HOCKEY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7110, 23 April 1910, Page 12

HOCKEY

■ (By “Hoquet.”) Now that the annual meetings of the various clubs have been held, everybody is anxious to get the competition games commenced, as ail players recognise that there is going to be a strenuous season this year. What with the shield matches and the prospect of a visit from an English eleven next year there is undoubtedly some reason for all this keenness shown by enthusiasts the last two or throe weeks.

At a. meeting of the management committee"'on Wednesday night it was decided to commence the games this afternoon. As has already been pointed out in the newspapers, it is thought there will not be the trouble this year re the matter of grounds. Certain it is that it will not prove so bad as it has in the past, and all players should congratulate the late management committee for making such provision for this season as they did. While on this subject perhaps it would be as well to draw the attention of the committee to the state of No. 4 ground at Bay’s Bay. Several holes and mounds require seeing to before games are commenced on this ground, or else some person will Jje ineet■ing with injury. The wire-work at tbo southern end of the ground will also have to be repaired, as last Saturday a good deal of time was wasted in chasing the bail through the fence.

Sufficient has been said re the business done at the meeting of the Wellington Hockey, Association, held on Wednesday night. There was nothing said at the meeting that could very well be taken exception to and it need only be -mentioned that the keenness of delegates present at that meeting should not be allowed to wane during the season.

At a meeting of the ladies’ association last Monday night, it was decided to open the season nert Saturday afternoon. Some members wanted to start matches to-day. but the majority bung out for next Saturday. A meeting will be held on Monday night to draw up the fixtures and arrange matters for the opening.

Hookey does not appear to have gone out of public favour in Wellington dur-

ing tho off season. Although Vivian and Thermion Clubs are dropping out of existence a majority of the clubs report a slight increase in membership. The reason, given for Vivian Club’s demise was that only about four of last year’s senior team could bv got together owing to a number of members leaving the district and two or three becoming benedicts. Practically the same reason applies to the Thorndon Club.

At the annual meeting of the latter club onlv about half 11 dozen members turned up, so it was decided to wind up the affairs of the club.

Despite au unenviable trip across to the bar la&t Saturday there was a good attendance of players out for practice. Metropolitan Club had the best muster of the afternoon —twenty-five in number, and a finer lot of young fellows it would be hard to find. This dub indulged in practice on the No. -i ground, and some useful work was put in. The red and blacks rely chiefly on their last year’s junior team to carry them through the senior competition this year. There are one or two new members who should show up this year. Ono from Auckland (Collins by name) is a burly-looking New Zealander, and whatever: his position may be on the field lie should fill it admirably. Collins, an old Christchurch player, should also prove a decided acquisition to the dub’s membership roll.

Wesley, on. No. 5 ground, also had a good attendance of players. For the first half of the afternoon a scratch match was played among the club’s own members, but at half-time one team changed with a Wellington team foir the •rest of the afternoon.

United Club had tho poorest number of members out. there being fifteen present. However, what was missing in quantity was there in quality, and all players spent an enjoyable afternoon. This club, which has been somewhat unfortunate in losing some of its best members this season, is said to bo nearly as strong as it was last year. “Bairnoy • Weyboume. it is said,*will again be a wiolder of the stick this season. Two other players who are expected to turn out well arc Jones and Owens —two members of last year’s P. and T. Wednesday team. Through the loss of H. Elliott and R. Dwyer, this club will no.doubt De at a disadvantage at the beginning 01 the competition games, but should pick up as time goes on. .

Mr R. Dwyer, United’s goalkeeper last season, left AVellington bv tho Sydney steamer last evening on the first of his journey to the Big Smoke'. • It is his intention to catch the Omrah at Sydney to complete the trip Home. All hockey enthusiasts will, I take leave to say, wish Mr Dwyer “bon voyage, and a safe return to these shores.

Victoria College, playing on Kelburne Park last Saturday afternoon, had a record attendance of members, there being no less than four full teams out for practice. Beyond Oram and Pope leaving the club to join Karon, there has not been many changes in the ranks, it is th. 3 intention of the chib to enter five teams in this year’s competitions, apportioned as follows : —One semox* team, two junior, and two third-class.

Karori Club held a practice game at Kar'ori last Saturday, there being a good attendance of players. The team, subject to alteration,- for this season will bo:—Goal, L. Davis; full-backs. J. Gehdall and C. Davis; halves, Aitkcn (late of Thorndon). C. Campbell, and Putnam; forwards, Aitkcn, Murphy, Oram, G. Davis, Pope.

Y.M.C.A. members did battle among themselves on the Duppa street Reserve last Saturday afternoon. This team is already spoken of as' the winners ot this year’s senior contest, but one never knows how things will turn out . until the numbers go up. Anyway, if it should so happen that Y.M.C.A. prove the championship winners this season, noboey I think will take exception to it.

Tu-mifT-nnc members turned out from the 'Wellington" Club’s ranks for practice on No. 2 ground. Day’s Bay, last Saturday. Two familiar faces in the club this year arc W. H. Thompson and A. Dobson, who played last year bully and right full-back respectively for the now defunct Vivian Club. TEAMS FOR TODAY. ( Senior. Karori v. Metropolitan:—Karon ; Davies (3), T. Spiers 7 , T. Campbell, Putnam, Pope, Murphy, Oram, Aickin, Glendall. Y.M.C.A. v. United:—Y.M.O. A.: Galley, Holmes, Dawson, Haase, Luke, Loader, Carde, Barton, Wheatley, Parton t2). Junior. Y.M.C.A. v. Government Life:— Y.M.C.A. to be selected from the following: Eyres, Anstice, Page, Bruce, Fossette, Hall. Hagan, Higginbottom, King, Lay, Murrell, Richards, Tomlinson. Greggs v. Karori—Greggs: Smart, Schmidt, Fairhey, Baillic, Jones, MeNaught, Krobs, Schulenburg, Tinney, Benge, Howe. Emergencies— Batten, Howe. WAFBARAPA NOTES. That excellent sportsman, Mr A. O. Major, has 'donated another cup to tho Wairarapa Hockey Association for competition among the senior clubs, the Carterton team having won tho Major Gup outright last season. There is certainly no one in the Wairarapa who has done so much for hockey as Mr Major; in fact had it not been for tho efforts of this gentleman the game would not have “caught on” as it lias. The game is now firmly established and tho Wairarapa Hockey Association _is to be congratulated in having for its president such a keen enthusiast and energetic worker as Mr Major.

A club has been formed at Martinborough and will compote in tho senior and probably the junior championship. In the competitions the club will play matches with Masterton clubs at Greytown, and against Carterton home and home matches will be played.

The following teams will compete in the Wairarapa Association’s championships :—Senior : Carteron, Knox, Excelsior. Martinborough, Post and Telegraph. Junior: Excelsior Ctwo teams), Carterton, St. Matthew’s, Martinborougb (probably).

At the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Hockey Association the following resolution was carried with regard to the headquarters of the Ac w Zealand Hockey Association :—-‘That, in the opinion of this association tho governing body of tho Xew Zealand Hockey Association be shifted from Christchurch to Wellington, and that all the associations in Now Zealand be circularised asking them to co-operate in the movement.”

Championship matches in Wairarapa will commence on May sth. Nominations of teams will close on April 23th.

Mr Archie Pragneil has been re-

elected secretary of the Wairarapa Hockey Association. Tho association is, indeed, fortunate in being able to secure such a popular and capable secretary as Mr Prague!!, who has in tho past done invaluable service. Mr Prague]! has shown himself to be particularly adapted for the secretarial position, and in carrying out his onerous duties has displayed praiseworthy tact.

Tho following officers have been elected for tho ensuing year by the Wairarapa Hockey Association :-~Presiclcnt, Mr A. C. Major; vice-presi-dents, Messrs W. C. Buchanan, W* Howard Booth, W. Praguell, If. If. Donald, A. W. Cave, W. J. Martin. S. Inder, I). Caselberg; secretary and treasurer, Mr A: C. Praguell; auditor, Mr J. B, Hue; management committee, ’Messrs M. Mclntosh, H. If. Donald, W. Minett, A. J. Fisher, J. Fisher, and the president and secretary ex-officio; postponement committee, Messrs A. C. Pragnoll, Fairbrother, and Lyons.

Wairarapa has challenged Wellington (the holders) for tho Challengo Shield, and tho match will probably take place in the early part of tho season.

In the annual report of the Wairarapa Association reference is made to tlie difficulty in obtaining referees, and the thanks of the association are extended to Messrs M. Mclntosh, S. A„ Nobio-Cami)bell, J. O’Meara, P. Bannan, B. Ivcson, J. Kitchen, and Ibosson for having acted in tho capacity last season.

Tho competition this season aeionj the junior teams for the cup pres ante cd by Mr AA r . H. Booth, of Carterton, promises to bo very keen. Two of th# teams at least intend to make a sjx* oial effort to annex the trophy, wliicfe was won for the first time last yeafc by the Knox juniors.

Tho Wairarapa Hookey Assooiotio* ooimmencied last season with a deb® balance of £2 5s 7d, but so oapablf \vere the affairs of the institution managed that there is now a credit balance of £ls 9s 3d.

Wairarapa owes visits to the Wei* lington senior representatives, Wellington junior representatives, Wellington AVcdncsday representatives, Auckland, Mana.wa.tu, Wanganui, 'and Nelson, and an effort is to be made this season to fulfil some o S tho engagements owing. Damuevirke, AVaipawn, and Hawke's Bay owe Wairaratpa. visits, and also tho Monawiatu juniors. The AVa.irarapa senior team last season defeated the Wellington AA r ednesday representatives, Manawatu, Dannevirko, and AA’aipawa., but were beaten by Hawke’s Bay, and played a drawn game with AA r eUington.