HOCKEY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1304, 22 April 1915, Page 20

HOCKEY.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Hockey Association was held at the Chamber of Commerce last night (Wednesday). Despite the energy of the Auckland Hockey executive, last season could hardly be called a distinct success, and it was most disappointing for the officials, as many of the obstacles to overcome were quite beyond their control. They did an immense amount of work without getting adequate result or satisfaction for their labours. At the commencement of the season the grounds suffered owing to the want of rain. Later, Jupiter Pluvius was too much in evidence, and it was marvellous how some of the games were played at all on some of the grounds. This year the ground at Remuera looks much better, and should be in ship-shape order when the season commences.

During last year one of the clubs received a notification that if their subscriptions were not forthcoming their junior team would not be allowed to play. However, the fees were duly paid, so it comes as a surprise to read that three clubs are in default, yet they have all enjoyed the privileges of the Association. It has been the custom of the Hockey Association to present caps to the winners of the competition, but I hear that the Auckland Club have not received their trophies for 1913 yet. ;

The championship matches in Wellington commence next Saturday. The United Hockey Club, winners of the Wellington senior championship last year, shows a record of 428 since its inception in 1899. Two hundred and fifty-three matches were won, 51 drawn, and 124 lost. They have scored 1394 goals against 858. The question of the introduction of schoolboy hockev is receiving attention in Dunedin, and several headmasters are in favour of the proposal. The cup fixtures in Christchurch will be opened on April 24th. Quite a number of hockeyites will be missing from the clubs in Dunedin owing to their determination to represent the Empire in a more momentous battle, and almost half a team from each club has joined the Expeditionary Force. Lieut. Newman, of the Field Artillery, writing to Sergeant Ferguson, states that hockey is being played in Egypt, and that a team from members attached to the Field Artillery Brigade played a match with the Cairo Hockey Club, winning by five goals to one. Quite a number of local hockeyites are with the troops, including Rimmer, Newman, Rishworth, Johns, Barry, Jones, Jackson, Sparrow, Good, and many more are on the way. The Mt. Eden Club alone have a score of members at the front, yet they will most probably put six teams in the field this season. Reg. Thompson, a member of the Wellington representative eleven, which won the shield from Auckland, is at the front.

Down South the general opinion is that representative fixtures should continue. Oh account of the number of players who are away on active service I think it advisable that no trophies or honours should be awarded to senior players this season.

The Training College will have the assistance of A. Murdoch, the wellknown representative left winger. He

was famous for a method of centring that completely astonished the Southerners. Areta will probably have the services of a player of some reputation from the South. The Auckland Club have suffered some losses since last year, but quite a number of the old hands are available. H. Richards, of Areta, has been filling the position of secretary since the departure of A. M. Goulding to Fiji.

H. Fletcher, the ex-College Rifles centre forward, who played in Wellington last year and narrowly missed representative honours, is once more in Auckland, and will be found weilding the stick again. Quite a number of teams were practising at Remuera last Saturday, but matters were not taken very seriously. The Mt. Eden Club turned out very strong, no less than three dozen players putting in an appearance.