THE HOCKEY FIELD.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2211, 25 July 1914, Page 16

THE HOCKEY FIELD.

[Br Spectator.]

THE COMINC INVASION.<>yr Own Forces Reviewed. The muoh-talked-of and eagerlyawaited visit of the English ladies' hockey team is now practically a thing of tho present, for already.tlie team "has embarked for here from Sydney, and should arrive next Wednesday. Then tho following , Saturday, at tho Basin Keserve, we will be able to see what these English ladies are capable of. Over the other side they have put up what can only he characterised as a remarkable performance. Consultation of the Australian accounts of the games played show that our local ladies will liavo to 'put forward their utmost efforts if they hopo to make good. Yet, after weighing in tho balance the respective merits of the A trial team to ba seen in action next Saturday, "Spectator" feels confident that, at anyrato they will give tho English ladies a good run for their money. Our Fair Defenders. Perhaps a detailed criticism of the individual, lady players in the A trial team, and of-the representative team' that met Horowhenua tho other Wednesday would not be. amiss at this stage. Commencing with the goalkeeper (Miss 0. Roadley). Miss Eoadley, who has represented Wellington before as custodian has not been much' tested this season on account of the •strength of her club team, llambler A. She is in possession of the very, necessary attribute of most importance to a goal-keeper—coolness. One does not meet many cool lady hockey players nowadays—they _all'lose their heads—so Miss Boadley is indeed a treasure. ■ Moreover, she is'a" sure'stop. ''Then there is Miss Tinney (right back).' ■She has• represented this Province for several years, and tho North Island in . 1912 and 1913. She is recognised as one of the best full-backs in Mew; Zealand. Miss Neumann is another representative player. She played half-back last year, but has gone back to the rear'guard in playing for lier club this season. Miss Neumann is a good tackier and there is no characteristic feminine gentleness about her when- she strikes tho ball.. As one gentlieman spectator, whoso failing is his undisciplined aspirates, remarked when he saw Miss Neumann playing at Karori the other Saturday: "Haint she an 'ard 'itter— wot!" But this is a digression. Miss Brown, another Wellington representative, is a-real toiler—she never shirks. Miss C. Terry, who has represented Wairarapa is one of the cleverest lady heckey players in the Dominion. It's a treat to watch tho way she keeps the forwards fed and the manner in. which she tackles. Miss. M'Donnell.: in her position of wing forward is about the speediest girl in the trial team, and is likely to trouble the opposing backs. , She has a failing, however, of carrying the ball too far down before centring. Miss J. Dobbyn is an ex-Hawke'e Bay representative. She is clever in the ■ field, sees that her fellow-forwards are well fed, and is a good shot in "the circle—what more could one want I Miss M. Carrick, who has rflprescnted Kelson, has shown herself to be a hard worker in her club matches, but is rather, inclined to hesitate when opportunities to score occur. Miss Carrick should remember that "he (or'she for the matter of that) who hesitates is lost." Miss Pickering is another hard worker. Miss N. Lang, like her wing associate, Miss M'Donnell, is very speedy. She- centres well and. sets, an example' to some of her sister players by al.ways remaining in position. A bril-. ' liant=individual-playeris MissrH. Lau- ■ renson, who represented Wellington last year. Miss Laurenson has two big faults—she does not combine-with her fellow-forwards at times, and is inclined at a moment to .give "sticks"; in other words, she loses her head. Miss ■' L. Morgan is a new aspirant to representative honours, and one who plays a heady game in'tho open, but Iβ apt to get flurried in tight corners (coolness wanted; again). Miss D. Williamson must rid herself of tho terriblo-habit of • speculating; otherwise she plays a good gam,e. Miss I. Uren, another player who aspires to make a representative, debut,. is rather ■ crude in her methods,, but with experience will make.a good full-back., . . : , Summing it up there is' material here for sucli 'an eleven that should, put the English' ladies on their mettle. ■' Another Shield Attack. Auckland has successfully.warded off another would-be shield winner in the Manawatu eleven which visited tho ■ Queen City last week, but returned' un- ; 'successful. Commenting on'the game | tho "Herald" _ states ,that the , match I was a disappointing one. The display ' .of, hockey' never at any time reached a high standard, and mis-hitting was the order of the day. One circle was eo bad that players found great : difficulty in. keeping their feet, and'goal-! shooting was'.almost out of the ques-' tion. A comparison of the merits'of the two teams is therefore inadvisable, but the scoro of 3 goals to 2 goals in Auckland's favour, does not in any way indicate the play. For quite two-thirds' of the game, the local players were attacking,' and had the shooting been at all good, quite a good tally of goals' must-havo gone against ; the visitors' in the first spell. During the second half, the advantage was hot so pronounced, and Manawatu played with" more dash and took a more equal share in the attack. Auckland's prospects of holding the shield' throughout ihe 6easbn are good, providing the team practice, assiduously.