HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 488, 22 April 1909, Page 6

HOCKEY.

The steady growth' and continued improvement in the prospects of the game of hockey in Wellington are referred, to in Clio tenth annual report of the Wellington Hookey Association.' The senior championship, it proceeds, had three : more teams competing than during the previous, season, and the honours wore wery keenly contested. Thore was. no doubt that the general average of play in the several competitions had considerably: improved during the last two years. Tho number of competing teams during last season were eight senior, eight junior, and nino third class.' The public also was evincing interest in the game. The prospects for the coming season'are better, than before, as, in addition to last year's entries, there are four, if not five-new Clubs seeking admission to the association. The matter of sufficient grounds'.has been partially met by the opening of'a new giounduit Da/s Bay, and tho .-securing of fpur grounds from tho City Council, ono: from the jKarorl Borough Council, and two from the Hutt Park. It was expected that two new grounds would have been available this, year at Day's ; Bay, but, owing to difficulties of construction, only one is ready for use. Last soason the assocla-, tion commenced' playing matches on the Atlilotio." Park, but owing to the Purk Company' selling out its interests to the New Zealand Rugby Union, the committee accepted the'sum of ,£3O from tho Park Company to break the' agreement for the season. Owing to this compromise the committee is enabled to show for 'tho first time, a balance-sheet, without an overdraft at the bank. •..-■•>.;■■•.

'Tho senior championship was again won, after a good contest, by the United Club, which club / lias now won the event every season except ono since the foundation of the association. Such a record has probably never been established by any club. The junior, championship, was won, for tlie second time in succession, by. tho Y;M.CA. Club. The Thorndon Club won the third class championship, without suffering a defeat. Four senior representative matches .were played during the season viz., against Canterbury (lost-by 3to 1) Wanganui (drawn 1 eaoh), Taranaki (won 1 to nil), and Auckland for the shield'(lost 2 to nil) The junior representative team played the Wednesday representatives, and won by i to 2 Tho thanks of the association are offered to Mr. WG. Garrard acting as tho Welling: ton delegate to the New Zealand Hockey Association, also to Dr. Faulko for a donation.to the funds of tho association. ",-The secretary and treasurer (Mr. W. E Pear son), regrets that 'ho will be unable to continue in pfhje. Mr. Pearson has held the position during the existenco of the association and ho will be greatly missed. V A practice match has been arranged between Gregg Men's Hockey Club and: >St Patrick's Old Boys' Hockey Club junior teams' to bo played on tho Old Boy 6' ground at Miramar, on Saturday, 'April 24. Tho following havo been selected to represent the Gregg Club:—Tinney, Wilkio, Mortimer, Bailey, Bennington, Hill, Krebs, Barnard, Schmidt, Benge and Smith. ' Emergencies: Cockerill, White' nnd Sclvulcnburg. ..,,-.,,' The Gregg Ladies' Club will play a practice match on the same ground at 2 p.m. .