HOCKEY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 30 June 1937, Page 6

HOCKEY NOTES

BROADWAY’S BIG LEAD, COAIAIENTS OF INTEREST. (By “Bully.”) Broadway’s good win over C. 0.8. on Saturday gave them a commanding lead oil the senior championship table and they now appear to he certain winners. The junior competition finds Alassev College two points ahead of Phoenix, who jumped into second position after convincingly defeating Broadway on Saturday. The tables are MEN'S SENIOR.

Short Passing, Tho value of short passing ns against h.tml .hitting Jias been emphasised in this column before aiid it was brought home very clearly on Saturday. In the first spell of the Broadway-C.0.8. fixture short passes were indulged in quite a lot and there wns no score, but in the second session C. 0.8. either clianged their tactics or 1 broke down under the pressure becauso they commenced the hard hitting game which put Broadway into their winning stride. Both Hart and Gaskin, the two goalies, were responsible for some spectacular saves. Staged A Comeback.

At tbe commencement of the season it seemed that R. Hoarc’s best hockey days were past. Ho was slow and not so aggresive as in yesteryear. But he has confounded his critics and on Saturday, playing for C. 0.8. against Broadway, staged a definite comeback. Ho displayed speed and ball control, and while his solo work was good he did not neglect to feed iiis other forwards. AVliat Alanawntu lacks is good forwards for the wing positions and in representative teams players have to be placed out of position to fill tho gap. On Saturday’s play the left wing for Broadway showed up to advantage, -and, if ho improves, is on the track for representative honours. AlcAlurray, for C. 0.8. on the right wing, is another rising player who lias speed and the proper idea of tho game; hut lie holds on just too long and is slow in tackling. To Tour Australia.

The fourth New Zealand hockey team to cross the Tasman lor a tour of Australia will leave Wellington by the Wanganella on July 8, 1937. Although there are no Alanawatu players in tho side this trip local patrons will follow their progress with keen interest. Up to the present New Zealand touring teams have suffered only one defeat in Australia, when New South Wales beat the 1923 side by 5 goals to 0, so the present tourists have a great reputation to uphold. With each succeeding tour the number of matches has increased, and the resulting travelling has always been considered strenuous, but this time it is exceptionally bo, an the team will have to play 22 matches in seven weeks.

Strenuous Itinerary. Despite every endeavout of the New Zealand Hockey Association to secure a reduction in the number of matches, tbe original itinerary remains practically unaltered, and to give an idea of what is being asked of the players the following summary speaks for itself :—Four matches in the first week; five in the second (including Queensland) ; three in the third; lour in the fourth (including New South Wales) ; two in the fifth (including the Test match); three in the sixth (including Victoria), and the final match against Metropolitan in the last week. A Hectic Week.

The fourth week appears to be the most hectic of the tour, for after the Saturday match at Warwick the team will travel over GGO miles to play Metropolitan at Sydney on the Monday. Then they will travel nearly .‘SOO miles to meet Tamworth on the Wed nesday, 50 miles for the Gunnedal match on Thursday ,and approximately, 300 miles back to Sydney in readiness for the match against New South Wales on the Saturad.v. A table of previous tours by New Zealand teams proves interesting reading:—

Goals Team P. For Agst. W. V. L. Pts Broadway A ... 6 24 7 5 1 0 11 C.O.B 6 12 8 3 1 2 7 Phoenix 6 16 8 2 3 1 7 Massey College 5 10 17 1 1 3 3 Broadway B ... 5 5 27 0 0 5 0 MEN’S JUNIOR. Mnsscy College 8 22 13 5 1 2 11 Comb. Scrv:ccs 8 22 12 4 1 3 9 Plioonix 8 15 18 3 1 4 7 Broadway 8 8 24 2 1 5 5

P. W. L. D. For Apf4 1923 .... 12 11 1 — 59 14 1927 .... 14 12 — 2 109 15 1932 .... 18 15 — o 133 15