Hockey.

Southland Times, Issue 18840, 5 June 1920, Page 9

Hockey.

(Notes by “Circle.”) - " Although the match between Collegiate A. and Wynriham on Thursday was purely a friendly one and had no bearing on the competitions, it was of particular interest because it is probable that Collegiate will have to play either the Wyndham or the Gore ex-High teams for the Day Cup which is at present in the possession of the town team. There is always the possibility, of course, that some other team will defeat Collegiate A. in the local competition, but at present they are in the leading position and it appears from the delays which have already taken place in the fixtures that only one round can be played. If the second round is commenced it will be hardly possible to conclude it. The Winton eleven are Collegiate's strongest opponents, and when these two teams met early in the season, the play was very even. If they meet again it wit! be a most interesting match, but as it will be played in Invercargill the advantage will probably he with Collegiate. It is for this reason that the game between Wyndham and Gore exHigh next week will be watched with a great amount of interest both in the town and country. Although there were many bright, flashes of play on both sides in Thursday's match and the game was never dull or uninteresting, there were several faults in the play of both elevens which, if remedied, would make a considerable improvement to the teams. Collegiate’s chief weakness lay in the fact that sometimes the forwards were waiting too far up the field and with a few exceptions failed to tackle buck. Very often the ball was not passed to the best advantage and the players did not always keep to their positions. Some of the girls were feeling the effects of, the vaccination and it is not unlikely that this had something to flo with the slackness in their play. The Collegiate girls even on their play on Thursday wouud take a lot of beating and with a little more coaching would probably make the strongest team that has ever been seen in Southland, In the second part of the game they improved a great deal, and this has been so in almost every match they have played. The visiting eleven, on the other hand, played a far belter game in the first half than they did in the second, and for a time it looked as if they would win. They were passing freely and making good use of the ball, while the long clearing hits of the full backs often placed their forwards in a position of advantage. Unfortunately their forwards were a little weak in their shooting and were not con! enough to make the best use of their opportunities. In the second spell the Collegiate players were too clever for the Wyndham girls, who displayed a lack of initiative by keeping too much on the defensive and altering their style of play. It was; in the second spell that Wyndham followed the foolish policy of playing two goalkeepers. This in itself is an admission of weakness and is bound (o dishearten the members of the team which adopts it and have an exactly opposite effect on the members of the other team. The position from which the player is drawn to play in goal is also weakened and the (cam disorganised. Till old axiom that attack is the urscst means of defence is certainly true in hockey, and as a sound defence is needed to allow a team to attack, it is not a wise plan to weaken it by placing an extra player in goal where the defence is only a temporary one.

Some referees are inclined to be a little ton lax in (heir rulings for off-side an. - ! obstruction, and while it sometimes spoils a panic to always be stopping, the play for penalties, it is often the only way to make the players understand the rules. On several occasions on Thursday breaches of the off-side rule were allowed to pass, while obstruction was a common fault. In representative matches the rules have to he closely adhered to, and the team which fails to observe them is placed under a bitr handa"

The oitl.-iandinp feature of the match was the play of Miss H Islop. Collegiate’? centre •forward, who proved to be far (on clever for the opposition placed against her. Some of her peals were (he outcome of brilliant play, and her first goal was- partieulaily so. S'-eurinp the ball from the bully she took it down on her oyn and scored without an opposin'!; player having touched ihe ball. She is a wonder pill at hockey, and once given an oppmnn ty >lre seldom make? a mistake. In the last four matches in which she has played she has score! no fewer than 20 goals, which is probably a record for any player in Southland.

Miss Habbidpe and Mi s (Tulward at inside right mid tight wing hail a day off and did not play so well a? usual. Miss Habbidge sometime? left her position ami .Miss Godward hail to come in to take (he ball when her inside right should have done so.

On the opposite wing Miss Kilby and Mb? Dav;s did a lot of useful work and tedder! back whenever possible. They weie, prrhays, given rather too much to do and it would have been better if the ball h-< 1 been se.m out to tire right wing a little more often. Miss Dev. centre-half, was a very busy young lady right through the game, and she worried the Wyndham forwards considerably. She kept In her position very well and although site does not hit the hall \ ery hard she usually manages to place it wb n r? it will be of the most use to her fo-wards. Miss M-Gill at left fullback, was in ex •'■client form, and her e! an lulling saved her side on many occasions Miss r ndk,v also played soundly anil made few nvMnko?. Mis? Oben did not do a freeze in poai as in the previous match, and stopped some very hard ?hots. Mis- Martin. Wynr!ham's centre forward, played a pood game, and did some poo-1 shootinp at goal. On occasions, however, .-he appeared to be Hurried and once, when she had a clear opening, failed to score by being a little too anxious. She is very fast and clever with her stick and passes out well.

Mis? Alexander at inside-right worked very hard, and played really well except that she obstructed rather much. All the Wyndham hrcks played a solid game in the first half, bur in the second spell failed badly and had seven goals registered against them.

The ladies have only a little over a fortnight. in which to complete the arrangements for their carnival. and it is n"ces•■rv that they should -til rake a keen interest in all that has to bp done . The management of the Albion Picture Theatre have offered to give 4, he ladies a picture benefit, and the offer has been gladly accepted. Tickets have been printed and should meet with a ready sale. As the carnival is being held as much for the benefit of the country clubs as for the local ones, thev should also do everything possible to assist. Mr G. G. Hamilton, Gore, is an enthusiastic supporter of field sports'. A valuable silver trophy donated by him is annually competed for by the bowling clubs of that town. He also presented Eastern District Rugby S.U. with a fine silver shield, for competition between the first-grade teams under that body’s jurisdiction; but, unfortunately, this trophy was destroyed by fire about i2 months ago. A third illustration of Mr Hamilton’s practical and kindly interest in clean sport is now afforded by that ■mtlemen : " <: r -t'ng to the executive of Eastern Dirt riel Ladies’ Hockey S.U. his

intention of giving a handsome silver cup for annual competition among the associated teams. This beautiful trophy has as its base an ebony plinth; and the cup, 15 inches high, * is elegantly designed, with gold chasing. Generous patronage such as wo have here instanced should stimulate the healthy interest that is already being manifested in E.D.I.H. circles.—Wyndham Farmer.