HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 105, 3 May 1919, Page 18

HOCKEY.

Entries for the various competition!; close on Monday night. The draw take; place at the meeting of the executive or Tuesday, and the season opens on Satur day next. The annual carnival and seven-a-sidt tournament game 3 will be held on t_( King's Birthday as usual. Last Saturday saw a splendid mustei at Remuera, and judging by the keen ness of the players the prospects for the season are exceedingly promising. Tht Ground Committee, after spending i good deal of time in inspection, made several changes in the arrangements o ground.. Unforturfately, they were un able to add to the number. The mair playing area has been tra__ferrec immediately in front of the pavilion while several other grounds come undei observation from the stand. alter ation of the main ground is a step in thi right direction, as the match allotted tc it can be followed without obstruction o: view by the trees at the entrance end. To-day is tbe last opportunity for the .majority of teams to practice, and clubs selectors will require to choose .theii elevens before next Saturday. It is ex pected that the nunAer of entries wil easily exceed that of last year, and it. if mooted that nearly 50 teams will be seer in action. So far University have not actualh welded a team together, but they possess plenty of material for turning out at excellent eleven. Speight, Grice, anc Rennie are back from the front, and ai least the two latter .will play. Somen and Barman are in camp at present. The latter played some clinking games foi Trentham. Sinclair, from Trentham has joined University. Faweett, who re presented Auckland in goal, and Garland Waddingham, Clayton, Oaw, and Ahlers will also be available. Somervell recently considered matters and decided to contest senior honours In company with their old rivals, St Luke's, they should add further interest to the senior competition. In the second-grade the meeting of the Remuers church teams invariably supplied the outstanding feature of the day's 6port L. H. .Norton has definitely decided tc throw in his lot with Somervell, and wu play in the forward division. College Rifles .should prove a very tough proposition, as quite a number o: experienced players have thrown in theii lot with the collegians. Although the ranks of Areta have suf fered considerably since last year, *hej are welding together a team vvhicl should figure prominently. They expee to have a reliable back division, includ ing Hallam, Ellison, England, and Stain ton back from the war. Very little alteration is necessary ii the Mt. Eden team, and the selector: have no easy task in front of them ii filling the doubtful vacancies. Avery the goalie, is just out of a private hos pita], .but expects to be playing shortly Jarman is available, and King ha 6 alse returned from the front. Edendale are still busy filling v] vacancies. There is some dough t abou one of their best players, but the difti culty should be remedied, provided tha the matter is approached in the righ spirit. lt is pleasing to hear that Ponsonb; propose putting a senior team in the fieh this season. Although the club sufferei very severely through players going t the front, they" managed to keep goin; in the third grade, and saved the clv from extinction. This year they wil have the assistance of Holland an. Darby from the old Auckland Club, an. Crawshaw, a Wednesday rep. Collin and Snedden, who played before going t the front, and Steele and Kirk, two weli known members, are also available.