HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12272, 16 May 1903, Page 7

HOCKEY.

A ladles' hockey club has been formed at Onehimga, comprising the good membership of close on. 30 playing members, and the assiduity of their practice and the keen interest they take in the game bids fair to make the club one —once the rules of the game are mastered and sufficient combination is secured among the players— be able to take a prominent part in inter-club games. Most of the members are novices at the game, but the few practices that have taken place under the tutorship of Mr. Popple (a prominent English player whoso services as coach have been much appreciated by the club) have indicated a marked improvement. At a meeting of the club hold on the ground (McLeod's paddock) last Saturday, the members adopted the name " Kohana" (Anglice, to strike hard with a stick) as the club name, and elected Miss E. Martin as captain and Mrs. Wcdderspoon as vice-captain. The club's colours are dark blue skirt and light blue collar, and have been uniformly adopted by all the members. Mr. M. 11. Wynyard is president of the club and Miss E. G. Browne its energetic secretary. The club practices every Saturday regularly on its ground, and attracts considerable interest in tho district. There is some talk of starting a men's hockey club in the town, but nothing has been definitely decided as yet. A practice match among themselves of the United Hockey Club will be held at their ground, on the Dilworth Estate, Remuera, this afternoon at three o'clock. In view of the forthcoming match with Thames a good attendance is expected. The University Hockey Club has secured a ground on that part of the Dihvorth Estate that lies on the Newmarket side of Mount Hobson (just opposite the corner of Remuera and Arney Roads). A practice was held there last Saturday, and in spite of the fact that the members received rather short notice, and many of them had not obtained sticks, there was a good muster, nearly 20 being present. All members are specially requested to attend to-day's practice, as the only way to learn the game and to acquire anything like a successful combination is to practice assiduously together. In all probability the gentleman the committee have asked to act as coach will take charge of the whistle this afternoon. During the week the secretary of the University Hockey Club met the secretaries of the two other local clubs to discuss the proposal to form a hookey association. As a result, a meeting of delegates of the various clubs will be held in the Amateur Sports Ciubrooms, in His Majesty's Arcade, at eight p.m. on Monday, tho 25th inst., to arrange all details and form an association. Each club is to send two delegates. It was suggested that a round of matches might be arranged Jatiu- on in the season, and it is almost certain that teams from the Thames and from Victoria College, Wellington, will visit Auckland shortly. Tho Auckland Hockey Club have secured the use of Messrs. A. Buckland and Sons' paddock, corner of Market and Epsom Roads, next to Rotter's Paddock, as a playing ground, and hold their first practice to-day. when it is to be hoped the full complement of members will be present. Tho club's membership is practically full, and applications are still coming in daily. Amongst the members are some old players hailing from the South, who ought to lend much assistance in coaching aovices.