THE GAME OF HOCKEY

Wairarapa Daily Times, 31 July 1936, Page 6

THE GAME OF HOCKEY

(Contributed.)

Next Wednesday, on the Memorial Park at Masterton, our Wairarapa A team will try conclusions with the touring Fijian side, and, given a fine day and a dry ground, some fast and good hockey will be witnessed. The visitors come with a splendid reputation for their sociability. They are a jolly lot, with the ability of being able to adapt themselves to any surroundings, and arc good musicians. They arc not afraid to let the public sample some of their efforts, and it is to be hoped that we will be able to have the pleasure of listening to some of their items. Thoj' take a great interest in the secondary industries of our country, and have sent a request that, where possible, they would like to be shown over some of our factories and places of interest. The committee in charge of the entertainment has drawn up a programme as follows: — The team will arrive at Masterton railway station by the north express on Monday, 3rd August, and will be met by the officials of the Women’s Association and officially welcomed by the president, Mr Bliss. They will then be motored to their respective billets, and the rest of the afternoon is free. In the evening the Association has arranged a dance in the Masonic Hall, and the Mayor (Mr Jordan) will welcome them on behalf of the citizens of Masterton. Tuesday morning is. free for practice. At 1 pun. the visitors will be. driven from the Municipal Buildings to the Hosiery Mills, and from there to Messrs C. E. Daniell’s, Ltd., timber mills and factory, thence to the Whatman Home and fish hatcheries. Then back to the High School, where afternoon tea will be served. From there they will go on to Norman’s Poultry Farm, and, if time will permit, finish the afternoon off with a drive through Gladstone. In tfie evening they will be the guests of the Regent Picture Company. Wednesday morning is free. At 1.10 pun. the teams will leave the Municipal Buildings via Chapel and King Streets, and through Queen Street to the Memorial Park, to see- the game, Wairarapa B v. Wairarapa Maoris. Again, at 2.20 pun., the cars will leave the Municipal Buildings for the Memorial Park, with The players who will be taking part in the 3 pun. match. In the evening the team will be the guests of the Charity Ball Committee at their function, which is being held in the Municipal Hall. The team will depart for Wellington by the 7.40 mail train on Thursday morning. * * * * The following is the personnel of the team and the positions they play in:—

L. Sutherland (captain), centre-for-ward, is a good all-round player. She is always in position, and acts as an excellent pivot for the other forwards, her strong point being well-placed passes. * * * *

Mrs Fenn (vice-captain) is a hardhitting full-back (left), and is very sound in defence. * * * *

Mrs Bently, the right full-back, is a strong player, and, like Mrs Fenn, can be relied on to break up attacks of opposing forwards. » * * *

Jj. Stork (goal-keeper) is a young player who has a natural aptitude for the position she is filling. Is very cool when hard-pressed, and kicks well. * * * *

M. Emey and R. Criss.—Right and left inside forwards, are both snappy and combine well with the centre forward.

E. Ruffles, right wing, is speedy, centres well, and apparently is capable of deadly shooting in circle. * * » *

J. Harman, left wing, is a strong player, fast of foot, and has a powerful centre.

F. Wilson, O. Forman and S. Molloy, all halves. F. Wilson is fast and quite a brilliant player, and never tires. Miss Forman is centre-half, and is an allround steady player. Miss S. Molloy keeps her position well and is a great tackier. * * * *

M. and A. Eastgate are sisters. Miss M. Eastgate is a good half, and her sister plays full-back. Both are quite, good players, and arc listed as reserves. » * * *

Mrs Lee, tlie spare forward, is a good, steady player, and uses the lunge stroke freely.

WAIRARAPA V. BUSH. The Wairarapa-Busli game was one of the best rep. games seen for years, and a full report was published in this paper on Monday. Miss I. Spring was the outstanding forward for Bush, and seeing that she is reserve for the N.Z. team, should be able to show up. Wairarapa as a team went well, and there was not a passenger in any one player, and few mistakes were made. N. Stalker, who has been playing full-back all the season, was not used to her position as right-half, and in the first, spell did not show to advantage, but was a different player in the second spell. M. Dawber and M. Rhodes were patchy in the first spell, but were a different combination in the second half. M. Henderson and J. Harding, for young rep. players, acquitted themselves well and played better hockey than they do in their club games. E. Madsen was a great help to the forwards, and is a speedy forward who shows great control of the ball.

Play and Players

Visit of Fijians

N. Spiers was not sure of herself in the first spell, but did all that was asked of her in the second, and as a young player she should go on doing better. D. Dunce works hard, but, like N. Stalker, was shifted out of position and came back too far, which not only crowded their full-backs, but time and again put Bush on-side when the back went up. T. Cole tackled well, and her placing of free hits was splendid. She back tackles well, and will try to stop everything. R. Cowan, like her teammate, was good, and these two play together well, and have an understanding that all full-backs should have. M. Foster, in goal, was right up to rep. standard, and brought off some very nice saves. Her kicking was a feature of her game, and saved when there was no time for a hit. Two of the goals that went past her were real hot ones, and gave no one a chance.

In the B match, Z. Pickering, in the forwards, played a wonderful game, and was right back to her 1933-34 representative standard, and her goalshooting was good. J. Rutherford and N. Rutherford were the pick of the backs, and, together with the Jackson sisters, made the game a cracker.

The junior.women’s section is practically over, and High School are in the position of being unable to be defeated, so next week will see the start of the Morris Cup series. * * * * Men’s Division. Hastwell were all out to hold Wesley on the former’s ground. This was a great struggle, with Hastwell only getting home by one goal. * # * * Kiwis put up a great fight against Dalefield, but could not carry on, and had to go under to a better team. Carterton ran all over Stags to the tune of 10 to 1. The Stags’ team Avas weakened by several absentees. » * * * Junior Competition. High School A are still looking forward to their match with Dalefield. This game will be a battle royal and well worth seeing.