Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-18
ENGLISH HOCKEY
STARS IN ACTION
Visitors Engage St. Martins To-
day in Practioe-Show Fine
Stickwork and Speed
KITTIE LIDDERDALE CHATS

hoon at the Ihlladelphla CrlcKet NluD'
The st. Martins team. which ia in
reality the Philadelphia Cricket Club
second team. though playing in the
first division Of the local Hockey League.
is all set to give their overseas op-
ponents a good tussle, outclassed though
the local team Ia acknowledged TO be.
The English team, which has eight
international players and stars picked
from all sections Of England, had it's
| first workout at tho Germantown
Cricket Club yesterday afternoon. The
young ladies dashed OH the field lashing
out with their hockey sticks MS Young
colts leap with kicking heels into a
field Of clover.
Spirit of Youth
First to burst from the dressing room
onto the field. like tho spirit of youth
and JOY rampant. came Kittio Liddcr-
dale. acclaimed as the greatest woman
hockey player the world has yet pro-
duced. She is comey little maid with
sun kissed cheeks and her blond hair
made blonder by constant life in the
out of doors.
This wee athlete was dressed in the
uniform the English girls will wear in
| their matches here. Simplicity, you
might say. was the keynote. OF course.
they wear EN- short this year, but the
! English girls are wearing 'em shorter.
Their garb is q bright rod tune not
even approaching the knee. The open
neck and short sleeves Of their white
blouses peek forth from the sleeveless
tunic. the color Of which was chosen 10
! rnnresent tho English rose
The Yankee team this year will adopt
| the English style. Jake Gray. who is
euuipping the locals. had his women S
| designer on the job Yesterday and the
| American costumes will be out in short
order. II will probably no blue tunic
and all the rest Of it.
The English players wear shield on
| their heaving bosoms with the initials
of their team and tho English rose
couchant
Jolly Times
Miss Lldderdale va: shared away
| from the practice q few moments and
talked enthusiastically of the Jolly
time they expected to have over here,
"It was great TO be invited over.
she said. "We'vc only been here Il
day. but it's wonderful"
The English players don't go in for
training in the American sonse Of the
word. but they have their own way of
keeping fit. ,o, .o.,,nu,,
ercises every day" explained the little
star. Some days it was regular drill.
Other DAYS we did few turns at run
around the decks. We Just cat what
we feel like eating all tho time. no
regular diet or don't eat this and don't
eat that. With some Of us on the boat
It was dinner without and with
others it was dinner n th' puddin
she grinned.
hours and for the rest of It. they
keep in physical condition by their
practice. They go into it with a zest
and abandon that shows better than
words their love Of the game.
always played it, continued Miss
LidderdalP. "Started when | was ten
years old. The girls, play it in Eng
land as soon as they're abb" to lift
stick.
Eight Months Play
"We play II eight months in the year.
They play it in every school. then in
college and after that the girls join
clubs and keep on playing. ] 6" 10 the
Ladies' College. at Chotonham We
have $50 girls there. About 500 girls
play it at my college, that's all The
reason the other thirty don't come out
for the team too Is that some of them
have weak hearts, physically unable. or
else they are day scholars and have to
catch train too early. Field hockey
is our woman's national game there.
We also play Ia crosse along with 6eld
hockey. The other four months We play
tennis, golf and cricket"
Asked why she thought the English
players had the edge" on Americans.
Miss Lidderdale said the answer was
easy.
Because we have played it so long
and because we have played since We
we're girls eight months in the year
she replied. AT our college VIC have
five coaches. It's systematic training
that develops teamwork and stckwork
Experience in so many games puls us
on to lots of tricks not developed over
here yet. But the girls here are splendid |
athletes They learn so quickly and |
they are SO enthusiastic. y. dear. |
suppose We'll soon be outclassed in field |
hockey, too. But that s for the future.
Right now this international play is a |
wonderful thing for the game and it's |
great honor and pleasure to be of as
sistance,, to teach anything We know
anu 10 play Such good sports
Miss lidderdale said it was admitted |
that the English team was little faster
than the All Philadelphia team that |
went over there last year, "but not
much"
The Hip Turn
I'VE practice speed, she SAID. we
have way of turning, too, so that our |
backs can catch an opponent almost Is
soon. as she has passed Instead of |
turning on the hips, your players run |
around IN turning, lOosng time where |
we gain"
The English players have varied and
sundry tricks of stickwork our PLAYERS
have not developed They uso their
feet to back up the club in stopping
the ball almost continuously, turn the
toe down instead of playing with the
sole of the club on the ground and have
other clever stunts The best of these
Is actually picking up the ball with the
club. as one scoops tennis ball, wheel.
ing and carrying it on the face of the
club,
1T trains the eye" exclaimed Miss
Lidderdalo, 'and il often comes in
handy, if you. can do it. We picked il
up from the men. q, yes, we play the
men in mixed matches when they come
uoWu LOT tue uoIluhNH' ~ real sport
If they are good players. If they re not
skillful they're too clumsy and rough
for fun. They bump us with their
shoulders aud think nothing of our
poor shins.
Miss Lidderdale holds down the most
important position on her team, center
forward. She had good chance 10
size up the American team last year.
II think we were able to beat be-
cause they have not learned our system
Of short passing she explained THEY