HOCKEY

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1256, 14 May 1914, Page 35

HOCKEY

BY

“RIGHT-WING.”

The last opportunity for practice was again spoiled by rain. It was a beautiful morning and players were looking forward to a fine afternoon, but, alas, they were disappointed, as rain commenced to fall shortly before two o’clock and continued throughout the afternoon. Despite the downpour, a large number of players turned out, .and battled away under most unfavourable conditions. The entries for the competitions demonstrate how the game is growing in Auckland, and this happy state of affairs is in some measure due to the introduction of the school boys last year, and the Association have to thank a number of school teachers for taking such an active interest in the game. The advent of the school boys into the arena must gladden the hearts of the pioneers of the game in Auckland, as it was always their ambition to establish the game in the schools.

The competition is now divided into five grades, and is composed of 4 4 teams, consisting of six in the senior grade, ten each in second, third ard fourth grades, and seven in the fifth. The school boys’ competition adds another eleven teams to the list. The Auckland Hockey Association has secured grounds on the Avondale Racecourse.

New clubs affiliated to the Association are Otahuhu (second grade), Imps, Gordon, Moa, St. Luke’s, Technical College. The number of associations affiliated to the New Zealand Hockey Association is now nineteen. The New Zealand Ladies’ Hockey Association has appointed Mr. A. W. Manning as secretary for the ensuing season at a remuneration of fifteen guineas.

The annual report of the New Zealand Hockey Association showed a credit balance of £3O 18s 3d, with assets exceeding liabilities by £70.. The decision of the local executive in limiting the number of teams in the senior competition is a step in the right direction. In recent years the Association has accepted all entries, consequently many of the games between the stronger and weaker teams have not been worth witnessing, while the hockey displayed in the matches between the “make-ups could not by any stretch of imagination be called first-class. It was just a good opportunity for the executive to apply the limit, as the six teams accepted were practically all up to the standard, while it w ; as doubtful whether Unitarian or Kiatere, who won the junior championship last year, could have made a decent showing against any of the sextette. Another argument in favour of limiting the teams is that it concentrates the good players, and therefore the contest should be keener and without a doubt provide better hockey. It will make the task of the selectors easier, as all the material will be seen in action against strong proposition. From a financial outlook

it is also a good proposition, as better games mean larger attendances, which, of course, increases the revenue. Unitarian have battled along gamely in the senior ranks, and if I remember rightly gave Auckland isome anxious moments during the tail end of the opening game last season. It took the champions all their time to keep their goal intact, and had not the Auckland custodian been in good form, a different tale might have been told than a onegoal victory. The advent of the Saturday universal holiday brought Kiatere into the competition, and they succeeded in winning the junior championship. Being a little more ambitious, they applied for permission to go into the senior ranks, but were not successful, and the team has disbanded; anyway, some of their prominent players have thrown in their lot with other clubs.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Hockey Association much comment was made about the papers in the North Island being full of reports concerning the attitude of the Auckland Hockey Association with regard to the shifting of headquarters to Wellington. Now the Southerners are having their turn. Regarding the motion. for a change in headquarters, the Hawke’s Bay delegates received instructions to vote for the motion. One of the delegates was evidently against the motion, so the Hawke’s Bay Association sent him word that unless he was prepared to vote as directed he should cease to be a delegate. At the close of the debate on the question, Mr. A. M. Stewart, the delegate in question, said that he had just received a letter from Mr. MacDougall, the other delegate for Hawke’s Bay, cancelling his .appointment. The president said that Mr. MacDougall had handed him a similar letter, but at the opening of the meeting he had accepted both gentlemen as Hawke’s Bay’s delegates without any conditions relating to Mr. Stewart. It was an extraordinary position, and according to the conditions of the appointment it appears as if Mr. Stewart should not have gone to the meeting as a delegate for Hawke’s Bay when his personal feelings were entirely opposite to the views of the Hawke’s Bay Association, and by refusing to vote in the desired direction the ultimatum contained his dismissal. It is doubtful if Moore, the Auckland winger, will turn out again this year. Another engagement has claimed his attention for at least a month, and possibly for the remainder of the season.

Fuller, another Aucklander, will be Territorialising while two rounds are in progress. Robinson, of University, has decided not to turn out this season. Haresnape (Kiatere) will probably throw in his lot with Mt. Eden. Gilmour, custodian for the defunct St. George’s Club, has joined the Referees’ Association.

Smith, an ex-Wellington inner forward, has thrown in his lot with Ponsonby, and should strengthen the attack.

The Wellington Wednesday Hockey

Association issued a challenge to Waikato in connection with the Norden Cup, but the New Zealand body refused the application on the grounds that sub-associations are ineligible to compete. The big associations will require to obtain trophies for competition among their off-springs.