(This is the second of a series of articles written by a former Rhodes Scholar now resident in Wellington.)

Hockey in England is a "posh" game, being played exclusively by amateurs and usually by leisured or semi-leisured people. For instance, when I was at Oxford we played against Sandhurst and other army navy, and airforce teams, hospital teams such as Guy's and Barth's, public schools such as Marlborough, Cheltenham and Rugby, and Oxford and Cambridge College University teams.

The standard of hockey in Great Britain is very high-so high, in fact, that although I played for the Otago University A grade team, I consider that my hockey education really only began after I reached Oxford. In this connection I feel that the ordinary claim made for the indian teams—that they are indubitably the world's best—is very much open to question. It may interest readers to know that none of the United Kingdom teams will enter for the Olympic hockey tournament which India wins with such unfailing regularity. The 1929 All India Team was beaten by a combined army, navy, and airforce team in a tour of England and won a narrow victory against an unrepresentative English Team.

There is no such thing as a United Kingdom international team, the so-called international representative teams being those of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. From the above slender evidence it would appear that an All India team would not show any superiority over these international teams, and would certainly be inferior to a representative United Kingdom team.

The high standard of English hockey shows itself in the fact that the tame is played at a high speed with the two or three players who are at any time within striking distance of the ball moving at top speed trying to take it on their sticks on the fly, a type of hockey which is only possible on good grounds.

Low Tennis Standard

Whereas the standard of hockey, particularly in the universities, is much higher than that in New Zealand, the standard of tennis is on the average very much lower. The topnotchers are better than New Zealand's best, but an A grade university player in New Zealand would probably dominate the tennis of an Oxford College.

—A. S.

On Saturday it was extremely disappointing to see a side containing so many players of alleged undoubted ability being outplayed time and time again by opponents still in their teens. To the young Karori team must go the honours of the game for, making due allowances, they put up by far the more meritorious display.

The 'Varsity team consisted of eleven individualists, each playing his own style of hockey and each unwilling to work in with his team mates. Especially was this noticeable in the forwards; little pretence of combination was made. Admittedly the line had been drastically reorganised but that was insufficient excuse. The choice of Sharp as centre-forward was an unfortunate one, for whatever his prowess in the halves, he was out of place in a place which demands the greatest excellence in positional play. Elias on the right wine was perhaps the best of a very mediocre quintet. Cole's stick work was poor, while his fitness does not warrant his inclusion in the side. Shaw is still inclined to play the man instead of the ball, and more unselfishness would materially Improve his game.

In the halves, Whitham was perhaps the best, though all three played well, as individuals. Harder and crisper hitting from all is desirable. In goal, Benjamin was called upon to save more often than should have been necessary in the circumstances, but he made only two mistakes, one of which cost a goal.

Taken all round, it would seem an all-round Improvement is necessary in physical fitness, combination and stick work and it is up to each and every player to start, not by criticising his team-mate as seems to be the case at present, but by setting his own house in order first.

Senior Reserve I

David Good's team was rather unlucky only to draw with island Bay, who lead the grade. A 3/2 victory would have been a better criterion of relative form on the day. Indifferent forward work was chiefly to blame. A. McIntosh was the best of the line, and he is properly a half.

There was no better player on the field than Wickham, at left-half. On Saturday's form he is little inferior to George Whit ham, who is now with the seniors. Ian Purdie at right-half was at his soundest, invariably winning his duels With the island Day forwards. F. Walker and L. Sandford were both sound at fullback, and Mason kept goal with good judgment.

Next Saturday's match with the other Senior Reserve team should prove the most interesting of the season.

Senior Reserver II

Last Saturday's game against Wesley resulted in another win for 'Varsity, 4-1. The game was, however, robbed of its pleasure by the "rough-house" tactics adopted by Wesley. Ives played an improved game at right wing and Eric Brasted was again sound at centre-forward, each scoring one goal. Spiers at inside right played a dashing game and scored two goals by fast following in. The forwards generally lacked cohesion on the day. Wallis, on his game, is quite good, but should restrain his tendency to off-side play.

Dr. Campbell was a tireless worker in the halves, while A. long was a tower of strength. Till was somewhat erratic and had a tendency to hit wildly—unusual with him. Allan made some good saves in goal but could use his stick more. Tahiwi and Kirkham were reliable fullbacks and were seldom caught out of position. If Tahiwi were fitter he would not disgrace the senior team.

Winter Crossing

It didn't cross, When a happy band of trampers scrambled aboard the lorry at 8 a.m. on Saturday. 22nd. little did they dream that twenty hours later they would still be slogging through the snow and rain-soaked bush, fording swollen streams and sliding down gravel-slides to the accompanied roaring of a Hooded river a few hundred feet below.

Two hours after a good start found the party at Dobson's with the incendiarist hard at work. The hot refreshments soon disappeared and the party launched out-on their real work at 12.30 p.m. The snow quickly increased from one to two feet. The patches of open bush were of no use as the drifts sometimes exceeded 6 feet, and the party spent much time in sidling these hummocks. Darkness found the group still making large holes in the snow and it was unanimously decided that one of Bob's bulldozers would be a good idea. However, they continued in the hope that a frost would crust the surface but this was not to be. The party was very grateful to McNaught and Oliver for the way in which they helped in the arduous task of trail-breaking and in the incessant hunt for blazes.

Food—sleep

Progress reports at 10.15 p.m. told of a few torches on Blk, XVI and soon they were wending their way into the Tauherenikau Valley, having abandoned their attempt to reach Alpha. Progress reports then failed as the operator had too much trouble in keeping awake but it is said that on their arrival at the hut seven hours later—5.15 a.m.—a few still had the energy to strike up a song.

They were the only things that mattered. The necessity of sleep was almost too strong but later in the day the party made and had the utmost pleasure in eating their meal; it lasted for two hours, off and on.

The return lorry trip showed that the well-earned rest had revived the frayed spirits for the singing had both volume and variety.

Korokoro—Porirua

Twenty-five members of the Tramping Club turned out for the Korokoro-Porirua Sunday trip recently. After some counting and recounting it transpired that the leader was calculating the cheapest way to travel from Lambton to Petone. The fare having been arrived at (namely 7½d per head) the party boarded the bus and save for a stop at Kaiwarra to pick up a further member, did not stop until Korokoro. Here the party left the bus and set off on the track, the track incidentally leading to two reservoirs. Upon arrival at the second reservoir a halt was called and a billy boiled and lunch eaten, during lunch the usual roll call and introduction taking place, the remainder of the lunch hour being spent in appreciating the actions and reactions of the Weta and its young.

To Belmont Trig

After lunch three members departed for the Belmont "Trig" via a supplejack-clad hillside, the remainder of the party bearing to the left and tackling the gorse-clad heights, both parties arriving at their respective ridges, being approximately the same height, although some miles away from each other. Both parties then commenced the descent and eventually arrived on the same leading ridge. A quick descent was then made down the slopes and a short trudge up a metal road, which in turn led on to the hills surrounding Porirua, eventually arriving at a watered valley with ample supplies of firewood. Presently a roaring fire was blazing and the billy boiling.

The party then made its way to the Porirua Railway Station and arrived approximately three quarters of an hour before the train was due to leave: having changed, the party then explored the immediate precincts of the station until such time as the train was due.

•

Dawn Croxton and Doris Johannes son, of the Table Tennis Club, recently represented Wellington in a match against Auckland. So far no men from the "Varsity Club have won rep. honours.