It is The Spike's painful duty to take up its pen once more and record the things that might have been—but were not—in connection with the Hockey Club. It is not our intention to launch out into a lengthy lament over any relics of greatness still extant in the Seniors—chiefly became we cannot find any such relics—nor is it our intention to tender any reprof to those eleven members of the first team (we refrain from mentioning names) who have displayed their lack of the qualities necessary for success on the hockey field. Indeed, it matters little that they have failed so ignominiously to gain those laurels which—so they told us—were in their grasp at the commencement of the season; for did they not display the greatest generosity, the greatest chivalry, and the greatest benevolence in surrendering so unselfishly the highest prize, which they could so easily have gained? Let us be thankful for such mercies as these even; let us rejoice exceedingly, even when we think that tout est perdu fors l'honneur and two matches against the Vivians.

Four members of the Firsts—B. C. Smith, D. S. S, Smith, C. Skelley, and G. Castle played in representative teams; "accidents will happen —."

The Second eleven are unlike the Seniors in many respects; the chief difference is that they have disappointed us; we really did believe them when, at the commencement of the season, they confided in us their hopes of attaining to championship honours. Still, they have no reason to be discouraged by the result of the year's play; they have finished fourth in the competition, which is at least a decided improvement on last year's position. Their games have been characterised by vigorous play on the part of the forwards, and sound play by the backs. Constant, though unavoidably necessary, changes have wrought havoc with the personnel of the team, especially page 36 among the forwards, but they have never had to play short. The team has served a good purpose in providing good schooling for young players. Two of these, Fitt and Jones, deserve special mention, the latter's play in goal being of a particularly high standard. Of the forwards, Paterson has been most consistent scorer.

This season's achievement of the III. A. team, the winning of the third-class hockey championship, marks the beginning of a new era in the history of our College. They are the first College team to win a local championship of any kind, and they are not going to be the last. They have not lost a single match on the actual play, their only loss being due to the misguided policy of including two "Rugby roughs "in the team. Their success is undoubtedly due for the most part to the strength of their backs. Their forwards fairly fast, but need more practice in shooting. The team as a whole work very well together; their play in the final game for the Cup wat of a remarkably high order. Rex Mason has the honour of being the captain of the first College champion team. Congratulations to III. A.

The III. B team rose to giddy heights on the mount of triumph, whence, intoxicated by their unwonted successes, they hurled themselves into the chasms of failure. They ascended like a brilliant meteor, and fell like the stick from a rocket. At the beginning of the season they were our proudest boast; now, if they ever mentioned, it is only in noiseless whispers, accompanied by significant shakings of the head. At first they played with full teams, them the ravages of the voracious Rex made themselves felt; and later the members of the team seemed to consider it inconsistent with their dignity that they should be expected to turn out and play for III. B merely because they were picked in the team. Owing to the equitable distribution of the inability displayed, we cannot single out the play member of the team for special praise.

The Otago Match.

The chief event in the career of the Seniors was their match against Otago University, which resulted in a draw, each side scoring one goal. A considerable number of spectators, chiefly of the fair sex, went across to Day's Bay to see the match. To any one who was not a close follower of hockey, the contest would have been very interesting. It was decidedly fast, exciting, and even. Each side worked strenuously for victory, but many of the finer points of the game were absent.

Very fair combination was shown by the visitors, and although it can hardly be said that had the better of the game, yet the order of their play was superior to that of the local Students. We were without the services of Beere, and were unfortunate enough to have D. S. Smith disabled early in the game. Ryburn and Gower, two of our last year's Seniors, were playing for the Otago University team. Medill and Rutherford were the most prominent of the visitors' forwards, and Goodman and white the most serviceable backs. White, goalkeeper saved quite a number of goals. Pope and Castle were the best of our forwards, and Skelley and Griffiths of the backs. Madill scored for Otago, and Paterson for us.

The following are the results of the various teams' play :—

Seniors.

Juniors.

Second XI.

(Captain, V. B. Willis; Vice-Captain, S. Eichelbaum.)

Matches played, 12. Won 5, lost 7. Goals : For, 42; Against, 45.

V.C. v St. Patrick's College Old Boys. Won, 4—2. Played at Miramar in the wind. Griffths played a sterling game, earning thereby promotion to the Seanior XI. Sergeant (2), Paterson, and Willis scored,

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V.C. v Wesley. Lost, 5—3. A poor exhibition. Castle, Patersom, and Sargent scored the goals.

V.C. v United. Lost, 4—2. Team greatly strengthened by inclusion of the "Fratres Prcusii," A really good performance against redoubtable opponents. O. R. Prouse notched both goals.

V.C. v Vivan. Lose, 7—3. Another poor exhibition. Forwards patchy, and lacked shooting ability. Niven the bright star on the rapidly receding gorizon of the backs. Willis and the Prouse Brothers goaled.

V.C. v Thorndon. Won, 8—3. Bravo, forwards ! Bravo, backs ! This game, played as it was in a sea of mud, should be handed down a monument of the vigour of a self-recuperated team. O. R. Prouse (3), Paterson (2), Willis, G. S. Prouse, and Broad were the enhancing factors.

V.C. v Y.M.C.A. Lost, 7—4. The best game of the season, and with a little luck we might have beaten one of the best of this year's teams. O. R. Prouse (3) and Paterson obtained the goals.

V.C. v Wesley. Lost, 5—4. Another excellent game. Good work done by backs, notably Wilkie, Eichelbaum, and Fitt. Paterson and O. R. Prouse, as usual shared the goals.

V.C. v Y.M.C.A. Lost, 3—0. The first game in which team failed to score. Although the forwards played a strenuous game, and the backs made only three mistakes, we had to acknowledge defeat at hands of superior team.

V.C. v Vivan. Won, 5—3. A very solid and even game. Fitt at full. Was magnificent, and Jones, in goal, played the game of his life. Paterson (2) and the Bogle Brothers (3) enhanced.

V.C. v United. Lost, 4—2. "Strenua nos exercuit inertia." Adjourned after two short spells, just in time to see the Kiwis defeat V.C. ladies. Two young played, Hoghen (Julius) and O' Leary, showed good promise, and Strack played well. Paterson and Hogben (aforesaid) smote the goals.

III. A.

(Captain : H. G. R. Mason.)

Matches played, 13. Won 9, drawn 3, lost 1 (by protest). Goals: For, 73; Against, 13.

V.C. v Wellington. Won, 1—0. A most ridiculous game. We had our opponents defending almost without intermission, but could not score till, just on time, Fitt bustled the ball through.

V.C. v Vivan. Won, 15—0. The encouragement of the onlooking V. C. lady hockey enthusiasts urged our men to make a great effort. One or two of them did not score.

V.C. v United. Won, 9—1. The Capping Carnival of the night before did not seem to lesson our energy. Our forwards played with better combination than in any other match, and the inside forwards, Smith, Barnett, and Broad, shot very well. Monaghan played well at right half.

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V.C. v Y.M.C.A. We scored 10 goals to our opponents' 2, but on a protest lost the match for playing unregistered players—Bogle Brothers, to wit.

V.C. v V.C. III. B. Won, 19—0. We had nine men against the B's eight.

Second Round.

V.C. v Thorndon A. Drawn, 3—3. A fast, even, and exciting game, in which numerous chances were lost on both sides.

V.C. v Thorndon B. Won, 4—2. The first spell was very even, but we had the better of the second. Macalister played well at bully, as did Hoult at full-back, and in the second spell Stuart and MacMorran were vigorous.

V.C. v Y.M.C.A. Won, 1—0. In the first minutes MacMorran scored the only goal of the match. Our backs played splendidly.

V.C. v Wesley. Won, 3—0. One sell only played, our opponents having only seven men.

Cup Tie Final.

V.C. v Thorndon A. Won, 2—0. A remarkably fast game. All our backs played excellently. Kibblewhite was perfection in stopping and hitting smartly and effectively. MacMorran and Monaghan were the best of the forwards; each scored a goal. A feature of the match was MacDougall's line-umpiring.