HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 35, 9 August 1930, Page 22

HOCKEY

By "Stic/cm*

GROUNDS PROBLEM

GAME IN THE SCHOOLS

PROGRESS HINDERED

The Management Committee of the Wellington Hockey Association intends to take up the cudgels on behalf of those in charge of primary school hockey in urging that the schoolboys be allowed to play on the city reserves on Saturday mornings. The position this season has been that only Northland Park and the Pirie street reserve have been available for Saturday afternoon play, and it has been found almost impossible to play all the competition games. And the ground shortage is not tliu only problem. Several of the school hockey referees are themselves players in the W.II.A.'s competitions, and then obviously eatmot act as referees for Saturday afternoon games. Northland Park is stated to be unsuitable for hockey, so that.with a shortage of referees and only two grounds, one of them regarded as little bettor than a makeshift, it is no wonder that the school hockoy authorities are despairing of ever making headway. Certain it is that while the preesnt position exists there is no incentive for tho various schools to encourage more boys to play; rather will efforts bo made to frame tho competitions to suit tho grounds avaflablo, and this can mean only one thing, that some of tho entries will have to bo refused.

The reason given for the prohibition against Saturday morning play is that the grounds are spoilt for those who use them in the afternoon, but, as was pointed out at the Management Committee's utceting on Monday evening, in other centres school teams are allowed to play in tho morning, and the grounds do not appear to suffer to any exte-nt. Tho Primary Schools' Association is making a reasonable claim when it asks for Saturday morning grounds; there is no suggestion that any more grounds than at present will be required, but in view of tho condition of Northland Park it is hoped that either Tanera Crescont or Newtown Park will be made available, in addition to Pirie street resdrvc.

Speaking at tho Management Committee's meeting, Mr. E. Hardio Boys suggested that a deputation should place tho matter before tho .Reserves Committeo of the City Council before the season was over. "Wo have quite a strong case to present," he said. "Quito apart from anything else, we know that tho reason for tho ban on Saturday morning games is not because of any opposition from the Beserves Committee or the council, but because of interference from outside." And that has come about only becauso he havo been fair and above board. We havo entered our schoolboy teams as schoolboy teams. We know that the midget grades in other codes are nothing more or less than schoolboys, and they are allowed to play on Saturday afternoon. "

It was decided to approach tho Ecservos Committee at an early date.

Senior Competitions. The following tables show tho positions of the various teams in tho senior competitions: —

Wellington have been awarded a win by default in respect of the postponed match with University, and they are now on terms with V.M.C.A,

Five-a-Sido Tournament. The senior B competition will be concluded on Saturday next, provided the weather does not interfere with the iixtures The four leading teams who have been drawn to play off have only one more series of matches to play, but University A have already a sate lead and there should bo little of outstanding interest in the remaining oail i CS , There is a similar position in the junior grade. With the idea of giving players in both grades something to keep them interested until the end of the season, the W.H.A. has arranged for a fivo-a-side tournament at Karori Park on 23rd August, which will bo conducted on the lines of the Feilding tournament of 3rd June. Two more playing Saturdays will see the end of the third grade competition and the intermediates will also finish well befove the end of the season. Accordingly, the W.H.A. has decided upon Town v. Country matches in all grades except senior A for 30th August. For the purposes of thoßO trame's Hutt, Petone, and Karori are to be regarded as country clubs. Had it not been for the postponement of tho third Saturday, the senior A competition would bo completed on 30th August,' but it will now be necessary to continue tho competition until the first week in September. The closing-down of grounds in a few weeks will preclude tho possibility of playing the postponed fixturo between Wellington mid University, and as tho game was put off owing to the incidence of the inter-University tourney Wellington havo been given a win by default. Notes. Sneak thieves have again been active at Karori Park, and on Saturday ono player lost 35s from his clothes, which had been left in a dressing-shed. Several others have reported having lost money and tram tickets and other articles of value. When the matter was referred to the Management Committee's meeting on Monday night, the general opinion was that owing to the difficulty of detecting the thievss players who left money in their clothes had only themselves to blame. Tho Wellington Hockey Association and tho Wellington Ladies' Hockey Association are combining in a dance to b' held at the Oddfellows' Hall on 25 th August. A report from the West Coast states that tho Mawhera team are practising with a view to visiting Wellington hi Septombor.

Arrangements Are now in hand for the match between the Wellington intermediates and the Wanganui juniors to be played at Wellington on 6th September.

Senior A. - Goals Chji. P. W. 1a D. for. asst. Tts. Karori ...... 11 7 2 2 30 18 10 YM.G.A It 0 3 2 23 10 14 Wellington ..10 5 3 j. -; I< 1Hutt ... 11 $ 5 2 ll) 11 10 Wwloy'■:.... 11 -8 6 2 19 S2 8 University . 10 2 S 0 12 22 i

Senior B. Goals Cliop. p. W. L. D. for. usst. Pts. University A . 12 0 1 S 48 ■ 19 80 £?,,♦ \ 12 3 3 1 41 21 . IT Hint -i*. •••••■*■•* " *: _ Ol> O i» i i Hutt 1! 12 6 4 2 Sb 32 14 Wellington ... 12 5 4 3 -- " Wfslcv . 12 0 8 0 15 Jf li University B . J1 4 T 0 IS -g 8 ? ui ac.A.-:::: i; 5 i 'i » « i