HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 193, 9 May 1908, Page 9

HOCKEY.

[Br " Deiyer."]

Once more the cricket bat and tennis racquet have been laid aside, and the crowdsof men 011 the ferry steamers of. a Saturday afternoon, armed with formidable looking sticks, reminds one, if reminder'is needed, that the hockey season is once more "upou us,- For tho past few Saturdays member! or the various clubs ljare been vigorously practising- at Day's Bay .and Miramar, and. it is hoped that a start may be made with , the championship matches to-day. . Tho reason for this late starting'is'the trouble the Association experienced in obtaining sufficient grounds for all the teams com-: ■petmg. This trouble, has beep, overcome, however, by leasing several new grounds at Miraniar,' and obtaining two new grounds ' s Bay. The Association has' also obtained the use of one . ground at tho Athletic Park for the,season,''and Wellington patrons of sporfc will now have an op- '. portunity of'seeing a good hockey match every Saturday : afternoon within, easy ■ access of tho city. . Thenew departure should ,do an immense amount, of good to the sport, ;as hitherto air hockey has lacked in Wcl- ■ flington has been public support, and opco • tho authorities can-get tho public interested in-tho game it should go ahead by and bounds. 1 , ', . ■ . As far as , inquiries show at : this early stage,_ there is every, prospect .of a'-very in- ■ teresting season. ' Ono distinct cause for congratulation is.the numberiof •teams which have i entered for the senior, competition, as in former years there has been a decided • reluctance on the part of' leading junior clubs to try their luck, iri-the senior grade, witlr "the result that ,jn ' 1906 only four teams entered, while, last' year there were only five.'; This year tiere are no fewer than eight entries,^and:.'some very, good games. should be. witnessed. Naturally, "at this - early stage, it; is a very, difficult matter to ; get .any /, accurate. idea." of the respective • strengths..'.Vof the various clubs, but that l.tlibrcMvill bo some very, keen contests is 'obviptis:- United, as usual, are putting in a •strciii? team. This is always a hard team . ■to beat; as the players know the game,, thoroughly , and can generally be relied upon to. play with fair combination. ,'Pearson is once more turning out, and should iprpve a toiver of strength to his side. Karori, the .'. runners-up of last year, areig3ing to make a determined bid • for the coveted honour ' this' year. 1 They aro putting a first-clas3 "• team . ill the field, notwithstanding .defections. It is rumoured that Fulton is leaving the Wellington Club/ and throwing in his ■: lot with ..Karori ; if that is so, he should, ' as bully, add considerable strength to the forward line. x Victoria. College are also - putting in a good team, and are rumoured to have unearthed a good man in Monaghan,' tho well-known- Wellington cricketer.-.'.':' Little: ' is , known about tho other teams-asyet, as they, have: been , practising on their . own grounds at'Mirainar: ~o ' ; ,

f Tiio report and" balance-sheet presented, at the annual igeneral meeting of the As- • s'ociation hold on Thursday evening disclosed a fairly 'satisfactory .state'of affairs.'' The • bank • overdi-aft lias - been reduced from £25 6s. t'o £12 9s. ,9d... and, should .thiugs\turn , out: favourably,' this deficit should bowipod ■ off by : the end of the year. One of: the most' important matters before tho,annual meet--." ing was- tho question of grounds. The opinion is-strondy held that tho incoming committee should have been recommended - 'to- face it, not necessarily this year, but next year, b«:ause the matter will jhave to . be - settled sooner or later, and the. sooner tho better. A fnove in the'right direction iwas iriado when it-was dccided to-reduce tho members of the Management Committee to seven.' -This action met with tho approval '.of most of those present,' and it should ,be 'satisfactory, to; all concerned. . Tho Ladies' Hockey .Association..-havs - a ■'■ big'year-before them, and have been very hard put to it to find accommodation for . the largo number- of players. ' Hockey is finding almost universal favour/among tho . ladies, 'and is progressing in a remarbablo manner. The Senior Championship will once ' more , provide a>very exciting contest, and , among those that, know it-is stated .that tho r two : leading . teahis : last,, year , should once ' more be .seen fighting out- the! 1 finish, but" one " can never- tell,, as .hockey is - full of-', surprises.''-' '' -. :;The Wednesday, players, werei-unfortunate in: encountering badi weather; for what was > - to have been their opening'last Wednesday. ,-A good deal- of interest is expected to be takeii in' Wednesday hockey' this'year. The ' matches will commence next Wednesday. ■