HOCKEY (By "Sticks.")

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1914, Page 11

HOCKEY (By "Sticks.")

By the time this column is in print \ both the Wednesday and Saturday As- I eociations will have held their annuat meetings, and the majority of thp clubr> will have had their initial practice?. Bejond that nothing startling lias on« currcd in hockey circles, and the writer has not been able to gather very much information. But in his enquiries during the week " Sticks *' lias been struck with the general optimistic lone of everybody connected with tho sport. Take for instance the obliging and energetic secretai-y, Mr. 'A. A. Bennett. He has greaO hopes for the success of the 1914 season. Then there is the ladies' champion, Sir. Bert Manning. He says ladies' hockey is going to boom this jear ; that is he hopes so— as enthusiastic as ever ! The officials of the various dubs arc, apparently, all pleased at , the prospects. Not one has yet been | found to say that his team has not a ghost of a. chance for the champion* ship. The senior competition, it is plain, is going fo be exceptionally keen. Wo have already had a taste of what is coming in the exceptional activity to secure new men. So many reputation men have settled in this city since the conclusion of last season— -men from various parts of the country— that Wellington should be able to choose a team 'airly representative of Now Zealand's best. The winning of the shield should be easy if . Well, if the reputation iopd play up to the reputations they have brought with them. Hut will they? Tn the past, they have v.cry often proved disappointing. But "Sticks" is going to bo o>pthnistio with ihe rest. There is c*j?taiisly soffits ground for it. The senior championship tin's yea 1 * is Hoing to be contested by seven clubs — Wellington^ Victoria College, Karori, Mymi, United, Government Insurance, and Metropolitan. Mynii— "Sticks" hopes be is not burting any feelings v by writing the name thus, instead of i M. V.M.1.-— are newcomers, and take the place of Kymi. The club hopes to put a strong team in the field. The officials are optimistic. ' Mets." anticipate go> ing stsonger than, ever, and the same j may be said of Insurance. The Wellington eleven will be practically the same as last year, .with the exception of Vietcher, * new bully. Fletche* is one of the reputation men referred to above, and had he been able he would have re- i presented Auckland in tho Shield match last year. Wellington should perform well if they pay due attention to ! training. Victoria College will be the usual strong combination ; at least, this is apparent on paper. The St'racks will be available, but the services of Thompson ar>d Bnrbidge will be lacking. Thompson was a strong man, and last year The Post advocated his inclusion jui the "reps," but the idea did not cafceh on with the selectors. The writer has nob heard much about Kavori. The prospective United team is worth, a paragraph to itself. The senior combination has now been practically decided upon, and is much altered from that which was so unsuccessful last , year. For unsuccessful it was, without a doubt. Look at its record — played 11, won 3, lost 5, drawn 3. Nothing much to be proud of in that, from a team which once held the premiership. It is to be hoped that the changes will be for, the better. The team has bean practically chosen, but "Sticks" 13 not at liberty to state what positions have been allotted. The Selection Committee will be able to draw unoiu the following : Dwyer. M'Eldowney, Boyd (2), Lyons, Thompson (2), Richards, Stewart, Andrews, Clark, Rivers, Max- j well, Millar, and ErSery. Now, Maxwell is an Irish international, Stewart is an ex- West Coast representative, Clark has the reputation ot a Nelson rep., and Lyons has done well in Wednesday hockey, and lias also done service for Hawkes Bay. And there are others with equal reputations ! It is not unlikely that United will _ enter two teams, and thus do a-way with the necessity of a ( bye. Many players like the idea of a bye* It gives a rest occasionally. The Wesley Club is to be resuscitated. A. year ago they disbanded, and last season were not represented in any grade. TKe Wesleys are to be modest for a start, afcd hAve provisionally entered a third class team only. •It will probably take them some time to work up to the senior ranks again. It seem as though the lack of suitable Tefereos is going to be a serious matter this year. "I don't see where all the refeTees that will be required are coming from," said on© official. The situation will, it is. hoped, have a more satisfactory appearance afl sooa as the Referees' Association has got to work. So far, it is understood, nothing has been done to round up the forces. It behoves retired players, many of whom etill have tho interests of the sport at heart, to come forward and give assistance. Moral support is all very well ; it is duly appreciated ; but something more substantial wo?ild not go amiss. Each club must have a number of supporters who would willingly referee if the true, position was placed before them. It is a serious matter, and the clubs should realise this-. Ladies' hockey in Wellington has never made the progress it should, and '''Sticks" has been looking for reasons. Parents have not, of late, taken too kindly to the game as one suitable lor gu'ls, and Teally they are not altogether to blame. A girl has not the physique ou a main, and the association would do well to realise this, and postpone games whan Lho weather is unpropitious. Tho writer has semi girls playing in all sorts oi weather, and they have afterwards suffered severe colds and chills. It is no vjondsr that parents have a dislike ior the pastime. On the whole tho writer thinks hockey is a good game for girls if playipd ia the right spirit, and managed ■wißi idue regald to conditions. Moreover, a girl mu>t be strong and healthy ; 'M/horwise isbe 15 better a spectator. Now, there arc many strong and healthy girls in Wellington, and ladies' hockey should flourish more than it doc:;. Biit so many of the clubs seem to h&ve ;.. disli!<p. for new playevs. Jf tho iipacornel's are not going to be welcomed — 'a oil, there will not bf any newecrera, and that's all about it. The fact mur.t he borne in mind that the ranks of at least four clubs are closkl to outsidpi\<. These are Girls' College. College O'd Gi>-is, Victoria College and Pntonp. The Lift-mentioned is, of course, open suburbanites. It is understood that •Syieus have favoured a policy having far its object the exclusion of beginners, and perhaps other clubs have adopted tiic idpa. If s.o, they are committing su'cirfe. It amounts to nothing less than tKit. Tlip policy, too, sppms to be a vory se]fie3h one, and it warrants no rows.™!. As a matter of fact it won't recpi've any. A dub's very existence depends on new players, and if the girls would only adopt an open-door policy, and do a bit of hustling on their own behalf they would reap the benefit in a Vfvy short time. ' Accounts in connection with the four shield matches placed in Wellington last season show a credit balance of £30. Ten per cent, of this has been remitted to the governing body in Christchurcii. Tlip matter of grounds has not, yet been definitely fixed. The association expects to havp a fair sharp of the City Kprpl'vps, but tlif allotment has mil, yet, bmn niadp by thp council. It is practically certain that two grounds wi'l be required at the Hutt Park. vr. W. Pitcaithly, for three years secretary of the Canterbury Hockey Association, has resigned from that position, and a presentation was made to him at thu annual meeting recently. Air, 1\ Agar was elected to ftlj the vacancy (