HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15915, 12 May 1915, Page 10

HOCKEY.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The University Club will hold practices during this seasor at Victoria Pari: on Wednesdays. The firs', practice will bo hold this afternoon at 4 30 . . Final ground preparations, are now in progress for the cßicia! opening of the 1915 season on Saturday next, and if the weather is fine most of the playing surfaces should he in good condition, and a vast improvement noticeable compared with last season. A total of 35 teams has been entered for the grade championship competitions, as compared with -II last year. In view of the largo number of players who have gone to the front, this must be considered very satisfactory, and an indication that a, big batch of juniors will bo initiated into the charms of the game. Five teams have entered for the senior grade, eight for the second, eight 'jr the third, seven for the fourth, and cevon for the fifth, but possibly some of them will be regraded by the com- ! mifteo.

What in it that prevents more oi-p!aycrs joining the Hockey Koloreoa' Association? This is a question which is frequently asked, but one for which it is difficult to find an. answer. There are not sufficient referees to control all the (fames, which means (hat many of the games must sutler seriously in consequence Vet those plaveTß who retire after participating in games tor years which were made enjoyable or possible owing to referees' services being available, me loth to lend a hand, in their turn, oven for a single season. In the writer a experience the player who is first to growl if the referee fails to put in an appearance, or if decisions are not to his liking, is the last, to think of wearing the badge and giving a hand when his turn comes. it is purely selfishness which prevents many otherwise dosirable men from spending a season or two among the referees when their own playing days are over. The sooner players do a little more for themselves in this connection the hotter for the game.

PRIMARY SCHOOL NOTES. The school competitions will be commenced on May 22 at 10 o'clock- Entries for A and B grades close on Saturday. It is expected that Remuera. Edondalo, Stanley Bay, Grafton, Devonport. and possibly Mount Eden, will enter for the A grade, and Remuera, Stanley Bay, Grafton. Takapuna. and possibly Mount Albert and Mount Eden, in the lower grade. In addition to the age,limit of under IS on May 31. a weight limit M «>>■ imposed for the coming season. All j.layers -will be wemhed at 'her school, and all over 7st will be officially weighed on Saturday morning at Mr. Norton's office, 24a Swanson Street, between 8.30 and 10 o clock. The weight limit should help to oven tip the teams, and give the smaller boys a better chancs of gaining prominence. A primary school old boys arn ,, ha been formed and entered in the Auckland Association's fifth grade competition. A low subscription has been fixed, and opportunities will be given ex-primary school players, or present primary school _ players who are over weight or age. to continue the game. There are still one or two vacancies and any player who cares to join is invited to attend a practice match to be played against Remuera school at Remuera grounds this afternoon at 3-80. The team for Saturday will bo picked after this practice. the association is again . distributing hockey sticks this season to primary «cbocl teams at a nominal charge of 2s Gd each-

AUCKLAND COMPETITION'S. DRAW FOR FIRST ROUND. The draw for the first round of the Auckland Hockey's Association's competitions is as follows: —

SENIOR GRADE.

First Round: Auckland y. Mount Eden, Ponsonby v. Areta. University a bye. ' Second Bound: Auckland v. Ponsonby. University v. Areta, Mount Eden ft, bye Third Round: Auckland v. University, Mount Eden v. Ponsonby Areta a bye. Fourth Round: Auckland v. Areta, Mount Eden v. University, Ponsonby a bye. Fifth Round: Mount Eden v. Areta, ponsonby v. University, Auckland a bye.

SECOND GRADE. First Round: Auckland v. University, Mount Eden v. Training College, Areta v. Ponsonby. , r „, Second Round: Auckland v. Mount Eden, University v. Ponsonby. Areta v. Training Third Round; Auckland v. Areta, University v. Mount Eden. Training College v. F<n°Fou'rth Round: Auckland v. Training ColFourth Round: Auckland v. Training College, University v. Areta, Mount Eden v. Ponsonby. ~ , _ , Fifth Round: Auckland v. Ponsonby, University v. Training College. Mount Eden v. Areta, THIRD GRADE.

First Round: Waitemata v. University, Rovers v. St. Peter's, Imps v. Hobsonville, Mount Eden v. Methodist, Otahuhu v. Areta. Second Round: Waitemata v. Rovers, University v. Areta, Imps v. , St. Peter's, Mount Eden v. Hobsonville. Otahuhu v. Methodist. . Third Round: Waitemata v. Imps, University v. Rovers, Mount Eden v. St. Peter's, Otahuhu v. Hobsonville, Methodist v. Areta. Fourth Round: Waitemata v. Mount Eden, University v. Imps, Rovers v. Areta, Otahuhu v. St. Peter's, Methodist v. Hobsonville. , , Fifth Round: Waitemata v. Otahuhu, University v. Mount Eden, Rovers v. Imps, Methodist v. St. Peter's, Hobsonville v. Areta. Sixth Round: Waitemata v. Methodist, University v. Otahuhu, Rovers v. Mount Eden, Imps v. Areta, Hobsonville v. St. Peter's. Seventh Round: Waitemata v. Hobsonville, University v. Methodist. Rovers v. Otahuhu, Imps v. Mount Eden, St. Peter's v. Areta. Eighth Round: Waitemata v. St- Peter's, University v. Hobsonville, Rovers v; Methodist, Imps v. Otahuhu, Mount Eden v. Areta. Ninth Round: Waitemata v. Areta, University v. St. Peter's, Rovers v. Hobsonville, Imps v. Methodist, Mount Eden v. Otahuhu.

FOURTH GRADE. First Round: Ponsonby v. Training College. Imps v. St. Luke's, University v. Gordon, Mount Eden a bye. Second Round: Ponsonby v. Inrps, University v. St. Luke's, Mount Eden v, Gordon. Training College a bye. Third Round: Ponsonby v. University, Training College v. Imps, Mount Eden v. St. Luke's, Gordon a bye. Fourth Round: Ponsonby v. Mount Eden, Training College v. University, Gordon v. St. Luke's, Imps a byo. Fifth Round: Ponsonby v. Gordon, Training College v. Mount Eden. Imps v. University, St. Luke's a. bye. Sixtn Round: Fonsonby v. St. Lute's, Training College v. Gordon, Imps v. Mount Edon, University a bye. Seventh Round: Training College v. St. Luke's, Imps v. Gordon, University v Mount Eden, Ponsonby a bye.

FIFTH GRADE. First Round: Rovers v. Areta, Mount Eden v. Technical College, University v. St. Luke's, Primary School Old Boys, a bye. Second Round: Rovers v. Mount Eden, University v. Technical College, Public School Old Boys v. St. Luke's, Areta a bye. Third Round: Rovers v. University, Areta v. Mount Eden, Public School Old Boys v. Technical College, St. Luke's a bye. Fourth Round: Rovers v. Public School Old Boys, Areta v. University, St. Luke's v. Technical College, Mount Eden a bye. Fifth Round: Rovers v. St. Luke's, Areta v. Public Scl.ool Old Boys, Mount Eden v. University, Technical College a bye. Sixth Round: Rovers v. Technical College, Areta v St. Luke's, Mount Eden v. Public School Old Boys, University a bye. Seventh Round: Areta v. Technical College. Mount Eden v. St. Luke'», University v. Public School Old Boys, Rovers a byo.