LADIES’ HOCKEY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1940, Page 8

LADIES’ HOCKEY

WAIRARAPA ACTIVITIES SUCCESSFUL SEASON ASSURED. NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Bully.”) Despite the war. benzine restrictions and other disabilities, the opening of the ladies’ hockey season last Saturday gave very encouraging signs that the present year will be one of the most successful in the history of the association. Eight senior and eight junior teams have entered, and although some of these may perhaps prove to be a little below standard for a while, there is no reason to doubt that the keenness and enthusiasm shown will result in a big improvement before the season closes. A very welcome feature is the resurrection of both the Greytown and Te Ore Ore senior teams. Kiwi (Masterton) were unable to field a senior team, but their available players have found places in other clubs and will not be lost to the game. Hockey Booming at College. All the other Masterton clubs who fielded teams last season will again be seen in action and in addition to last year’s junior team. College Old Girls have entered a senior team. Hockey is booming at the College this season, two senior arid three junior teams having entered. Carterton also are more than holding their own, their entry being a senior and two junior teams, as against cne senior and one junior last year. Kia Ora, who had senior A and B teams last season now have one senior team, and the remaining club Excelsior, senior champions for the past three seasons, have again entered one senior - and one junior team. A Capable Committee. The association is very fortunate in having a very live committee in charge of its affairs this season. Faced with a complete breakdown of the junior competition and a serious interference with senior fixtures owing to lack of transport facilities, due to the benzine restrictions, the committee ■ was not long in finding a way out of the difficulty. It was decided to hire two buses every Saturday and by a suitable arrangement of fixtures it will now be possible for any travelling team to be conveyed to any point between Masterton and Carterton, and vice versa, at the very reasonable charge of Is for seniors and 6d for juniors. This is naturally a rather costly arrangement for the association, but its appeal for funds with which to carry it out is meeting with a very gratifying response. Any help towards this object from any supporter of ladies' hockey will bo very gratefully received. Referees Required. The association would also be pleased to hear from ex-players or supporters who would be prepared to act as referees. There is at present a bare sufficiency of umpires, and new members would be welcomed. The Referees’ Association will be only too pleased to' take amateur referees in hand, and assist them in every way to become thoroughly competent to control a game. Excelsior’s Easy Win. ffhe senior game at Masterton last Saturday between Excelsior and Te Ore Ore proved a run-away for the former team. This was only to be expected, as the majority of players in lhe Excelsior team have been together for the past three seasons, and have a thorough knowledge of each other’s play, while Te Ore Ore, being a new team, have yet to find the most suitable places for some of their players. Te Ore Ore should not, therefore, be disheartened, as they are capable of vast improvement. They have a really good goalie, who stopped many hot shots, but was overworked because the full-backs persistently speculated and missed instead of making sure of stopping the ball with their pads. Speculating backs unless they are luckier than they deserve to be, always make the path to the goal easy. The Te Ore Orc halves were also weak in defence, and frequently failed to keep contact with their forwards, who saw little of the ball throughout the game. Under Mrs Te Tau’s tuition, however, the most glaring of these faults should disappear. A Hard Team to Beat. Excelsior appear likely to again possess the best forward and half line in the competition, and being handily served by their defence, will once more prove a hard nut to crack. Even at this early stage it seems quite safe to say that the team that beats Excelsior will win the championship. A Willing Contest. The other senior game on the Lansdowne ground provided a willing contest between College A and Kia Ora. the former winning by 4 goals to 2. College showed more vigour in attack, and had a shade the better of things throughout. The playing of Florence Baird in the forward line instead of full-back for College this season, proved to be a good as she was one of the outstanding forwards in this game. Her stickwork and control were good, and having the pace to take advantage of any opening that presented itself she smartened up the College attack considerably. Call of Game Too Strong . Mrs Southey (nee Nancy Rutherford) has found the lure of the game too strong. She had announced her retirement this season, and made her debut as a referee in an early game last Saturday. Sickness causing a vacancy in her old team, she filled the gap. The team showed its appreciation by again making her captain, and it looks as if the Referees’ Association has lost a member. Postponement of Fixtures. Owing to so many players and referees wishing to attend the closing of the Exhibition next Saturday, the Women’s Association has decided to postpone all fixtures on that date. Stay-at-home players are invited to attend at the Lansdowne ground at 2.30. and if sufficient arc available a practice game will be arranged for them.