HOCKEY.

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 171, 7 April 1923, Page 18

HOCKEY.

(By

“Right-Half.”)

’Varsity has decided to put in three teams if possible. It is rumoured that this club will gain by the accession of three good players. Wanganui seems to be a good deal later in starting than Wellington. Tho grounds there aro not cut for play yet. Wanganui enthusiasts are looking forward to a return visit by a Wellington team this season, which would certainly be an excellent thing, if financial conditions did not interfere.

Whatever has happened to the men’s Ramblers’ team, tho ladies’ teams are looking forward to a good season’s hockey. The teams are uncertain yet. but some of the old players are sure to turn out. Miss May Wilkins, the right wing, has been doing a good deal of running the past season, and should be in fine form, while MissM. Williams, the bully, has also had plenty of tennis, and should be fit. Mbs S. Simon, full-back last year, is going back ta her old and favourite position of centre half. The captain of the club will probablv be Miss L. Dick, who will play left half. She was last year’s goalie in the rep. team. The finance of the club is not so good ns last year, but it is hoped not only tp retrieve this, but to help the general finance also by a variety of enterprises. The B team may be entered as a junior team this season. What the ladies need is one or two willing men to coach and otherwise assist them in their progress. Amongst the many players who talk ot turnm:’ in the active part this year there should be some who would take this on for the good of the game. E. Harris, the well-known full-back for Huia, has been transferred to Hamilton. He will be a considerable loss to his club, and to the . game, as he took an active interest in all departments of hbekey, and was always in the selectors’ eyes when tho rep. teams were being considered. The Hutt Club has succeded in getting Ring, an old West Coast rep.. who will play centre forward. The team will be:—Smith, R. Lusty, Ring. Melvin. Slater, Thorpe, Webley, James. F. Lusty, G. Lusty, and. Harvey. Hutt will play four teams this year—a senior, two juniors, and a third grade. The grounds difficulty will present no trouble this season, its the council is doing all that is asked.. R. C. Lee, » competent trainer, is giving his services gratis in training the Hutt team this year, and the effect should be noticeable. , , , Wellington United has a good team this season, and there should be no chance of the same position as last year, when it was obliged to pull put after a good start owing to the scarcity of membensbip. This oldest of Wellington teams has got Les Boyd, Emery, and Richards, tho welMcnown representative trio, and a London player, who is said to be a good man with the stick. -x j At the annual meeting of the United Club the chairman, Mr. W. Organ, remarked that if the visit of the English team eventuated, he did not think that the New Zealanders would havo much to learn from them. “I have seen the English teams play,” said Mr. Organ, “apd I have been in touch with New Zealand hockey for years, and having seen both I do not anticipate that the Dominion’s players will learn a great deal from the visit.” It seems as though ladies’ hockey was to get a. good lift this year- Nearly all the clubs are putting teams in practice to-day, and there seems n prospect of more cohesion and united effort in the interests of tho game than last year. . . The meeting of the association cleared up the matter of representation. Wakatn’s motion was lost- in fact, few of those present seemed to have any fancy for the proposal that each club should have one representative on the Management Committee. The reasons advanced against the innovation were several. It was urged that the single representative would bo more likely to consider the interests of his club than those of hockey gem erally; that the committee would, with the growth of hockey, become too unwieldy ; thaib the interests of the game would be equally served by the present system. The meeting was a very satisfactory one, and did much to clear up misunderstandings, which ? undef the new committee, aro unlikely to occur again. . The resignation of L. Butcher from the Huia Club will make a gap in its membership that will be felt, as he was one who spared no effort to keep the club in good working order. The fact that ho has decided to. retain the secretaryship of the association is a matter for congratulation as he had the whole of its affairs well under his control, and gave a good deal of his time to the work. The amount of correspondence is considerable, and in view of Mr. Butcher’s own work, he will be obliged to devote much of his leisure to it. At the annual meeting a warm tribute was paid to his past services, and regret was expressed that the state of his health prevented him from continuing the game actively. Reference was also mado to the excellent work done by Mr. W. G. Morpeth, the retiring chairman, over many years for hockey, and his decision to carry out the duties of treasurer will keep in close touch with the game one who has done much for it.