HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 66, 19 March 1930, Page 17

HOCKEY.

THE NEW SEASON. FOREIGN VISITS CONSIDERED.' ' The annual meeting of the Auckland Hockey Association takes place on March 31, at the Chamber of Commerce. Despite the disastrous result of the Australian match at Eden Park, and the expense entailed in sending the representative team to Christchurch in quest of the shield, unfortunately unsuccessful, the association will not show the big loss anticipated. The whole question of international tours will be discussed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Hockey Association. At the present time information is sought concerning the state of hockey in the various countries. Perhaps the most likely to visit New Zealand is Japan.

There is some doubt about Eric Watts taking the field this year, as he has already expressed his intention of joining up with the referees. Still, it will be no surprise to see him leading Somerville again.

Rumours are afloat that Grammar Old Boys intend forming a club and entering a team in the senior grade. No doubt a very strong eleven could be gathered together, although some of the clubs would suffer. However, with Epiphany on the wane, there is every reason to believe that this addition would be beneficial to senior hockey.

North Shore made a bold bid for championship honours last season, and have every hope of putting in a better team this year. There is some talk of Chaplin, the Mount Eden versatile player, throwing in his lot with the trans-harbour crowd. St. Luke's lose Bay, who has taken a position in Dunedin, while Hookliam may not play again.

Ken Highfield, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Highfield, of Middlemore Road, Otahuhu, who met his death by accident, was well known in hockey circles in Auckland. Rising from the junior ranks, he was given a place in St. Luke's first eleven. From his first appearance he showed remarkable aptitude between the sticks. It was not long before he caught the eye of the selector and represented Auckland in shield and first-class matches. He was the most orthodox of the goalkeepers performing, with the result that at critical stages his efforts to defend the Auckland citadel were followed with confidence, and he frequently emerged from the ruck and booted the ball up-field. As a "buffer" to long shots he met the ball with the full width of the two pads, and many a forward was disappointed to witness an excellent shot rock against Highfield's pads. Being of a quiet and happy nature, he will be greatly missed on the hockey field, apart from his ability in goal, by his numerous admirers. His loss was a sad blow to his parents, who also suffered through the death of their only daughter a few years ago. In order to obtain grounds for the coming season, various sporting and local bodies have been approached by association enthusiasts, but so far no allocation has been made.

The ground question is still in much the same position as it was last year, although the association has given it every consideration. The lack of the necessary finance prevents anything definite being accomplished in the way of purchase of a suitable site.