and right wing, respectively, played brilliantly, anc both were unlucky not to score. Eve Jacobs, too, was well in the limelight after a season’s absence from the game. She appeared to strike forn from the initial whistle. A. Pepper, on the left wing foi Technical Old Girls, made some lint runs down the line, but did not gel much support. Jessie Stevens at lefi back is far too fond of hitting ovei the back line. Against good opposition the resulting penalty corner will often mean goals against one’s side She should try to clear the ball upfield always; dribble if necessary until she can get a good clearing hit in. 01 a pass to another member of hei team-

i 1 wonder how many teams recog- | nise that any team is only as good as ■ its half-backs. There cannot be any I doubt about this, as any weakness there lias a crippling clfect upon the whole team, both in defence and on attack. It is the writer’s contention that the halt line should be made as strong as possible, even if it means weaker full-backs or forwards. A goou 1 half line can make a good forward i line out of weak forwards, provided all are triers and keep their positions By good following up behind the forI wards a half-back, particularly tne centre, is often rewarded with good shooting opportunities. * • • • After reading the above, the writer hopes that the teams generally wil' look over the positions of their halfbacks and see if they can improve their play by making position alterations among the players. One often wonders when watching our local teams, if the players generally really desire to become proficient. Even our senior players both men and women, who have been pla> - ing for years can often be seen in possession of the ball and not know what to do with it. When they do make a move to pass the ball on they invariably are found to do the “obvious thing” and practically tell their opponents just what they are going to do next. I would advise all teams to endeavour to obtain the services of an ok. player as a coach. Without doubt, coaches can work wonders with any side. They can instruct each player as to correct play and generally witn the assistance of the members of the team and the captain, work out tactics which will benefit the team as a whole. Well-worked-out moves, executed properly, are not only pretty to waten, but will save miles of unnecessary and needless running about. Work out your moves beforehand, draw your opponent, short pass o» back pass as occasion demands, .and soon every player will be working as a unit of a well-oiled machine. Waten the Indians and see the result of wellexecuted tactics. While on the subject of coaches, they can show the various players how to correctly hold their sticks, how to correctly stop the ball, how to flick pass and also how to back pass. Use of the latter is seldom seen locally, and what a wonderful move it is 1 when properly carried out! By its use the opposition can often be caught out of position by a fast change in the direction of the play. And how often does one see rhe reverse stroke employed in local hockey games? Or the left hand lunge, so invaluable in both defence and attack, the push stroke or the scoop? Rareiy, indeed. These are only some suggestions where a coach can assist in making a team oui of 11 individuals. Arrangements are now well in hand in connection with the visit of the Indians, and with the Test match England v. New Zealand Women. All we hope for is a day like last Satur - day for each fixture and the sporting public is assured of first-class exhibitions of the game. The curtain-raiser to the IndiaWanganui fixture will be between teams representing the Wanganu. Technical College and Stratford Higa School. The proposed curtain-raiser to the Test is a Nordon Cup fixture between Wanganui (holders) and Busn Union (challengers). The Wanganui Association has extended an invitation to the Karon Club (Wellington) to send a team Lc play Wanganui on the King’s Birthday holiday. This club is probably the strongest in New Zealand anJ from its two senior A and two senioi B teams can field a team capable oi fully extending any provincial side in the country and well worthy of representing the Capital City. Let’s hope Karori can come. It will be a great chance for the local selector to try out his prospective eleven to meet the Indians. It was also suggested that a ladies’ team should also accompany the Karori team and it is hoped something can be done in this direction. Next week the writer proposes to publish an article by Norman Jacobson, that well-known player and tactician, on the “push stroke” and iG advantages. Much can be learned from this article and its application. Look out for it. The Indian touring team will arrive at Wellington on June 8 and commence an 11 weeks’ tour of the Dominion. Under the control of ilic Nawab of Manavadar, himself an international player, the team will be very strong. Although it is not representative of All India, it comprises the nucleus of the victorious Berlin Olympic side, supported by experienced players representative of the highest ability in India to-day. Supporters will be glad of an opportunity to secagain the dashing wing-forwards Shahabuddin and P. Fernandes, who both played a great part in the wonderful scoring machine that the forward line of the last visiting team revealed itself to be. Memories of the last visit of such a team make one feel that anything approaching it? in brilliance will still prove in a clas:. above anything that can be opposed to it in New Zealand. However, benefiting from the Australian tour last year, Dominion hockey sems to be on the up-grade and much can be expected from the representatives who gained that useful experience. It would be of great advantage if the teams could be chosen well in advance so that team-work icould be attained in the greatest measure possible. Auckland is particularly well situated in this respect cis its fixture against the Indian team is not until August 13.