May 1954

HOCKEY, 1954 RETROSPECT With none of last year's side available—Crosskill was unfortunately declared unfit for the whole season—prospects were extremely dubious.

However, in spite of this and the unfavourable weather, which cut the season by half, the 1st XI was beginning to show signs of promise when the time came to discard sticks in favour of spikes. Of the team as finally composed no less than seven were in their second season of hockey, so the narrow defeat by Worksop on their ground was actually the most encouraging sign of the term.

Originally an attempt was made to build up a side round six of last year's 2nd XI, but eventually only three of these—Bough, Nelson, and 'Macpherson—kept their places in the team. The backs, Crowe and Holmes, proved to be far too slow for 1st XI hockey and gave way to Johnson and Lapidge, who both played well on their only two appearances; Lapidge especially should make a good back, if he can control a tendency to hit wildly when under pressure.

All three halves had previously had only six weeks of hockey, although Macpherson played for the 2nd XI last year. He did not improve as much as might have been expected, but he was always reliable in defence. The other wing-half, Bulmer, took time to settle down in a difficult position, but he never gave up and did undoubtedly improve during the season. Mitchinson was a tower of strength at centre-half and frequently saved the situation in the circle with his good eye and powerful hitting and flicking; the demands of defence unfortunately prevented him from supporting his forwards as much as he might have done, but he should develop into a first-class player.

The forwards were seldom able to get into their stride for lack of good passes from the defence, but they did at times look quite dangerous. Bough was as good a centre-forward as any school could want—a player with a good hockey sense, quick off the mark and always ready to have a shot at goal, he would have been a matchwinner with better support. As it was, he was rather too unselfish to forage for himself, instead of waiting for passes which did not come.

Nelson, on the right wing, always looked dangerous but was too often starved—he, too, might with advantage have gone in to the circle on his own instead of centring orthodoxly, only to see the ball go straight across the goal. More use of this wing in the Worksop match might well have turned defeat into unexpected victory. Willstrop never quite fulfilled his early promise on the left wing, but it is a very difficult position and he undoubtedly has the ability to make a success of it with more practice and better passes.

The inside forward positions posed a difficult problem. Lewis, of last year's 2nd XI, was first tried at inside right but failed to provide the necessary mid-field link, so Bardgett took his place after two games.

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