HOCKEY SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22714, 28 April 1937, Page 18

HOCKEY SEASON

OPENING ON SATURDAY PROSPECTS OF THE TEAMS COMING TOUR OF AUSTRALIA The Auckland Hockey Association will open its season next Saturday and j the fact that a New Zealand team is to visit Australia later in the year should prove a great impetus to players to give of their best in every match. The Dominion representatives for the Australian tour will be chosen in June and they are due to arrive in Sydney on July 12. Even apart from the prospects of an Australian tour, however, there is a keener spirit among the clubs than has been evident for many years. St. Luke's, last year's championship winners, will miss the services of M. Viporid, who has capably filled the position of centre-forward for many years but who is retiring this season. His place will be taken by Carroll, a junior representative last year. The remainder of the team will be the same as last year with the exception of Grace whose place will be filled by Doel. With such a strong team containing Auckland representatives in Wattam, F. Clark, Robertson, Corin and Fenton St. Luke's seems assured of a high position on the ladder. With the exception of I. Ross, who toured south with the Auckland team last year, Grammar Old Boys will be fielding the same team as last year. The newcomer is Pearce, who has been promoted from the second grade. Grammar is a youthful side which always combines well as a team and infuses plenty of dash into its games. The forwards, R. Roughton, Twigden, Armstrong and Jeram, are very fast, while the backs, Jones, Robinson, Laurie, Ross and Herriott, all played some good games last year. Anderson will again be in goal. SOMERVILLE STRONG PLAYER FROM SUVA Somerville is fortunate in retaining eight of its last year's team and should, therefore, soon settle down to a solid combination. The backs, Delahuntv, Smith, Stewart, Hedges and Long, will receive valuable assistance from Burt, a colt from Suva. In practices Burt has shown rare promise and he seems a likely candidate for representative honours. Welbourne, the New Zealand plaj*er, is turning out again, as well as Cockraito and Roughton. M. J. Cooper, who represented Wellington against Auckland last year, and L. Wyatt, from Rodney, who played for Country against Town last year, will be the other forwards. University also is fielding a team very similar to that of last year and, providing it can overcome a previous failing to work as individuals rather than as a team, it should have excellent chances of winning the championship. The only change in the back division will be the replacement of Haliwell, who is not available, by Cawkwell, from Otago, a New Zealand University representative on several occasions. Lawry, who has gone to Otago, will be ably replaced by Braithwaite, a dashing forward from the Somerville club, while the remaining vacancy will be filled by Yule, who played well in the second grade last year. Y.M.O.A. LOSES PLAYERS PROMOTION OF JUNIORS ,Y.M.C.A., which made its debut in the senior grade last year, will be seriously weakened by the loss of Neale, Ireland, Kiff and Tasker, all of whom were prominent players. Their absence, however, will provide opportunity for several promising juniors to prove their worth. Mount Edcr;, the team noted for its hard, bustling tactics, is again entering a senior side which, it is hoped, will develop a better cohesion than last year. The remaining senior eleven, Papatoetoe, can always be relied upon to play well as a team and with practical ly the same side as last year it should again make a formidable combination. The fact that the tour of New Zealand made by the Indians in 1935 has popularised hockey in Auckland is shown by the large number of new players. " Nearly 650 players have registered this season and with improved grounds at Remuera and excellent fields at Pa pa toetoe the game should maintain the popularity it gained last year.