HOCKEY SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19929, 24 April 1928, Page 16

HOCKEY SEASON.

OPENING ON SATURDAY NEXT PRACTICE GAMES AT REMUERA. CHANGES IN SENIOR ELEVENS. All nominations of loams must be in the hands of the secretary of the Auckland Hookey Association, Mr. E. J. Hewitt, by 2 p.m. to-day. They will he considered at a meeting of the executive this evening. At the time of writing, there is little evidence of change in the numerical strength of the senior ciubs, and tlie majority of them will enter the same number of teams as they had last year. Somerville has good prospects of being able to put five elevens in the field, hut on Saturday the grading of the three junior teams was uncertain. In addition to its two senior teams, University will probably have only one second grade and two third grades. The grounds are not marked out yet, but otherwise were in excellent condition for practices at Remuera on Saturday. The weather was favourable, and the sports ground presented a very lively scene.

Somerville players were out in full force, and had a very useful practice. Two losses from the senior team are H. Roberts, tho fullback, who is not available in the meantime on account of illhealth, and A, Rogers, who has gone to settle in Canada. In the colts team there are four vacancies to be filled. The club has had added to its strength D. Munro, right wing for last year's Grammar School seniors, who will fill one of tho vacancies in the senior forward lines, and C. Smith, also of Grammar School firsts, who will occupy a back position in one of the senior teams. University Men Keen. University men of all grades were obviously keen at their practice, and some attractive play was seen, when the two best, teams were picked for a game. The senior team will have to be largely reconstituted. Miller and Greenbank are absent from the forwards, Leonard and Barrett from the half-line, Hnme from the fullback position, and Steen will not be playing in goal. However, (here is a lot of good material coming forward from the Training College, the Grammar School and the club's own junior grades, and it is not expected there will be any fallingoff from last year's standard. St. Luke's is not now to Have the benefit of J. Fitt's services, as he is leaving Auckland for Hamilton. There are a number of vacancies in the seniors which will allow juniors an opportunity to show their mettle.

Mount Eden had a good practice on Saturday, but Areta, Epiphany and Wesley were not impressive in numbers or smartness of turnout. The new North Shore Club did not practice at. Remuera, The membership of the Referees' Association, to which the game owes so much, has now reached 40, double the membership of three years ago. Many of the members have passed the examination with credit. Ladies' Tournament for Auckland. Auckland lady hockey players were told at their annual meeting that there is a very good chance of their having the Dominion tournament here this season. For several years past they have applied for it without success. It is understood the system of billeting visiting players is to be done away with, and this will, of course, simplify matters very much for those managing the tournament here. Disappointment with the result —or lack of result—from representations made by the deputation to the City Council's Parks and Reserves Committee is felt, by the Ladies' Hockey Association. The need for a girls' sports ground was strongly urged on the committee, and various suitable localities were inspected; but the bright promises given by members of the committee have not so far materialised, says the annual report of the Ladies' Association.

The Ladies' Association has had a rule book compiler! and printed, and 1200 copies will shortly bo available for distribution free. The cost of the production is being met by the advertisements accompanying it. In future, there should be no excuse for players being unacquainted with the rules of the game. During the last five years the number of local teams in ladies' hockey has grown from three to eleven in the junior division, and from four to eight in the senior division; and this in spile of the fact that during the last three years at least applications for entry from new clubs and teams have had to be discouraged because of ground shortage. After having cause for complaint for some years past the Auckland Ladies' Hockey Association is now very well satisfied with its relations with headquarters. Last year saw a satisfactory change in the attitude of the central body toward the Auckland Association, which has now nothing but praise for the Now Zealand Association's "very live secretary." SPORT OF CYCLING. RACING AT MANGERE. The brilliant finishing effort of J. H. Wade was a feature of the Manukau Amateur Cycle Club's 22-miles road race held at Mangere on Saturday. As in the opening race, a big field of 35 riders competed. The competitors experienced considerable difficulty in avoiding straying cattle. F. Taylor set a good pace from the outset, which 8. Baird and H. Dwigiit carried on at different, stages. Wade and Whitten, the scratch men, were together for most of the journey and both rode hard, well-judged races. In the sprint to the finishing line, Wade, displaying a brilliant turn of speed after a strenuous ride, beat Whitten by several lengths. The winner's time, 59m 9s, was especially good, being only 3s outside of the course record.

By his success, Wade gave no evidence of the impression that he was suffering from the effects of a strenuous season. In fact, ho fairly »revelied in his riding. The handicapper's judgment in placing Whitten on the scratch mark with Wade provided a good race between the pair. Whitten is without doubt the most promising cyclist seen in Auckland for some time and he can be expected to give either Wade or Byrnes more close races. J. C. Stewart finished very fast in third place and would have been harder to beat had ho elected to pace with the winner earlier in the race. F. Taylor also rode well, being really responsible for the good time recorded. ANOTHER "HAT TRICK." AN INCIDENT IN AUCKLAND, Avondale, writes as follows: " Reading in your sports page last week of a peculiar hat trick performed in South Africa, I thought that I would acquaint you of one accomplished nearer to home. The bowler concerned, although only playing third grade at the time, in his first over of the day, and with the first three balls of the over, captured a wicket with each ball, each time knocking the leg stump clean out of the ground. This event took place in Auckland. I can vouch for this as he was an old club mate of mine."