HOCKEY SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22139, 19 June 1935, Page 17

HOCKEY SEASON

POOR CLUB GAMES AUCKLAND TEAM'S PROSPECTS COUNTRY WEEK ARRANGEMENTS The third and fourth rounds of the Auckland Hockey Association's Devonport Shield competition, decided at Remuera on Saturday, produced the poorest play of the season. The slippery and heavy nature of the grounds -was largely responsible. The No. 9 field was in, a particularly bad condition, and Mount Eden was unfortunate enough to plav both its games there. Although the Mount Eden players showed an improved combination, it is significant that they lost all their previous matches and yet on Saturday drew with Grammar Old Boys and St. Luke's, two of the strongest sides in Auckland. The two representative practice games were again of great interest, and further demonstrated that the most difficult task facing Axickland's sole selector, Mr. W. Newshnm, will be in forming a defence solid and fast enough to check the lightning attacks of the Indian forwards. It would appear that, there are few backs in Auckland who have the essential combination of sound stickwork and speed. Promising Forwards The forward line, however, is promising and already shows an understanding. Twigden, who played instead of E. Watts, at centre, gave a very good display. With plenty of dash and good anticipation, he impresses as a young player with a bright future. Hogben did not show to the same advantage as usual, the sticky ground rendering the : 'push shot," which he has so effectively adopted, practically useless. C. Watts was again in excellent form, and. if he continues to play with the same brilliance, his inclusion in the third test team will not be surprising. The Devonport Shield competition now bears a very open aspect, St. Luke's and University being in the lead with five points each, while Somerville and Wesley both have four points, Grammar Old Boys three, and Mount Eden and Papatoetoe two points and one point respectively. The Davis Cup championship will be resumed next Saturday, when the sixth round will be played. The University team, which will be in Christchurch at the inter-uni-versity tournament, has drawn the bye. A record entrv of 11 men's teams has

been received for the Country Week ! tournament, which will commence at Remuera on Monday. Fourteen teams, which is the largest numbej for some years, will take part in the ladies' competition for the Auckland Provincial Cup. A meeting of all managers will be held on Monday morning, and the tournament will conclude o:a Saturday week with the annual Town-Country game. Auckland, the present holders of the New Zealand Challenge Shield, will

defend the trophy against Poverty Bay on August 10. This is the first challenge match for the shield this year. First Test Match

The New Zeadand team, which will meet the All-India side in the first test on Saturday, assembled in Christchurch yesterday. The players will practise together all the week, and those who are again selected /or the second test to be held in Wellington the following Saturday will remain in Christchurch for training, crossing the straits to Wellington on the Thursday night. Mr. S. G. Holland, of Christchurch, has been appointed manager and coach of the first test team, but, owing to business engagements, he will not be in Christchurch until to-morrow, with a result that Mr. Newsham has been appointed to take his plape. Tho Indian players, who early in the tour complained of the cold New Zealand climate, have experienced exceptionally bleak conditions of late. Their game against the Eastern Northern Association, at Gore last Wednesday, had to be cancelled owing to a fall of about 7in. of snow. Several of the Indian players helped in the work of shovelling the snow off the ground in preparation for a scratch game between two local teams. READERS' QUERIES BOXING AND RUGBY RECORD "Interested."'Auckland, asks: Could you tell me if the light-weight boxer, Larrv Lasher, was ever knocked out in the first round of a bout at the Town Hall? —Yes; Lasher was knocked out 45 seconds after the start of a bout with Harry May in 1924.—Athletics Editor.

A correspondent, "Football," Kerepeelii, asks: the 1924 All Blacks an unbeaten team outside of New Zealand? 1 ' —The 192-4 team lost one match in Australia against New South Wales, by 16 points to 20. Three other games were played and won in Australia, and all games were won in Great Britain, France and Canada. —Athletics Editor.

YACHT RACING BOATS CHANGE OWNERSHIP The 25ft. E class yacht Elsinore has been purchased by Mr. A. Taylor, of Otahuhu. The, Elsinore was built by Air. C. Bailey for the late Mr. A. M. Carter and has changed hands on numerous occasions. When she was first launched she was a frequent competitor in the North Shore Yacht Club — now known as the Akarana Yacht Club—but of late years she has done very little racing. The well-known 16ft. S class boat Atangatai, lately owned by Mr. A. Newell, has been sold by Air. L. R. Matthews to Air. H. Ibbetson, of Point Chevalier. Built by Air. N. J. Inglis, of Devonport. over 20 years ago, Atangatai met with./treat success during her first five years of racing in the charge of her owner, who alterwards sold her. Since then she has changed hands several times. The launch Loew Victor, owned by the late Mr. W. E. Utting, has been sold by Mr. li. H. Wood to Mr. A. \Y. Powell, of Parnell. Loew Victor j was built by Mr. C. Bailey for his own use about IS years ago and was afterwards purchased by her late owner. A keel yacht is being built by Air. A. Yates, of Ponsonby, for his own use. She is 28ft. 'overall with a beam of Bft. The yacht has been planked and the deck is now being fitted. She will have 35ewt. of lead on her keel and will carry the modern Bermuda n rig. Her mast will be 40ft. in length. The 22ft. auxiliary mullet boat Primrose has been purchased by Air. A. E. Allan, of Remuera. T.ae 28ft. launch Alarina, formerly owned by Air. W. Telford, of Ponsonby, has been purchased by Air. A. AI. Hull, of Alercer, for use on the Maikato River. The 16ft. S class boat Tiki, lately owned by Air. 11. G. Ferguson, of Remuera, has been purchased by Air. «L Bates, of Mount Eden. The 22ft. L class boat Valrosa. lately owned by Air., M. Close, of Bayswater, has been sold by Air. L. R. Matthews to Messrs. R. ,A. and F. J. Ellis, of i'oiut Chevalier. It is the intention of her new owners to race Valrosa in the Point Chevalier Club.