LADIES’ HOCKEY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1940, Page 8

LADIES’ HOCKEY

WAIRARAPA GAMES HEAVY GROUNDS SPOIL PLAY ON SATURDAY. NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By ’■Bully.") Cold and threatening weather prevailed for the continuation of the ladies’ hockey competitions last Saturday, and attendances suffered as a consequence. In at least one instance the standard of play was also interfered with. At College, where the College and Greytown teams met, the ground was in a very sodden and sticky condition, and what should have been one of the fastest and keenest games of the season produced little to enthuse over. Many of the players found the going much too heavy for their liking, and there was an entire lack of sparkle throughout. Greytown won by one goal to nil — a goal which was scored in the last few minutes of the game —and the result was a very fair indication of the respective merits of the teams. Methodical Attack.

There was not a great deal of difference between the defence of the two teams, but Greytown’s attack was more methodical. Their forwards kept their positions better and showed evidence of good understanding and combination, whereas the College front line showed up purely as individualists, and were often inclined to hang back and let the player with the ball carry on alone and unsupported. Nevertheless, Grey town had their anxious moments, and here again Mrs Peterson proved her worth to the side. Although ranking as a goalie, she played as an extra back. Putting all she knew into her play, and hitting with vigour and great accuracy, she met nearly every attack just outside the circle; and proved once again that so far as Greytown are concerned, she is an ever-present help in time of trouble. Mrs Woodley also played a wellbalanced game at centre half —probably her best this season. Well Merited Win. Te Ore Ore scored a well-merited win when they avenged their first round defeat at the hands of Carterton. To score four goals against a team of Carterton’s defensive qualities is no mean achievement, and if “Bully’s” memory is not at fault, it is the highest, score registered against Carterton this season. Mrs Te Tau is to be heartily congratulated on her team’s success, as there is no doubt whatever that it is due to her coach:ng abilities and qualities of leadership that Te Ore Ore lias risen from mediocrity to its present very good standard.

The reappearance .in local hockey of the Ngatuere sisters also proved a great asset to Te Ore Ore. Playing on the left wing, Miss S. Ngatuere staged a real come-back and showed that she has lost little of her former cleverness as an attacking forward. The goal she scored was a real gem. Stopping a hard pass that went across the circle from the right dead on her stick, she flipped it smartly into the net. The whole movement happened in a flash, and left the defence absolutely standing. Her passes in from the wing were also good, and made the two goals that came off Mrs Te Tau’s stick look really simple. Miss R. Ngatuere played at centrehalf, and for the first time this season the Te Ore Ore forwards were able to keep upfield with a reasonable certainty that the ball would come back to them. Her hits to the forwards were well judged and restrained, and in defence she also proved herself to I be the possessor of a hefty wallop. Stubborn Defence. The Carterton backs had a hard day and on the whole acquitted themselves with their usual stubbornness. When they could get to the ball they were hard to beat, but the speed and accuracy of the Te Ore Ore attack led them into errors which they were unable to retrieve. The Carterton forwards can be given credit for little else than working hard. Nothing will run a team off its legs quicker than hard hitting, and Carterton pursued these tactics to the very end. Where short passing would probably have produced results, most of them preferred to use the long handle. An exception to this rule, however, was provided by Mrs Hercock (inside left), whose stick-work was far more restrained and effective, and whose possession of the ball invariably resulted in a good gain of ground. r Not Impressive. Excelsior had no trouble in defeating the College B team by 8 goals to 0. The winners, however, were far from impressive, the absence of two forwards and one half-back of their regular combination, no doubt, accounting for their indifferent display. To Play for Kia Ora Again. Kia Ora and Old Girls played a drawn game—3 goals each. It is understood that Miss B. Vincent will in future be seen out again with Kia Ora. and this fine player should do much to lift Kia Ora back to the high position they occupied a season or two ago.