HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18387, 1 May 1923, Page 5

HOCKEY.

NOTES AND COM ME NTS. The Auckland hftckey season opened on Saturday in fine weather, and matches were played 'on good grounds. The season has nommenced this; year a week earlier than usual, ; and owing to the fact that many players had only one . Saturday ■ for practice, the standard of play last Saturday must be . regarded aa . highly sat's'actory. The pace in several . matches, while maintained for the greater portion of the game, slackened off toward the finish in many cases. : The speed of the ground helped in .many cases to sot a strenuous pace, while in addition, all teams were eager and ready for solid play. ''-..■ The matches in the : senior grade ' showed that the contest for the championship .'will, be a stern . one. - There have :, been soma changes in the teams. University, last year's champions, have the same ■/back division as that of last year, but have three new rorwards in Torrens, Clayton, ana Fotheringham. The line consequently did not work together on Saturday with the necessary, understanding, and combination will have to improve if the team is to retain , the championship. The backs played a solid defensive game and cleared with vigorous For St. Luke's, Steele was moved into , the half-line and .Mills took his place at fullback. The result was a strong half-line, which proved a barrier hard .to pass. The forwards . played well at times and made some good runs. " The game itself was quite an even one, and each side had its fair share of attack. ; The . game . on the adjoining " ground was a»n- interesting one. . Mount en, .though, making changes in positions and having two new forwards, had much the same material as last year, ' but Areta, was practically & new team. Brinsden reappeared in -the halfline, while the forward line included players transferred from . Somervell. - Sweeney also returned .to . Auckland .hockey. The game was a fast and even ' one until half-time, 'the score standing at one' goal all. Areta seemed to go to- pieces on resuming, and Mount. Eden forwards, who wew playing a clever . game, put '""in ' three goals ' in . Quick time before Areta could recover. . The match ended in a win for Mount .Eden by 6 goals to 3, although it may be 3aid • there was not, quite the real; difference between ' the teams as might be thought. Somervell had a bye, and their appearance this week will be watched with interest, as the players, are keen and have been • practising strenuously. The Auckland Ladies' Hockey Association met last evening. . Miss Dawson ' presiding. Requests for amliation from Otorohanga. Franklin, and Tauransra were accepted. Tt was decided to play three rounds in both grades. The first draw for the season is as foi-l-owe :— / Senior Grade.—May 5: College A, v. Mount Eden, College B v. Arawa. ' May 1.2: Mount Eden v. College B, Arawa v. College A. May 13: Arawa- v. Eden, College A v. i College B. | Junior Grade, May 5: Eden v. College tA; College B, a bye