LADIES’ HOCKEY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1940, Page 8

LADIES’ HOCKEY

WAIRARAPA CONTESTS FOUR DRAWN GAMES ON SATURDAY. GRIM STRUGGLE AT GREYTOWN. (By “Bully.”) An extraordinary series of drawn games marked last. Saturday's senior ladies' games, not one of the eight teams engaged managing to score a win. Most interest naturally centred in the game between Excelsior and Greytown. The result was a draw —2 goals each —and with only two more matches to play Excelsior's chances of winning the championship for the fourth successive year are very bright. Not An inspiring Display. It is perhaps just as well for Excelsior that they have no more very hard matches to play, as their exhibition on Saturday was far from inspiring, and they were lucky to escape defeat. On the day's play Greytown were definitely the better team. Some of the Excelsior players were inclined to blame the heavy ground for their indifferent display and while it is no doubt true that they appeared to suffer more from the difficult going than did their opponents, that explanation does not altogether suffice. Well Coached and Trained. It was quite apparent that Greytown had been well coached and trained for this game, while the neglect of practice on the part of a majority of the Excelsior players was soon noticeable. As a result Greytown’s team work was superior, their backing up and anticipation being excellent, and their stopping and control of the ball both by backs and forwards far more certain. One can only ascribe the fact that they did not win to Excelsior’s ability to retrieve mistakes by superior pace, and -the vigour and determination of their defence. Well Marked. The Excelsior forwards and halves were well marked throughout the game, and as a result the former got less of the ball than they usually do. Not one of the forwards, however, showed anything like the form that was expected of them, and there was little sting in their attack. Mainly their stick work was below par, and their reception of passes very uncertain. On the occasions that they did get going, one or another would overrun the ball. Too Much Speculating. The Excelsior backs likewise did not show up too well. Miss E. Barnes was the only one who seemed able to stop the ball with any degree of certainty, and there was far too much vain speculating all round. The full-backs played far too deep in the first half, and .there was a decided improvement after the interval, when they kept more in touch with the halves.

Excellent Combined Work. The Greytown forwards showed a very good understanding of each other’s play throughout, and both goals came as the result of some excellent combined work. They owed much to good backing up on the part of their halves, who supported them strongly in attack, and were also good on defence, except for an occasional lapse in stopping the ball on the right wing. The backs were also sound, and a noticeable feature was the way in which practically the whole team rushed back and packed the circle whenever danger threatened. Extraordinary Incident. It was an extraordinary incident that led to Excelsior’s equalising goal. Time was getting short, and the Greens were attacking and Greytown defending with equal desperation. Excelsior worked the ball into the circle, and in her eagerness to save a score, one of the defending forwards snatched up the ball and threw it down the field. There was no option but to award Excelsior a penalty bully, and there was tense excitement as the two opposing players took up their positions in the circle. As the sticks crossed for the third time the defending player appeared to gain the initial advantage, but lost her footing on the greasy ground, and the Excelsior bully tlippeci the ball into the net. Playing Well at Finish. At the finish Excelsior were going a shade better than their opponents, and were fighting hard for another score at the final whistle. If there is one thing they can be complimented on it is their courage and will to win. To be two goals down on a heavy ground, and wiih their opponents playing like a book, would take the heart out of most, teams, but not for an instant did, Excelsior relax. Though they may be accounted fortunate to have averted defeat, all honour must be given them for the way they fought to avert! it. Capable Refereeing. The refereeing was in the very capable hands of Messrs Moor and Gallon, who gave every satisfaction to players and the great majority of spectators and officials of both clubs. Nevertheless a small band of youths of a type which unfortunately is to be found on almost every sports ground, took it upon themselves to reflect upon Mr Moor's partiality and subject him to insulting remarks. The Greytown coach, Mr Maloney, is certainly to be complimented on the way in which he dealt with the matter. When he became aware of the state of affairs he approached the youths concerned, and the words he spoke in condemnation of their conduct were worthy of being printed, framed and displayed in a conspicuous place on every sports ground wherever similar side-line pests are to be found. Trial Games. Next Saturday senior A and B teams chosen by the sole selector, Mr G. Maloney, and junior A and B teams, chosen by Mrs Te Tau, will play at Lansdowne. The games have been arranged with a view to ultimate selection of rep. teams in the various divisions. As is always the case, the selection of rep. teams brings some surprises, and there are a few in (he senior selection. In "Bully's" opinion the most remarkable is the omission of Miss J. Harding from either trial team, ft is

unfortunate that last Saturday's game, on which no doubt she was judged, should have found her below form, but certainly not more so than others of her team mates who were more fortunate in regard to selection. Saturday after Saturday Miss Harding has been the outstanding winger in every game in which she is played, and to pass her over completely on account of one slight lapse, will be regarded by very many followers of the game as an error of judgment.