HOCKEY HAPPENINGS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 222, 13 May 1932, Page 7

HOCKEY HAPPENINGS

"Sticks'.) i

COMMENTS ON MATCHES PLAYED LAST SATURDAY. INTERPRETATION OF RULES.

(Notes By

Interesting and even games were the order in last Saturday's ladies' hockey matches, which were played in ideal weather. Although the team combination shown was not of the best iii all games, a number of players demonstrated by their play that they Were near to striking their form of past seasons. Two games were played on the Government Grounds and in each case the games were closely contested. Little combined effort resulted from the Mourea versus Whippet -ihatch and the win of the former team by the only goal of the match was a fair indication of the run of play. Nevprtheless, Whippets were unlucky to lose the game by a goal which was scored through a misunderstanding between the fullback and goalkeeper; M. Black (forward) and E. Bettridge (fullback), (better known as E. Whitley), both played fine games in their respective positions and L. Morton (left fullback), also played well. The game played by M. Black was outstanding, but very little suppoi't was accorded her by her fell'ow forwards, with the inevitable result that her efforts were useless. Unless halves and forwards keep their positions and back each other up, the efforts of a team as an attacking force are doomed to failure. This fault was also very prevalent in the ranks of their opponents, the serious bunching being the. worst failure. One reason for this fault in the play of the new team is probably a lack of confidence betweerf the players in each others play, but it is my opinion that the cure adopted is worse than the disease. Give your team-mates a chance to prove themselves and develop their own confidence and the play of the whole. team will benefit. R. Ipu, the Mourea left half played a nice game and was the pivot of the • side.

Shamrocks Shape Well. The better team work of the Shamrock side won for them the match against Arawa. The movements of the forward line were "nippy" and the backs presented a solid front on defence and attack. Julie. (Ihaytor, in the left half position for Shamrocks, played a spectacular game and is probably the most consistent player in the competition. Being young she should be in the forefront of Rotorua hockey for many years. A new player to Rotorua, Queenie Goldsmith is also shaping well and should gain a place in the rep. team if she retains her present form. Although they have both played better games T. Mitchell and E. Mitchell performed well in the Shamrock back division and were a thorn in the sides of the Arawa forwards. The play of the Arawa forward line was disappointing to watch, and the absence of Gladys Allen (Rogers) has been severely felt by the team, but it is stated that she will again be in the Arawa forward line at an early date. There was very little wrong with the side's back division in last Saturday's game, R. Martin, G. Morrison and W. Hall all playing conspicuously. Rangi Martin is showing distinct promise as a fullback at present and if she takes the game seriously will be a strong contender for rep. honours this season. The third game of the series between Taniwha and Mamaku was played at Mamaku and was also very interesting. Mamaku are to be. congratulated upon the showing which they made against last season's champions and were by no means disgraced in losing the game by three goals to nil. Probably due to overrunning the ball owing to the bumpy condition of the ground, "obstruction" was very frequently indulged in by the Taniwha forwards and cost the team many likely chances of scoring. T. Wharekura was one of the chief offenders in this respect. A word of praise must be tendered to the Mamaku Club for their very generous action in providing afternoon tea to visiting teams and officials after the matches at considerable expense to the club. Rule Instruction. Continuing the explanation of the rules of hockey I will commence. with the many ways in which a player may create a "foul." The first rule provides that the player may not raise her stick above her shoulder when striking the ball, either at the beginning or end of the stroke. The idea of this rule is, of course, to prevent dangerous strokes which may cause injury to other players. The correct manner to wield a stick is to a adopt a swing round the body and if this is done there is very little possibility of a player giving "sticks." Cases frequently occur of a player who crouches when hitting the ball, wondering why the referee awards a penalty against her. The reason is that, in hitting the ball when crouching she must naturally raise the stick above her shoulder, and to carry out the rule the referee must penalise her. (b) A player may use the fiat side of her stick only and is p'enalised by a free hit against her team when the rounded side is used. (c) The praetiee of intentionally or continually raising or undercutting the ball is a breach and a very important point in the interpretation of dangerous play some player, intentionally or otherwise, make this faulty shot very frequently, the reason being that the stick is so held that when striking the ball the face is slanting backwards. A referee is empowered, when warnings have been disregarded to order a player ofF the field for this offence, and therefore particular care should be taken in order not to cultivate the stroke. The ball may be scooped or hit in the air, prividing "sticks" are not given and danger is not likely to be caused to a player standing nearby. Some years ago the practice of scooping the ball into the circle'was not allowed, but it is now permitted providing that the ball is not likely to land among a crowd of players. Should this happen the referee would rule the shot as dangerous and penalise aceordingly. (d) Hooking, holding or striking at an opponents stick is not allowed

and it should be noted here, that whereas the rules applying to men's hockey permit the hooking of sticks' when within striking distance of the biill, the ladies' rules do not allow t'lis practice on any oecasioh. Space does not allow ihe to complete my interpretation of this importait rule concerning "fouls," aiid it y ill be contifiued in my next article. ; ■ 1 -