HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2126, 18 April 1914, Page 12

HOCKEY.

Spectator;!

f NOTES & ANTICIPATIONS. pressing Prospect?. Nest Saturday will sec the opening of tho hockey season, and present metcations augiir. well. Firstly, the senior uout»sts promise to be keen, ami no few if tlian seven learns have entered. They prt: ■Wellington, Victoria College, karori, United, Government Insurance, Metropolitan, and K.Y.M.L Clubs. There is material enough in tta groitn to vouch for some fine stick and nali manipulation, the more so as several reputable players Iwvo come, to Welling' ton since last season,

Pfaoti.ee or—*-? Yet this alluring picture must needs fiwio out if p!nv<?rs ■&> net settle down to the serious work of practice. It is to be regretted that more players liavo not. So far turned up to the season's , preliminary. There is a. brilliant exception, however, namely the "Uiittod Club, and 3M> doubt, when fte season, opens, tho <rtW chibs, if they do not .haste to '"fa'tm their lamps, will find the redoubtable United too tough a proper sstioii altogether.

Juniors Beady. Turning to the. junwifs, we have a "baker's dozen" rcidy for the fray. They are as follow:—United (A sm& »), Kiibimie Anglican, ttutii VaMey, St. Augijstino's, Kbtoi-i., Insurance, vm<versity hi tm& B), Wellihgtoii, Mctropofitau, Pjrates. IJoro is promise of interesting itin-ior battles. Iu the thfrielase coinpotition there are altogether eight tdanis, viz.: M.Y.M.1., United, Kutt Volley, St. Augustiiio's., Insiii-aiioej Weslej. W*lUiKston (A, B, afid C), and JPijates. Bo altogether wo teve 30 teams?—an inariSase oi four over last y£B-r. .

English Visitor?, One thinp is to b'e. regretted, hqfrovor. That is that the expected, visit or an English team to these shores has not fnatoriatrse& Eio ad?<mt of si tcffitn ffow thoQld Country would* of course, be of kealculafiio benefit to the game here,/ Some blame the New Zealand Association for {mocking the idea on the head. Anyhow, tho' best .that we can hftpa for ntjw is that tiro English visitors will hb .battling ill eu* midst next seaeou, and this is tore than likely. Tha Tttipssts on Reserves, Bflf string to the j-iso in the price of the eity reserves th<i Beckey tion quite nattifaUv is jo|ntng in 'the clamant cry of other affected spofte ladies against thi*. rise , .. The increased ,cj>argES iii'o hound t6_ handicap tho finanies of tho association, t'ho tnoro no ns *he Bgfioeiation has had no ojjjkjTtunity of calling upon the different ekhs to help to nieet the unfprseeh .eontingeiicy, Tkt* association, fa of the opiii»n that no charigag should be made for at least six. months, go.that by nest season it may trovide financially to jnoet tho increa-sod demands. •■'■'.

To-dsy's Practice. To-day » full prafetice of ,sil, clubs is to be held on Earofi Par|c, jM\e ;6eroial of tl-ie clubs ttrfe pfajiiig practice games, 'fte Karori robreso.atiiMves «r« opßOsiijg. tho ildtfcjpolitai.i teani, ihe RuWmie teaiir is playing the. Pirates;, tTnrfced A and 'B trains are going to do Mtltej 'sb-'th&t if ma tire nfterftooii tiro spectator ili.<iiild be ab'io t<! form sonie sort of m ■estimate of the respective merits «f tlie , ' .different

TwQ. imUr CAitiis,." ' ■ Oft "Buster Moadav ' Jast two local (cams journeyed up north to pja* rival Wovinciaf towns. Too United Club returned With the iatetelq— A five goal to ihreo tint<ir : y Sgains.t Cartertoii, While the JLY.M J. team just lost to the. Otaki Clufe by the narfpw mo%iu of tivo soals to one,

Stiven-a-slde tournament. It is likel.v thai, in view of the tifiiMtat? camp early in May, mi the fcoiiseqnent i-iiaWlicy .of g number of pikers to engago- in the «rdin.&i-.y . champioftsliijj gavass, tbat ibe'se wijl not to played, but that., instead, s seyen-a-sido ioufnajjrieat Tv-ill take piece, fbe tournament will probably; be played, ■*& May S and &. English Lady Visitors, Nothing touch has been Lefird. of the ladies' teams as yet. It is understood, however, thai two iiew clubs }rayS been forrtusd. Tbo 'visit- <jf the,: English liidies'. team neSt July should dd a pfeat deal towards tfro advancement of the Raino for ladi-os.