NAPIER GAMES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 141, 1 July 1937, Page 15

NAPIER GAMES

"Penalty Corner.")

(By

Saturday 's games in Napier were marked by some goo\l play, though in some casefi it was more andividual than combined. This was due in some measure to the faet th'at some of the backplayers were caught out of position so of ten that attacks agains them broke down through constant infringements in the off-side rule and the penalty attaehed to it. Forwards therefore changed their tactics • and dribbled through on their own, and several goals were shot.in this way. Pr'oper combination in hockey is absolutely spoilt if the correct positional play is not adhered te. On Saturday one half back in one of the men's junior teams was so ofteu out of position that penalties were given against the team on more than one occasion because he was actually out in front of the whole of his forward line, waiting to be fed by the forwards instead of being just behind supporting thein. The Taradale A junior team, too, made the mistake in the first spell of playing without wing halves, and this gave Scinde scoring opportunities which they would not otherwise have had, and they put on three goals, while Taradale, notwith'standing that they did most of the attacking, through poor shooting, failed to register one. In the second part of the game, the formation of the Taradale half -back line was altered, and this gave the speedy forwards more opportunities, and with good passing and neat stick work, they scored three goals, thus making a draw of it, though the advantage of play was with them most of the time. The Napier women 's team somewhat redeemed dtself on Saturday, and gave Te Awa a really good game, the result being a draw, and on the day's play that was a fair criterion of the game. If they continue to show improvement, Napier should account for all the other women 's" teams, exeept Te Awa, and the games with that team should be very interesting. Present indications- are that the Kiwi team will carry off the men'e senior championship, as they are undefeated at present. There is still time for the leading positions in the other seetions to be disturbed.