HOCKEY.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 18 (Supplement)

HOCKEY.

[WAIKATO ASSOCIATION.

SATURDAY'S GAMES REVIEWED. COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. (By "Left-Half.”) Ideal playing conditions favoured play In the final series of games in the preliminary round to the senior competition in Hamilton on Saturday. The draw provided even contests, and the Btandard of play showed a further improvement on the matches of the earlier season. J ... Old Boys Prevail. Principal interest was centred in the meeting of Old Boys and Hinemoa, the leading teams of the competition, and winners and vunners-up respectively of last year’-s competition, f' After a game., in which neither side showed any great superiority, Old Boys ran out victors with the score B—l.

The winners worked consistently and thoroughly deserved their victory. The play of the backs was particularly impressive, while the halves and forwards combined, excellently on attack. West, in goal for Old Boys, played a satisfactory game. Although his work with low shots was executed excellently he misjudged several of the higher balls. 'The fuHbacks, Ewan and Pountney, were the most consistent performers on the ground. Ewan was always reliable, but Pountney had a fault in playing too close Jto his partner and thus not covering enough of the field. Of the halves, C. Ross, Goodall and Howe, the two first-named wer6 most conspicuous. Howe xyas solid on defence, but lacked penetrative power to be a force on ettaok. N. Ross and Craig were the outstanding forwards, with Hammond and MoKenzle, who went on at halftime, showing flashes of brilliance.

The Losers Reviewed.

J. Kilham, In goal for Hinemoa, was outstanding. His work during melees in the goalmouth was far superior to Ills guarding of the net from long shots. The fullbacks, Seal and Andrews, were at times' faulty, but nevertheless, put In some valuable yvovi. The half-line was the chief ©bstaole against the Old Boys’ attack. Munro and Westbury were very consistent, but Hunt, although playing quite & steady game, was not up to the standard of his confreres. The ’forwards were hard-worldng, with Allsop, Montelth and Froude outstanding. Froude, although a newcomer to the game,‘shows promise, with speedy attack and reliable stickplay. Cambridge Defeats Colts. Sparkling play characterised the match between Cambridge and Old Boys’ Colts. The issue was in doubt right until the final stages. The Cambridge team showed nice understanding between baoks and forwards, while the Colts worked some pretty attacking movements, i Chubb, goalie for Cambridge, was not frequently taxed, but did what work came his way well. L. McKinnon was the better of the fullbacks, while Higgins and R. Dillon were the most consistent of the halves who effected particularly good work on attack. Of the forwards D. McKinnon and the keliy brothers were always in the limelight with D. Dillon and N. McKinnon also prominent. Fletcher, in, goal for the Colts, despite an absence of some years from the game, was the outstanding player on the field. His powerful kicking \yas, however, much more reliable than his stiok-play. Haverbier and Horton were reliable In the fullback positions.. Their hard-hitting relieved many a difficult situation for Old Boys. t Brough, at centre-half, was the mainstay of the team. He lacked support from Fabling and McKinnon whoso stick-play was faultyon several occasions when correct work i would have carried the team through. Of the forwards, Curtels, McKenzie and Storry were the most consistent.

Ohaupo and Kaipaki Draw.

Willing though somewhat “muddly” play characterised the match between Kaipaki and Ohaupo who drew with two goals each. Combination was lacking, but the enthusiasm .. and friendly rivalry which ran high in the teams, readily'compensated for this. Forward play on both sides was fast

and interesting, but the play of the rearguards of each eleven left much to he desired. The best of tho Kaipaki backs were Catch pole, W. Tarr and C. Bones/ while, the most prominent forwards of a hard-working set were Perrow, A. Cowley and Goodwin. For Ohaupo Burrows, C. Bell and Kilham were often in the limelight,"while the forward line owed a great deal of its success to Jenklnson and O’Connor.

THE SCIENCE OF THE GAME

AN INTERESTING ADDRESS The following address on Hockey was delivered to members of the UIJ Boys’ Club by Mr \V. G. Fabling, president of the Waikato Hockey Association, recently:— Before going on to the field of play, it is necessary for a player to have two things stroke production and stamina. .As to stroke production, every member of a hockey team should have a good drive, 3, flick shot, and a command of the push and scoop. It is too often found that the rather 'slow drive Is- used when one of the quicker shots would be of more advantage. There Is also a great need for practice. A player who- does not touch a stick from one Saturday to another cannot be expected to have good ball control, and 'ten minutes’ practice a' day would make a tremendous difference, Tho Forward Division. . To commence a discussion on position play, the speaker first, took the forwards on attack. It is the mission of the forwards to score goals, and the question is how to do it. The centre forward has a very important position. His duty js to size up the opponents, to decido the tactics to be adopted, to Initiate passing movements, to make openings for tho other forwards, and ,to control the Whole line in such a .way as to make the fullest possible use of It. From the bully'the ball usuallyto the wing-forward. He must draw tfi*e defence. If he beats the opposing wing-half, he goes to the 25-yard line and Immediately centres. He -must centre at the 25 to give the inside forwards a chance to get -control before reaching the full-backs. A later centre would see a scramble between the forwards- and backs which would break down the att-afck. The Inside forward having received, the -centre dribbles on and draws the defence, not necessarily waiting to he tackled, and passes the ball to another inside, who, being tackled by the other back, draws the defence again, and makes an opening.

The short passing game should be mentioned here, as It is particularly used in an opponet’s 25. The forwards should not be too close together, otherwise the passes may go astray. The push or flick shot 'should be used in preference to the drive, which is too slow to make and too hard to receive. The passes should be slow, and right on to the other man’s stick, giving him immediate control.

Sealing the Effort.

■An opening having been made, one of the inside forwards shoots for goal.

This, however, is not the end of the movement, and the attack must be sustained. In the first place, the. forwards -must slill keep their positions; if the backs clear, the hall usually goes towards- the- side-line, where the wings will be ready- to -centre again. Secondly, the forwards must be supported in attack by the half-backs and full-backs, who can return clearances to their own forwards to sustain _ the attack. Tho /halves should be within five yards of their forward line, the wing'll a If, like the wing, forwards, remaining deep towards the side-lines. Lastly, the forwards should be always ready to score off the rebound when the goalie stops, but cannot kick clear. 'Naturally, circumstances may alter the foregoing. The whole secret of a successful attack is for the forwards to keep their position -and have a proper understanding of each other. Each man should know without looking yvhero the other forwards are, and no player should attempt to shoot if he knows that another is In a better position. The forwards, being the essentially attacking part of the team, have few defensive duties. They should, of course, go hack, .and when robbed of possession tackle back to assist the half-backs.

With the Half-Backs.

The half-back line was next considered.

The centre-half may be considered as the main spring of the team. He mus| bo prepared for hard work, possess stamina and stroke production above the average, and have sound judgment. His duties consist in anticipating the opposing moves, feeding his forwards, and, if necessary, assisting* the full-backs. I-lis main object is to try and suppress the opposing cen-tre-forward. It is a mistake to cover too much ground, he should keep his position, and let his head save his heels. The centre-half usually feeds the three inside forwards. The wing-halves have the same duties as the centre, in a modified form. The main object is to mark the opposing wing-forward, and they should not attempt to mark both wing and inside. The latter is marked by the full-back. The half should not dribblg, but on gaining position set his fdrwards- in motion with an accurate pass. In attack they should keep their position, follow and 'support Ihc forward line, and return clearances to sustain the attack.

The Baok Trio. ~ " The full-backs should be active and speedy; if beaten for the ball they must move back to tackle again. The men they should mark are the opposing inside, forwards. A full-back should always stop beforo clearing; it is unwise, and .possibly dangerous to speculate, lie must havo good stroke equipment, particularly a powerful, accuralo drive to his forwards. There should be an understanding between the full-backs and half-backs; for instance, the half should be ready to lake a short pass from a harassed full-back, and pass again to the forwards. As to position, one should be behind the other; the first goes forward to tackle, and the other remains behind in case he should Ini beaten. v

The last line of defence'is the goalkeeper, and any mistake on his part costs exactly one goal, lie must be able to kick well, and have good judgment. if lie, comes out of goal, he should come well out. otherwise he should stay right, in goal. There is. however, no hard and fast rule for a goal-keeper, who is frequently the “personality” of the team. The qualification of a good hockey player, [lien, is a thorough understanding of Hie game and proper coordination. The players must know their own position and that of every oilier member of Die team. They must know wlial to il". :""i 1 " 1 ' " Hie abilK do it,