HOCKEY NOTES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20031, 1 September 1939, Page 11

HOCKEY NOTES

MEN’S REPS. WEAKENED

THREE INSIDE FORWARDS CHAMPIONSHIP DECISION PUZZLING TOURNEY FORM By “Sticks” Poverty Bay is proving unfortunate with its representative teams this year, both 'with the 'women and the men. Some of those originally selected in the women’s team for the New Zealand tournament were unable to travel to Blenheim, and now three important defections are announced from the men’s representatives to play Auckland for the New Zealand Challenge Shield.

The three who are not available for Auckland are the inside forwards, and their absence will weaken, the team considerably. They are Reg. Watchman, who previously announced his inability to travel, Owen Wheatley, and George Slade. Watchman’s absence alone would weaken the side a great deal, and with Wheatley and Slade out as well, the strongest portion of the team will be absent, for these three make the best inside combination Poverty Bay has had for many years and would compare favourably with any similar trio in New Zealand. Likely Substitutes

The Wairoa centre-forward. M. Edwards, who has been selected for the team for Auckland, is expected to take Watchman’s position, while Keith Harrison, also among the six forwards chosen, no doubt will substitute for Wheatley. Paki Jones seems the most likely to take the other vacancy, while Alex Crothers may secure selection as reserve. Keith Harrison, Jones and Crothers have been playing good hockey this season, although the last-mentioned has not been up to the form he showed at the beginning of the season.

The umpires appointed for the Auckland match are Mr. W. L. Grace, nominated by Poverty Bay, and Mr. H. E. Watts.

To-morrow’s A grade teams will virtually decide the men’s championship. Y.M.C.A. have a lead of three points over Foresters A, and have three games to play. If Y.M.C.A. can beat Waituhi to-morrow, there is only a slender chance that they will be beaten in the remaining two games, Foresters A being the only team strong enough to do that now. The other team Y.M.C.A. have yet to meet is Foresters B. The Tournament Team The performance of the Poverty Bay team in. the New Zealand women’s tournament is somewhat puzzling. They drew with one of the strongest combinations, Marlborough A, and yet went down by substantial margins to other teams. Auckland’s display has been somewhat similar, though not so pronounced. The explanation of the heavy defeats by Canterbury and Ashburton is probably that the defence was unable to cope with the speedy forwards which both teams possess. Canterbury did not have the McKenzie sisters this week, but there is plenty of pace in the forward line still, while Ashburton, which contained many of last year’s team in Gisborne, ljhd a fast forward line. The Poverty Bay defence has not much pace, and probably they were unable to recover quickly enough against the lightning attacks by their opponents. Some of the players were in positions in which they do not usually play, but whether this had any effect on the result is not known at present. However, the section was a strong one, and, apart from Eastern Southland, was much stronger than the B section, in which Poverty Bay should have been able to do well against all but Eastern ‘ Southland and possilfy Wellington. .This is the first occasion for many years that Poverty Bay has been at the bottom of the list in section play.