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Hockey, 1952
from May 1952
by StPetersYork
RETROSPECT
The main objectives of our inevitably short Hockey season are to give boys some idea of the game before they leave School, and to enable as many boys as possible to enjoy their hockey. Despite a blank fortnight, due to frost and a little snow, we can reasonably claim to have attained our aim. When we come to consider the play of the teams which represented the School, there are some facts which are very clear. The School team created one record, which may be unique, in that the same team played in every match. Changes were contemplated on occasions, but none was ever made. This is not altogether an enviable distinction, since it might well imply a lack of talent; but the team did very largely choose itself; and the last fortnight, to which reference has already been made, deprived us of the very games in which experiments might have been made. Faced with matches against other
Schools without sufficient time to prepare, it was thought best to try to weld the selected side into a team rather than chop and change it.
As a fact we never quite reached our objective. We started off well enough, and early in the term the team looked more like a team than for several years past. Then came the fortnight's break, and we missed two matches we sorely needed, especially that against Styx, and we never really recovered. The team never "clicked". On some days the defence looked safe and well-organised, with backs and halves having a good understanding, only to find the forwards quite out of touch. On other days the reverse happened.
The team was never all at its best together. They could play good hockey, but far too often failed to reach their own best standard.
The failings of the side were clear enough. They seldom hit the ball hard enough : and that was due, in part at least, to an inability to get the ball under control quickly; and a habit, which persisted through every disaster which it caused, of giving the ball at least one entirely unnecessary tap, so losing valuable time. The second eleven had only three matches—two were cancelled— and though energetically led by Rigg, had only one success—against
Bootham School—to their credit. • It is said that the secret of golf is "a youth spent golf club in hand". The same might be said of hockey : and those who will be back at School next year are strongly advised to get as much hockey practice as they can before term begins. Greater proficiency means greater enjoyment. 53
Wed., 23rd Jan. v. Waterloo Battalion, Fulford Sat., 26th Jan. v. Mansfield Youth Club Sat., 9th Feb. v. A. E. R. Dodd's XI
Wed., 20th Feb. v. Scarborough College
Sat., 23rd Feb. v. York H.C. Wed., 27th Feb. v. Bootham School Sat., 1st Mar. Wed., 5th Mar. v. Worksop College (away)
2nd XI MATCHES Sat., 16th Feb. v. Bridlington School 1st XI Wed., 22nd Feb. v. Bootham School (away) ... Wed., 5th Mar. v. Worksop College (away)
Won 3-1 Won 4-0 Lost 1-2 Won 4-0 Lost 0-3 Won 3-0 Lost 2-5 Lost 1-3
Lost 2-4 Won 3—I Lost 1-3
CHARACTERS E. A. M. REM-SMITH !(Gool). He has the right attitude of mind for a goalkeeper; and, although his positioning was sometimes at fault, he played consistently well and gave a sense of security to his backs. Runs out well and can kick well. J. T. ANKERS (Left Back), Capt. He never quite fulfilled his promise of last year, and lost some of his quickness and some of his confidence. But he was the mainstay of the defence and made an admirable Captain who always knew his own mind. P. D. F. JAMES (Right Back). An entirely new position to him which he filled, on the whole, admirably. He can hit very cleanly and when he learns not to rush his tackles and to pass at the earliest possible moment, he should make quite a good back. D. I. FLETCHER (Left Half). He never quite fulfilled last year's promise. His defence was good and he found an admirable understanding with Ankers and on occasions stopped up gaps in the defence very well. But his attacking powers are limited, and our left wing attack suffered from this. S. J. WHrrE (Centre Half). Again his defence was admirable, and he worked hard all through the season. But he so often spoiled his work by not hitting the ball hard enough, and so having many passes meant for his forwards intercepted. A very keen hockey-player who certainly never let us down. A. T. BOOTH (Right Half). A promising player who must learn to get the ball under control, and so get his passes in more quickly; and also to feed his own wing better. If he can learn those necessities, and it only requires constant practice, he should be good. G. B. PULLAN (Outside Left). For reasons already indicated, he was never given enough chances. He can dribble, and centres well as a rule. He filled a very difficult position quite well. M. J. WOOD (Inside Left). With better ball control and greater quickness in making up his mind what he wants to do he will be a most useful inside forward. This season he was too variable, and yet at his best he showed distinct promise. A. N. WYATT-GUNNING (Centre Forward). His quickness off the mark makes him dangerous to almost any defence; but he cannot yet keep the ball near enough to his stick to make the most of his speed. He is apt to
be selfish, and spoiled much of his shooting by lifting his head at the critical moment. A real trier.
J. E. FAWCETT (Inside Right). At his best he looked the best hockey player on the side. But he spoiled so much of his play by unintelligent distribution of passes. He needs more dash, and must not be so easily thrown out of his stride. J. M. RAYLOR (Outside Right). The best forward on the side on this season's showing. He has speed, can centre, and occasionally cut in to the circle very well. He scored some good goals by good positioning for a cross-pass from the left wing.
SCHOOL v. MR. A. E. R. DODD'S XI Played at home, 9th February. Lost 1-2.
This game took the place of the Scarborough H.C. fixture unavoidably cancelled, and it was the side's first experience of club hockey. The pace took us by surprise at the start and the School were two goals down in the first five minutes. After this, however, the defence became much tighter and during the second half generally seemed to have the measure of the opposing forward line. Here, however, its effectiveness ended and a large gap in mid-field, caused by the defenders hanging too far back, made combination between backs and forwards very difficult. Even so the School attack gave a disappointingly unimaginative display and passes all too frequently went straight to an opponent. Wood scored in reply to goals by Rigg and Hutchinson.
SCHOOL v. SCARBOROUGH COLLEGE Played at home, 20th February. Won 4-0.
On a wet pitch and under rather dismal conditions the more orthodox School side seldom looked like losing to a team which played with enthusiasm but lacked cohesion. Only on a few occasions, when first-time hitting caught them on the wrong foot, did the defence seem to be in trouble. Nevertheless this was not a very heartening display and the School forwards missed several excellent scoring chances through hesitancy in the circle. The approach work was occasionally good but we tended on the whole to allow our opponents' lack of co-ordination to upset our own teamwork. Goals were scored by Gunning (2), Fawcett, and Wood.
SCHOOL v. YORK H.C. Played at home, 23rd February. Lost 0-3.
Ironically enough, although this was our heaviest defeat, it was undoubtedly the best all-round performance of the season. The defence looked sound and even at times achieved a certain amount of poise, and Reid-Smith was a very competent goalkeeper (one, at least, of the goals scored against us was a rather fortunate affair). The forwards, ably supported by an energetic half-back line, combined well and engineered several excellent movements, and with more
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thrust and confidence might have got several goals. The right wing (Fawcett and Raylor) were often prominent, if a little inclined to be stereotyped in the pattern of their play, and the latter put across some fine centres. Gunning at centre forward tended to hang rather too far back to make adequate use of these, but he was not fed by his inside men as frequently or as intelligently as he might have been.
Nevertheless this was, on the whole, a most encouraging display.
SCHOOL v. BOOTHAM SCHOOL 4
Played at home, 27th February. Won 3-0.
The early play was even and rather uneventful, neither defence being really extended. Towards the end of the first half, however, the School forwards quickened the tempo and their attacks became more sustained until, two minutes before half-time, Gunning scored with a good shot from a short corner.
After the interval the School forwards were continuously on the attack, and Raylor, well supplied with passes, looked particularly dangerous and sent across some very good centres. The inside forwards were too slow in the circle : but another goal had to come and from Raylor's centre Fawcett drew the goalkeeper and Gunning scored. The third goal also came from a centre of Raylor's, which Fawcett converted with a good shot.
The School looked the better of two not very good sides. The defence was sound, while the forwards—though they should have scored more goals—looked more penetrative than the Bootham forward line, and were more than a match for the Bootham defence, despite a good display by one of their full-backs.
