WANGANUI HOCKEY COMMENTARY

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 May 1948, Page 7

WANGANUI HOCKEY COMMENTARY

NO POSTPONEMENTS Two seasons ago, the Wanganui Men’s Hockey Association decided to make it a rule that once the draw had been made, there be no postponement of matches.

Last Saturday, continuous rain fell from early morning onwards, and many players wondered whether the association might not make an exception to its two-year-old ruling. And it is questionable whether hockey interests generally is promoted by wet Saturday matches. The game is slowed up measurably, the players are likely to forget their better style of play, and some teams may unjustly suffer defeat through absence of members who find it impossible to attend. The grounds, too, suffer through being cut up by players skidding or jabbing their sticks in to hit reticent hockey balls. Umpires are likely to have a grumble about having to stand for an hour in the rain while the players are constantly on the move. But none of these objections were over-apparent last Saturday. Some good hockey was seen, teams were up to full strength, the grounds up to the treatment fairly well, and the umpires were suitably equipped in weather-proof clothing. Thus the ruling of 1946 has proved itself both valid and useful. Players in Wanganui are getting a continuous season of Saturday .matches, the draw is being run to schedule, and the doubt regarding a match being played or not on a wet afternoon is never raised in the minds of hockey »players in this area.

Hinemoa is experiencing a return to something like its old form' when they overran Federal last week by 7 goals to 2. Hinemoa’s strength is a grand front row of forwards who have adopted the plan of using both wings in turn and so provide the opposition defence no let up. M. Springer, on the right wing, is showing form again. He has a splendid inside man in L. Duggan, who is an effective connecting link between the centre-•or-ward and; the right wing. W. Spicer has not lost his former dash by any means. His four goals last Saturday were unbeatable shots. On the left wing is B. Hughes, who is showing resource and speed which may find for him a place in the representative side. The Hinemoa forwards are shaping very well this season. R. Palmer, the versatile left fullback of the Federal team, is playing well now that he is less troubled with a leg injury. He is, what I would call, an attacking full-back, playing well up and putting his team on attack when the position looked very much the other way. Another asset he has is that he always gets his man. On one occasion last Saturday, a player approached him with that spectacular, but not always wise, move of bouncing the ball on his stick. (I did not know it was still allowed). However, Palmer went up to him and banged, the ball straight off the stick and up-i field. Palmer is at present one of the best full-backs in the competition. As he is a left full-back, the same as F. Smaller (Rangers) the other outstanding back this season, it will be a problem for the selector to find out whom he is going to place on the right side. Both certainly merit a place in the representative team. * * * ♦ Next Saturday’s matches are going to be probably the best Saturday’s programme seen so far this season. The two top teams—Wanganui Rangers and Technical College—will meet for the first time. It will be a case of experience versus youth, with the odds fairly even. Both teams will be playing top hockey to vie for the position of the leading team of the competition at the end of the first round. The next two teams—Hinemoa and Tech. Old Boys—will meet in what promises to be a closely-contested match fighting for third place on the ladder. Finally, Castlecliff and Federal will play off in the first encounter this year. Ratana have the bye.

With the transfer of R. Williamson (Tech. Old. Boys) to Wellington, Wanganui hockey has lost the best exponent of the game seen playing in this area this year. In view of the Australian match in August, the loss will be almos' irreparable, for with his experience and ability, Wanganui had one player who could match much of the strong opposition expected then. However, there are other players who in the next three months have a good chance to fill the vacancy and so help Wanganui to field at least a reasonably strong side. We wish Bob Williamson all the best, in Wellington.

Palmerston North decided to make a rather drastic and somewhat belated change in their competition when last Saturday they altered the senior grade competition to senior A section (6 teams) and senior B section (6 teams). This eliminated the bye and provided a stronger competition for the senior section. It may be a wise plan to do something similar here where there has been a bye in the senior grade and the position regarding the junior teams has not been very satisfactory. At the risk of offending some, the association should consider the benefit given to the competition generally.