HOCKEY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 78, 2 April 1938, Page 7

HOCKEY

WANGANUI ASSOCIATION REVIEW OF PAST SEASON THE ANNUAL REPORT The annual meeting of delegates to the Wanganui Hockey Association will be held on Tuesday next at 7.30 p.m. The following is the annual report to be presented:— In presenting the annual report for the 1937 season the executive has pleasure in placing on record that from practically every point of view it has been most successful. The association’s competitions were contested by some 280 players from 25 teams representing 15 clubs, and made up as follow: Ladies 12 teams, men six teams, schoolboys seven teams. During the past season the executive met on thirteen occasions, the average attendance being ten members. Late in the season Mr. M. Byers, through transfer from the city, resigned the position of secretary of the association. Mr. A. C. Watts agreed to carry on the position for the remainder of the season. It is with deep regret that we have to report that during the current season two prominent executive members, Messrs. R. Spurdie and D. Revell, will be lost to the association, both having left the district. These men will be keenly missed, each having occupied a prominent position on the executive, Mr. Spurdie being deputy-chairman and Mr. Revell, minute secretary. Mr. Spurdie’s position as groundsman will also be hard to fill and Mr. Revell will be greatly missed among his schoolboy proteges. We regret that owing to unforeseen circumstances your president, Mr. R. J. Harrison, does not seek re-election this year. Championship Results.—Men: Hinemoa; runners-up, Y.M.C.A. and Wesley equal. Women: A section, Kaiwhaiki; runners-up, Aramoho. B section, Collegians; runners-up, Putiki. Schoolboys: Technical C; runners-up, Technical B. In this last section the primary school boys are to be specially congratulated on the sporting way they met opponents who had the advantage of them both in age and size. They still did not lose heart. This augurs well for the future of the game.

Representative Matches. —The following representative fixtures played during the year showed the undermentioned results:—Men: v. Karori, draw, 2-2; v. Hastings (Nordon Cup), won, 3-0; v. Feilding (Nordon Cup), won, 7-2; v. Waipa (Nordon Cup), won, 3-2; v. Wairarapa (Nordon Cup), won 5-4; v. Taranaki (Nordon Cup), won, 4-3; v. Karori (return match at Wellington), lost, 2-3. Goal average: For 26, against 16. Ladies: v. Feilding, won 4 nil; v. Rangitikei drawn, 1-1; v. Rangitikei (at Marton) 1 nil. It will be seen from the foregoing that Wanganui was once again successful in winning the coveted minor associations’ trophy, the Nordon Cup, and also holding it for the season by repulsing strong challenges from Feilding, Waipa, Wairarapa and Taranaki. Wanganui nominated three players for the New Zealand team for Australia but our nominees were not lucky enough to gain a place though all were worthy of so doing. However, we hope for better luck this year, when the New Zealand team to meet those worthy sportsmen from India is selected. N.Z. Women’s Tournament.—Wanganui for various reasons did not enter a team in the 1937 competition. We desire to place on record that it is in our opinion in the best interests of women’s hockey in this city that the question of holding this tourney at Wanganui in the not too far distant future, should receive serious consideration. School Hockey.—All those connected with the control of the sport in our primary schools report a very marked improvement in the standard of the game among the schoolboys. Much credit for this improvement is due to Messrs. Woolcott, Brown, Revell, Frazer and B. Mclntyre. During the off season the management committee authorised the purchase from India of a further supply of school hockey sticks which it is again proposed should be made available to schoolboys at a nominal charge. The finances of the association are set out in the separate statement which will be tabled at the annual meeting. Our thanks in this connection are again due to the association’s treasurer, Mr. F. Gurney. It is with regret that we have to draw the attention of clubs to the fact that the annual dance was poorly attended by hockey players and though most enjoyable to those who attended, resulted in a small loss to the association. In view of the association’s large membership this is most difficult to understand. Again we have to chronicle our grateful appreciation to the members of the Umpires’ Association for their unfailing and unstinting services in controlling the various fixtures during the season. During the “off” season your management committee has been successful in certain endeaxours to gain the control of a Test match, “New Zealand v. the English Women” for Wanganui and it is with great pride that we have to report that we have been allotted the control of the second Test match on July 16. No provincial fixture will be played against the visitors. As this is the first occasion that a Test match of any sport has been allotted outside of the four main centres it is hoped that all supporters of good amateur sport will assist us in our efforts to assure that the fixture in question will be an outstanding success. By so doing, Wanganui’s chances of gaining control of other important international fixtures will be enhanced. It is also with keen anticipation that we have to report that there is every possibility of our Nordon Cup team having a real “tryout” against the Indian team under the control of the Nawab of Manavardar, who will be visiting New Zealand during May, June and July next. We cannot ( lose this report without expressing the thanks of the association to those members of the St. John Ambulance Association who were regularly in attendance at all club and representative fixtures. In this connection also we record thanks to the Wanganui City Council for providing a small shed on the grounds for the use of the St. John Ambulance after is. Thanks must also be extende : he Press for valuable publicity.