HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 92, 19 April 1930, Page 18

HOCKEY

By "Sticks"

CLUB NEWS PLAYERS PREPARING NUMEROUS SENIOR CHANGES The Wellington Club is iv the happy position of having all last season's senior A players available, and, in addition, a senior B team composed of players from the two junior teams of last year will be fielded. Two junior teams and a third-grade will also be entered, making a total of five teams in the competitions, as compared with rour last season. This increase has been brought about by the large number of new members joining up this year, and the club appears to be regaining tho strong position it occupied some years back. - A practice was hold last Saturday, between thirty and forty members turning out, and training is to bo continued, us last season, in the Winter Show Building. Hutt Club. ' The Hutt Club's senior A team is expected to do well this season owing to a number of players of quality from other clubs having joined up. Nowcomeis, who will probably make theirl weight felt, are E. M'Leod, late of tho 'Varsity Club, and C.^Smallwood, from Petone. Both have proved themselves to be worthy of inclusion in any senior A team, or representative team, for that matter. In addition, the club will have the services of an ex-Taranaki representative and two players from tho Wairarapa. Tho majority of the other sonior A players of last season will be available to make up an eleven which should hold its own in tho competition. There will bo two senior B teams, as compared with one. last year, and a good many of the junior team, which won the championship, will be going up to tho B grade. A junior team and a third-grade team will complete the club's entries. Players, have been practising for some time, and efforts are also being made to obtain suitable training quarters, so that the members will be able to keep in tip-top condition throughout tho season. Karori Club. .As far as can be ascertained at the present time, all the A players who won the championship for Karori last season will be seen in action again. Thoy aro keener than over to get under way again, and should onco moro prove a formidablo opposition to the other A teams. Sevoral changes will probably be taking place in tho personnel of the senior B team, and these are expected to have the effect of strengthening the combination. Attention is also being .given to the lower grade teams, and only one intermediate team will be fielded in order to ensure a full muster of players ablo to make, a creditable showing. Training and practice have been in. progress for some time, and the club expects the teams to take the field in good condition. Several clubs have sent letters congratulating Karori on winning the championship last season, and this friendly spirit is much appreciated. ■ . Wesley Club. Notable additions to tho senior A team this year will bo Champion and Hookem, of Auckland. One or two of tho older players are dropping out, and it is expected that this team will do well in tho competitions. R. H. Boys has- relinquishcu tb.o' position of goalkeeper, and his place will be taken by the senior B custodian, Dykes. The senior B team suffers .through the loss of Seddon and Mann, w r ho havo given up tho game, and their places will be filled by Clarke from the juniors, and ananother new player from Hamilton. This team was the runner-up last season, and is hoping to do as well again this year. Tho club has been fortunate in securing about 20 new players for all grades, which has necessitated the entering of two third-grade teams. University Club; The University Club will this ye_ar be as strong numerically as last year, but on account of the exodns of senior A players will not be as strong in the senior A grade. It is proposed to' enter tho same number of team's—Senior A, two senior B, two junior, and a third grade. The club will, therefore, be dropping its second senior A team. In the senior A grade tho club has lost "Eddie" M'Leod to Hutt, and Massey, Vietmeyer, and Wilson to Wairarapa, whilo Paul is on the bank this season. Davis (in goal), Cumining (in the halves), and Simpson, • Mac Duff, and Lewis (in the forwards) are again playing, and Fraser,: who played in 1928, is available. Promising players from the second and third teams of tho club who are expected to fill the vacancies are Lucas and Button (full-backs), Robinson, Plank, and Bollard (halves), and Read and Mac Donald (forwards). In addition, the newcomers to the club include Paul, Keedwell* Dive, and Sandland (Training College), Wilson (Hamilton), and Bryan (Wanganui). ■ In the senior B grade the reduced second senior A team and last year's senior B team will form a nucleus for two strong teams. There are also several promising players in the junior and third grades who are due for promotion to this grade. The club will this year reap the benefit of paying attention to its junior and third-grade players. It is particularly strong in young and enthusiastic players who in the last year havo improved wonderfully. Theso players are all due for promotion. Several young players from other clubs, who are shewing great promise, will also strengthen the junior ranks of the club. All round the strength of the club should be well maintained, and the senior B and junior teams, in partciular, should do well. ■