HOCKEY HAPPENINGS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 305, 19 August 1932, Page 2

HOCKEY HAPPENINGS

THIS WEEK'S TOURNEY WINNER UNABLE TO CLAIM DOMINION TITLE. TO-MORROW'S REP. FIXTURE. (Notes hy "Sticks,") Next week the interest of hockey enthusiasts will he centred on the fortunes of teams engaged in the Women's Annual Dominion Tournament commencing at Dunedin on Saturday, August 27. While it is generally considered that the winning team hold the honour of being the premier team in the Dominion for the particular season, no such claim can unfortunately attach itself to this year's winner, as, due to financial difficulties, greatly increased by the N.Z. Women's Hockey Association's action in allocating the tourney to a town as far south as Dunedin, the representation this season consists of

mainly South Island teams. In all, twelve assocations are participating, the only North Island representatives being Wellington and Manawatu. Reviewing the chances of teams, "Sticks" will be greatly surprised if Eastern Southland (holders) fail to retain possession of the "K" Cup, and in all probability the final will, as in the last tournament at Auckland, he fought out between this team and Wellington. Knowing that the assocation is faced with considerable difficulty in sending its team to the tourney, the writer hopes to see Manawatu retain its right to the Holden Cup, should it fail to upset expectations and gain the higher honour. At the last tournament, in Auckland, there was not a better sporting team than Manawatu and its achievement in gaining second place in the A grade, and eventually defeating Poverty Bay in the play-off for the Cup was a notable feat. A rather amusing instance of the side-tracking of the latest ruling of the -N.Z. Women's Hockey Association in regard to manageresses, comes from Southland, where a woman has been appointed manager, and Mr. F, Hinton (last year's manager) the coach, with the proviso that Mr. Hinton shall be the sole selector of both the A and B teams. In 'effect, therefore, the manageress will he but a figurehead and while outwardly the rule will have been complied with, the management will be the same as in past seasons. Rotorua's Engrgonrcnt. To-morrow the first real representative match' of the ' Rotorua team this season will be played at Hamilton, and indications point to the local side giving a good account of itself. Each member of the chosen team fully deserves her place and can be relied upon to give of her best. Jean Tanner (goal) although not so well known in Rotorua as the majority of the others, represented Rotorua at last years' tourney and hails from Te Puke. Generally, she is is particularly safe and a hard hitter. In the back division, the Hamilton team will be up against very solid opposition in K. Tekauru and E. Mitchell, full-backs, and in defence and attack, J. Chaytor, T. Mitehell, L. Tanner (Te Puke) will not he found wanting as halves. Although no less than four players new to Rotorua representative teams, T. Manarapa, M. Werahiko, M. Mitehell and G. Swinton

are included in the forward line; each has hy steady and consistent play gained recognition and with such in able centre as T. Wharekura all are expected. to prove their ahility. Points on the Game. Personal fitness is vitally necessary to a hockey player and, other things being equal, it is the fit player who is selected every time. Players in the running for the representative honours should keep up their training, and players must remember that continual late hours militate against fitness and that, while their object is most laudable, they have themselves to think about. * * * Quickness of wrist and quickness of eye are necessary accomplishments in a successful hockey player and in a first-class player they are indispensable. It is recommended to players in the running for representative honours that they should practise their stick-work with a swinging ball which will come back to the player striking it at all angles and will, in addition to improving her quickness of eye, neeessarily improve also her reverse stick-work. * * * A good knowledge of reverse stickwork is essential to players on th'e left, particularly the left wing, and in a closely contested tournament match clever stick-work is always an inestimahle advantage. * * * Forwards should give much practice to goal-scoring shots and a good idea is to place a stick in the ground and practise hitting it for about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour each day.