THE HOCKEY SEASON

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18992, 17 April 1936, Page 4

THE HOCKEY SEASON

A START TO-MORROW PRACTICE GAMES FIXED LADIES AND SENIOR. MEN The hockey season in Gisborne will open unofficially in Gisborne tomorrow". Practice games have been arranged • between ladies and senior men's teams which arc being prepared for the season's competitions.

A few weeks ago it was hoped to commence the competitions by; tomorrow, but in view of the inability of the Poverty Bay Hockey Association to hold its annuaT meeting early in the month, itjvvas decided t.o postpone the competitions until the first Saturday in May. Nominations for the competitions will close at "the annual meeting on April 27.

It is believed that four ladies' teams will be available for the new subassociation being formed in Gisborne, and it is hoped to try these teams out to-morrow. The first meeting of the season of the new sub-association will bo held next week, when an endeavour will be made to reach finality regarding the season's plans. Other ladies' matches will be arranged by the Poverty Bay Hockey Association later. . ;

Six men's senior teams should be available for the competitions this year, and these also will be given a trial run to-morrow. PROBLEM OF GROUNDS.

Junior men's teams are now being formed, and it is hoped to secure at least four, but the arrangements are not sufficiently advanced yet to put on practice games. Boys' teams • are alsp in process of formation, and some already have assembled for practice. It is hoped to have a strong schoolboy competition. Grounds will be a problem this season. Last year, with the change of the half-holiday, the Poverty Bay Hockey Association just started to feel the shortage of grounds. The prospects are that this year will be the biggest for.club hockey in Gisborne for a long tune, and with all games being played on Saturdays the association will have to look round for relief. ' . One new ground is available, it ; is understood, but the cost of making it suitable for play will be a matter for thought by the association's executive. It may be necessary to ask country teams to play on their own grounds, in order to relieve the congestion in the town. Country players may welcome this new departure, because they will be relieved of the expense of coming into town every week.

However, the association's executive : has the matter of grounds in hand, and a full report of its recommendations will be submitted to the annual meeting. , GROUNDS' FOR TOMORiRtfW ■ Five practice games are set down for to-morrow, four on the Childers Road '■'.; Reserve and one on. the High School ground. Two games witybe between'! ladies' teams, and three among the % men. It is hoped to have the Childers Road Reserve in good order by to-morrow. The grass was cut during the week, but, was still too long yesterday, on No. 2 ground' for play. However, further mowing to-day was expected to put the area . in a playable state. Goal posts were being erected to-day, and the grounds were to be marked out ready for to-morrow's ■ games. The following matches have' been arranged: Ladies. —Kia Toa A v. Kia Toa B, No. 1 ground, 1.45 p.m.; Old Girls. A , v Old Girls B, No. 2, 1.45 p.m. . j Men.—Y.M.O.A. B v. Takitimu, High j School ground, 2 p.m.; Y.M.C.A. AV. \ Foresters No. 1 ground, 3 p.m.; Defence3 v. Caledonian, No. 2. 3 p.m.