HOCKEY SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 18

HOCKEY SEASON.

OPENING DAY'S PLAY.

SOMERVILLE'S GOOD SHOWING.

GROUNDS PROBLEM UNSOLVED

Tho opening of tlio hockey season at Jvcmuoni on Saturday was ah uninspiring cvenL, and there wero many indications that tho game in Auckland lias fallen away. It would not he wise, however, to attach too much importance to happenings on tho opening day, and, indeed, there is good reason lo believe that the position in respect to grounds and in other matters will he considerably improved bofore long. Tho number three gt'ouml on which two of tho senior matches wore played was exceedingly rough, and tho number nine ground on which the other senior gamo was played, was not only very rough, but also considerably under size. Players had (he chagrin of watching several excellent ground!} standing idle, but that will not occur again, as from Saturday onwards tho ladies' matches will be in full swing. What grounds the men's senior teams may .yet be allotted by the Girls' Athletic Association remains unknown.

In any case, it is very- evident that the men's association has suffered a severe blow in tho loss of its homo at llemuera. As tho grounds committee that officiated .'ill last year was unable to do anything to meet the situation, tho full force of the blow is now felt. Colts Play Well. As might have been expected, the best, play of the day was seen in the SomervilleMount Eden match. The difference botween tho teams on the day was not nearly as great as the score of lour lo nil might bo taken to indicate. The colts in both teams acquitted themselves well, llie Mount Eden team, which was without either Mainland or Penman, played with its characteristic dash up to the last whistle, and tho mam cause of its downfull was the missing ol! four or live good chances that came to Chaplin in the circle. Had these been accepted there is 110 knowing how the game might have ended. Horspool, on the right \\ing, ono of last year's junior representatives, played an excellent gamo, and Jansen, another junior, mi the other wing, was also worth It is place. Vail, in goal, stopped one or two very hot shots, and Surman and Anderson, the fullbacks, made an effective lino of defence. Anderson had a_ way of throwing himself into the play'with such vigour that it was not surprising he injured himself more than once. His powerful long drives were very useful. The only change in the Somervillo front line was that Edwards replaced Peace. Ho showed good promise and looked like having found a permanent position. The combination of the old members of the team naturally suffered by comparison with their exhibitions at 'the end of last season, but doubtless in a Saturday or two they will be working with their old-time precision. E. Rogers and C. Smith will do well as fullbacks, and there is no reason to suppose that the champion team will fall behind the standard attained last year. University Disappointing.

University, from which much had been expected, was frankly disappointing. It was only a last-minute chance that saved it from having a draw with Epiphany. Considerable alterations may be expected, particularly in the forward line, where the chief weakness was. Iladcliffe, who had been elected captain, had a heavy load to carry at centre-halt", and the team would have been badly off indeed without him. Winn, in goal, was not always safe. Brown was the better of the two fullbacks. Meiklejohn, of Training College, who played centre-forward, was good in the circle, and both his goals were nicely judged efforts. Taylor, on the left wins, seemed to improve as the game went on and his Winning goal at the finish was a good piece of work. Thompson, who .has returned to the team after being several years in_ the country, showed satisfactory foim on the other wing. Oil the day's play Epiphany is a muchimproved team and promises to hold its own in the senior competition quite satisfactorily. Baxter, who kept goal, has returned to the -game after some years' absence. Ho played at. one time for the old Ponsonby Club. Epiphany's New Men. . Michel,. the right fullback, is a promoted junior of promise. Another new man in the team was. Nicholson, inside right, who played some time ago for Areta. /Whitelaw, a new man on the left wing, hardly rose to the occasion. K. Mills, on the other wing, was not. combining too. satisfactorily with the rest and at times delayed too long in sending in his pass. Hewitt, centre forward, was generally to be looked for in the' thick of the attacking movements. North Shore turned out short-handed, as it did so often hist season, but Otahuliu made a poor showing against it. The North Shore team, which is not materially changed, includes a number of clever and experienced players and if it could only succeed in holding together Saturday-bv-Saturday it might go far in i the competition. Anthony accounted for two goals, and the wingers, Iteid and Lucas, got one each. A. Era tor was invaluable ill the back division. Jenkins played one of the most aggressive games on the Otahuhu side, but the team as a whole lacked plan arid combination. Ilivers has a powerful drive and got in some useful work on defence. The Ladies' Competitions. The ladies' hockey clubs had good musters for a number of satisfactory practices at Ron hi era on Saturday. The grounds were found to be very rough, but that is a trouble that should be improved shortly. There will be considerable changes in the personnel of the Mount Eden team, but the other clubs will be represented for the most part by the same players as they had' last year.' The same five teams have been entered for the senior grade competition. In the junior grade one Y.W..C.A; team has dropped out and three new ones have entered one from iMauurewa, a second one from Papatoetoe and a second one from Technical College, past, students. All the games in the business girls' section will be played this year at Kemuera. I lie cohogiato section, in which 10 teams have entered, is making its own arrangements and will probably lie playing all matches on collegiate grounds. The Diocesan College is entering a team for the first time.

I lie Koforua Ladies', sub-Association is very keen to have. the Dominion tournament IkiM there (his year and with that end in view it has broken away from the Auckland Association and has affiliated wilh Wellington. CRICKET LAW CHANCES. SUGGESTION FROM HAMILTON

In view of the present controversy over changes in the laws of cricket tho followi"S suggestion from a prominent Hamilton batsman is interesting:— At present a good bowler gets no reward for good work ii faced by a stonewaller. Two good bats go in arid they can take tho sting oft any bowlers if given long enough. The suggestion is that to encourage runs all maiden overs should count so many runs, Say three, to the score ol the fielding side. Thus, a good bowler whom they cannot score off would really 'enhance his batting average, even if indirectly, by 15 runs if he sent (town live maidens. This would perhaps often include a 1 good "length bowler in a foam that really needed baiting strength."