GIRLS’ HOCKEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 111, 1 August 1927, Page 10

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

LITTLE GOOD HOCKEY

MUCH THOUGHTLESS HITTING No one could reasonably expect good girls’ hockey on grounds in such a state as those at Remuera on Saturday. Even so, however, a little more brain and less muscle would have reflected credit to players. Certainly it was difficult to maintain a foothold in fast play and the ball was greasy, but there was no excuse for much of the wild hitting exhibited. Take the Training College-Arawa contest. Time after time the College girls failed to follow up an advantage by allowing eagerness to defeat caution and thoughtless hitting would see the leather mulled in the circle. In this contest Training College had the better of play for the greater part of the game. It was superior in its defence, the backs especially playing a reliable game. The front line was also seen to advantage in several promising movements, though many broke down right at the circle through overeagerness and misdirected hitting. Arawa played a hard battling game throughout and only fell to superior combination. On occasions the team was seen in very promising movements. GREATER COMBINATION NEEDED Miss Walker for Eden could learn much by merely standing on one of the College sidelines. A heady player, with speed and a fair knowledge of tactics, her failing is that she often takes too much on her own shoulders and centring too late, a likely forward movement is defeated. Odds were mostly even in the EdenVarsity contest till after half-time, when Varsity lost several players, attracted elsewhere. Then it was practically a walk-over for the Edenites. Both forward lines were seen in some dashing and very creditable movements, though a considerable amount of scratch play was exhibited. Miss Cranwell played a splendid game in the Varsity goal. Miss Lawson was playing on top form for Eden. WILLING HOCKEY Play in the Somerville-Training College B contest was willing and keenly contested. There was not a dull moment in the whole game. Covered in mud and playing on grounds that were little better than a quagmire, both teams showed spasms of creditable hockey and fair combination was exhibited. As was to be expected, however, under such conditions, with players continually measuring their length on the field, ragged hockey was largely in evidence. GOOD FORWARD WORK Both front lines were seen to advantage in the St. Cuthbert’sY.W.C.A. contest. St. Cutlibert’s lost through uncertain and hesitant play in the front line, however. The team also lacked a certain amount of its usual combination. The star player of the St. Cutlibert’s team on Saturday was in the half line. Miss Lilworth played one of the best games of the day and, overcoming a tendency to rest on her laurels after a good move, should prove a worthy half. The Y.W. girls were seen at their best in the offensive, and altogether are a stronger and more effective combination than that put on at the beginning of the season.