HOCKEY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 114, 17 May 1939, Page 12

HOCKEY

WANGANUI ASSOCIATION MATCHES IN REVIEW IMPROVED STANDARD Although the Wanganui Hockey Association’s senior grade competition matches, on Saturday, were only the second series of the season, a greatly improved standard of play was revealed, especially in the gome between Wesley and Hinemoa A. Owing to the school holidays, Technical College were unable to muster a good team, and despite the Stirling efforts of some of the players, Hinemoa B emerged easy winners by 7 goals to 1. Hinemoa opened their score early, W. Stewart scoring a smart gcal from a good centre. The Technical players were inclined to bunch and were often caught out of position. Free hits were many and L. Thompson scored for Hinemoa with a nicely placed goal. From good centres, W. Stewart brought his tally to three goals with two goals in quick succession. At half time the scores were Hinemoa B 4, Technical 0. Technical livened up on the resumption of play and Stewart junior and Barnett were featured in some bright hockey. However, Rees scored yet another goal for Hinemoa. The school team took up the attack and after shooting wide, Barnett flicked the ball into the goal from a scramble. Combining well, Hinemoa pressed home their advantage and before the final whistle blew, both Myer and Stewart had annexed further goals, making the score 7 to 1 in Hinemoa’s

Wesley v. Hinemoa A. This game provided the highlight of lhe afternoon, play waxing fast and furious, and Wesley scrambling home by three goals to two. Good play by Greenfield and Bobbins enabled Wesley to attack ana from a corner Thrush scored well out. Hinemoa retaliated strongly, but Wesley defence was sound and Cave made a good save. Bidlake, of Wesley bioKe away and after a nice run passed to Thrush, who placed his team another goal ahead. Hinemoa were not downhearted and from a free hit Newton scored with a well-placed push shot. Half-time was called with the score, Wesley 2, Hinemoa A 1. Determined to increase tneir lead, Wesley took up the attack at the resumption and Thrush registered his third goal with a smart shot from a centre. Several line saves by Connett, the Wesley goal-keeper, were features of the next few minutes’ play. Wallace was the outstanding Hinemoa player, and after several fine attempts he scored from a scramble in front of the goai. Although Hinemoa made decptrale efforts to even the score, the final figures were unchanged. : sent over some good crosses but Healey was at home to any that came near goal. On Cook’s Gardens, Marist found ■ their form early in the game and i completely outclassed Eastbrooke. Marist will be a tough proposition in the Association Cup and Charity Cup ; matches. 1 * * * * t The decision of the New Zealand ' Council in awarding the Brown Shield - to Wanganui should help the game J considerably. Challenges should come ' in from Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, • Manawatu, and Wairarapa, and if the I local side can manage to keep the 5 trophy for a season followers of the • code should have seen some good play. No doubt the selector will announce a team to go into training to defend the trophy. It would be an excellent t thing if the team selected could get - one night a week on Cook’s Gardens s if arrangements could be made for t the use of the new electric light system. After having paid close attention to the players’ performances this

season the writer thinks the following team would be quite capable of retaining the Brown Shield for the season: For goal, Healey is the obvious choice. At full-back the youthful Technical: Old Boys’ defender's are quite up t< representative standard. At right half, Davis seems the best, and Cooper is playing well at left-half. The centre-half position is very hard to deal with. Humphries is a heady player but lacks the stamina and speed of Dashfield. However, Dashfield can be played in the forwards, so Humphries goes in at centre-half. The outside right berth must be Carter's, and Dashfield would take over the inside right position. Dashfield has played in this place before and would be quite at home. Meikle is the only choice at centre-forward. The leftwing is the most difficult to solve. Thompson has been outstanding at in-side-left but no outside-left seems up to representative standard. Kidd, at I inside-left for Technical Old Boys, has also been playing well and has scored iquite a number of goals. So Kidd goes in at inside-left and Thompson goes out on the wing, a position he first played in for Thistle. * * * * “Waverley’s” team would read thus: Healey, Patterson, Good. Davis, Humphries, Cooper. Carter, Dashfield, Meikle, Kidd, Thompson. * » # * The Referees' Association meets every Thursday at the Y.M.C.A. at 7.30 p.m., when problems dealing with the game are dealt with. These meetings are most beneficial and players would be well rewarded if they attended. WANGANUI ASSOCIATION SHIELD COMPETITION FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY Following are the Wanganui Football Association's fixtures and grounds for Saturday:— Seniors Marist v. Athletic, at Cook's Gardens, at 3 p.m. Referee, Mr. G. Langslow. Eastbrooke v. Tech. Old Boys, on Victoria Park, at 3 p.m. Referee, Mr. F. Killeen. Juniors Athletic v. Rangers, at Cook's Gardens, at 1.30 p.m. Referee, Mr. S. Tyso. Tech. Old Boys v. Tech. B, on Vic-

toria Park No. 1, at 1.30 p.m. Referee, Mr. J. Johnson. Marist v. Tech. A, on Victoria Park No. 2, at 1.30 p.m. Referee. Mr. A. Robinson. Eastbrooke, a bye.