HAMILTON HOCKEY

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20501, 18 May 1938, Page 12

HAMILTON HOCKEY

COMMENT ON PLAY PROMISING MATERIAL IMPROVEMENT 'ON SATURDAY (By "Left-half.”) A distinct improvement in play was the feature of the senior hockey matches In the Hamilton senior competition on Saturday, both matches being productive of bright, open hockey that reached a creditable, standard for so early in the season. Heavy grounds again proved a handicap, but not withstanding Ihe play was quite Cast and interesting. Inaccurate shooting and mis-liiltinc; with frequent infringements were faults in both matches, hut this is only to be expected at ihis lime. Hamilton teams would do well on improving their circle play, for none of the five senior teams is particularly -strong hi this respecl. The matches on Saturday were characterised by much wasted effort, the ball lime and again being carried down to the circle only for the whole, movement to lie nullified by miss-hitting or indecisive play. Hard and accurate shooting is what is required in the circle. Smillie Off Form When the All-Black goalie Smillie took the field with ihe Kaipaki learn for the first time this season lie was unable to give the outstanding exhibition for which lie gained so much notoriety in Australia. He was ■suffering from an injury jo Hie hack, but under the circumstances he displayed a splendid defence. Time and again lie came nut of his goal to use liis boots to advantage, but he could not put that vigour he displayed last., year into his play on Saturday. However, if Smillie overcomes the disability to his back he should find no difficulty in gaining a place in the New Zealand team to meet the Indians this season.

Aotea to be Reckoned With With two wins already to’ their credit this season, Aotea will have to be reckoned with when it comes to sorting out the championship winners. Their ranks include many old campaigners with a good proportion, too, of younger players who can supply all the dash that is required. It will be interesting to know the result when this team clashes with Kaipaki or Colts. In Powdrill and Hunter they have two versatile and dashing forwards who are always prolific goalgetters and who are good enough to worry any team. In the match against Tokomaru on Saturday, Hunter scored no fewer than 5 goals, while Powdrill had two to his credit. All-round Strength Aotea have few weaknesses, either in the forwards or in the backs, and they impressed on Saturday both as an attacking force and as a defending team. In Coonibcs they have a safe custodian who can use either his hoot or his stick effectively. Beale showed himself to be a safe fullback, while in the halfback line L- Jenkins was another new player who demonstrated that lie has plenty of experience to hack up his skill with the stick. Apart from Powdrill and Hunter, Hoff, one of the biggest forwards in the competition. showed that he possesses pace and that lio knows how to use It to Hie best advantage.

Hard-working Forwards With a line* of hard-working forwards, Colts had the Kaipaki team almost continually on defence, but in spiff of their penetrating tactics they were •successful in gaining only one goal. The lospts displayed a solid front to the attack, and it was in this department of flip game that, they shone, rather than when on the attack. Colts had several shots al goal and on almost every occasion the ball passed

just outside Ihe net. When in the second half of ihe gamp, Kaipaki adopted a more aggressive attitude, they could not bring their movements to successful conclusions owing principally to a lack of finish and rather faulty combination. The Boyd brothers played well for Kaipaki. while Ferrett was the most impressive member of the winning team.-

Not Encouraged Despite the fact that they had five goals against them at one stage of their game with Aotea. Tokomaru on Saturday never once let up and were not slow to retaliate whenever they had the opportunity. They were beaten by experience more than anything else, and they displayed excellent team spirit by the manner in which they kept fighting back after a very substantial margin had been established against them. Many of the players in the Tokomaru team have been recently recruited from junior ranks, and it was to their credit that they made Aotea fight every inch of the way. Puck, their young custodian, showed plenty of initiative on Saturday and stood up particularly well to Ihe fierce forward onslaughts launched by Aotea. his agility getting Tokomaru out of a tight corner on many

occasions. Speedy, Tokomaru’s winger. lived up to his name on Saturday, and his fast excursions down the flank sorely tried the opposition’s defences. Lipsey. a young player on the other wing, is a promising forward and he was usually well to the fore when Aotea's circle was being -stormed.

Team from India At last definite information with regard to the Indian team to visit New Zealand has corns to band, states the Bulletin.. The secretary of the Manavadar Association wrote advising that the team which bad been selected so far was a really strong one. Fernandas, Shahabuddin, and Hussein were all members nf the last Indian team in New Zealand, and also played for India’s successful team in the Olympic Games in Berlin. The others are up to All India standard, most of them having played for The Best aarainst All India. The letter promised that photographs and biographies of the players would he coming by the next mail, and also gave official information that the manager for the tour was Professor Jagnn Nath. M.Bc-. who was manager of the Indian Olympic team in Berlin.