Hockey.

Southland Times, Issue 18822, 15 May 1920, Page 9

Hockey.

(Yules by “Circle.”) As the nr: t:i progresses and one is given an oppom;:>;.y of becoming acquainted ’.vith the play -lie various teams the progress that has been made in hotkey in .-•outhlund becomes more evident. Of hut Wednesday's matches the ci/tf in tore.- 1 centred in that between Collegiate A and Wmton, played at Vv inlon. “ Collegiate hc.'t season held an unbroken record, but their matches against the country team ‘•'■ere always strenuous and Collegiate had I o fight hard to win. It was reported that ' his season V inton had an unusually strong icam ami the report was verified by their uhiy on Wednesday. Unfortunately thy ground on which the match was played was very far from being in good order and :he long grass and the uneven surface hampered the players Nevertheless, the game ! was exception;.hy fast and open and "both 'cams played with good combination. At lone stage it appeared as if the country j girls would win, but Collegiate jut aiuiif .-pd to score the two goals required to win 1 before the cal! of time. This season the Y'.’inton team is without the services of three of their last year's players, hut there have been replaced by ; layers who : fter a few more practices : huld add considerably to the strength of their team. The Misses Horner are still playing and in Wednesday played quite ::s well if not better than they did in any match last season. There was one department of the game in which the Wintcm •uK -'bowed to great advantage over their visitors. In the line outs they invariably u.wle aooii use of the ball, while on the other hand the Collegiate playws very frequently failed to receive any advantage from their tol! in. Both teams played the passing game .and only on rare occasions whs the game marad by too much individual clTort. The Collegiate team was strengthened by the inclusion of Miss Codward whose centring provided some good o nettings for the other lorwards. Miss ITislop is quick to accept any chance and her three goals on Wednesday wore the outcome of clever plnv. Miss Dey, Collegiate's centre half played an excellent game, but was rather handicapped by her riz.e as with the long grass it took a very hard hit to make the ball travel any distance. The backs of both teams were inclined to speculate too much • nd at 1a w- if plac-d their teams in a very dangerous position. Miss Findlay played an e-neciully good game and the Winton forwards experienced a lot of difficulty in getting post her. At times, however. she got 'on far out of her position. Winton's full-backs, Misses Thornbury and Horner, wye wry safe, and did not speculate unless they were forced to. On Queen’s Park High School A. had an easy win over the Collegiate B. loam, who had a weak team owing to five of their regular players having the influenza. It is probable, however, that the High girls would have won even if the Collegiate had had their regular team, and before the season has ended some of the other teams will And them a hard team to beat. It was unfortunate that the High team had to default their first match owing to the examinations and as the fault was not theirs it would be only fair that if it is lo have any effect on the competition they should be given another opportunity to play the match. A novel method of marking off the ground was employed by the Underwood girls last y.’eek when a horse and dray were called into requisition. With all the girls on one side of the dray so that the wheel would leave an impression it was driven along where it was thought that the side lines should be. The marking out of the circle was a much more difficult matter, however, and the result was weird and ! wonderful. Probably by this time the j ground has been marked out afresh and ! in future, referees may have an easier task I than that of controlling the game at the opening match. At the meeting of the Rugby Union on Thursday night it was decided to set apart

a day for the benefit of the Southland Ladies’ Hockey Association to assist the ladies with-their carnival. It was decided to arrange a match Town v. Country and to invite the Hockey Association to arrange a match for the occasion, the nettproceeds to be handed over to the ladies. This is only one of the many instances in which the ladies have been assisted by the Rugby Union and if is not likely that they will forget the kindness shown to them. The time may come when the Ladies’ Association may be able to give the Union assistance in some way and it will surely give them pleasure to do so. All the clubs are busy preparing for the carnival and everything points towards success. A great amount of work still remains to be doine and during the time still at their disposal the girls should make every effort to obtain sufficient materials with which to stock the various stalls. Before the matches commenced on Queen’s Park on Wednesday the girls and the men who were holding a practice game, were busily' employed in marking out the lines. It was an inspiring sight lo see many of the girls arriving on the ground with a shovel in addition to their hockey sticks, and the energy they displayed during the digging operations was surprising. The most important part of the work was accomplished on Wednesday nad next week it is hoped.sto complete it. The prospects of reviving men’s hockey in Southland have brightened considerably since the first steps were taken two or three weeks ago, and although it may be a littlle time before a competition can be organised there is every reason to believe that by next season men’s hockey will have regained some of its old popularity. The men have obtained a playing area on Queen’s Park from the Ladies’ Association and if other grounds are required they should have no difficulty in obtaining them. A practice game for Saturday players is to be held on Queen’s Park this afternoon and it is expected that quite a number of old players will renew their acquaintance with the game. At a recent meeting of the Canterbury Hockey Association the tournament day rub-committee submitted resolution?, among which were the following;—“ That (he tournament take the form of a five-a-side tournament for all, to be played morning and afternoon, with entry fees of 7s 6d for seniors, 5s for juniors, and 3s Gd for thirdgrade players, and no fees for secondary end primary school players; all entries to be forwarded to the secretary not later than .May 17: trophies to be awarded to winning teams; that the Canterbury Ladies’ Hockey Association be asked if they are willing to run their eix-a-side tournament in conjunction with the men’s tourney; that a game be played with the South Canterbury Association.” The report was adopted.