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The Spike or Victoria University College Review 1932

Men's Hockey Club

page 73

Men's Hockey Club

A though numerically as strong, the Men's Hockey Club has not been as successful in club matches as it was last season. Apart from its misfortunes in the field, however, the Club has experienced another very favourable season and its players throughout have been most enthusiastic. This year has been an unusually busy one for the Executive of the Club, but, thanks to the enthusiasm and ability of the captains of the various teams, the routine work of selecting, posting and assembling the teams has been made considerably less difficult than it otherwise might have been.

At the commencement of the season we had to accept with regret the resignation of Mr. J. L. MacDuff from the office of Club Captain, a position which he so capably filled for three consecutive years, during which the Club was at the height of prosperity. Mr. MacDuff was succeeded by Mr. G. S. Simpson, who has proved his selection to be fully justified.

Shortly after the commencement of the second term the annual University Hockey Tournament was held in Wellington. In spite of its close proximity to the Easter Tournament, also held at Wellington, the Hockey Tournament was an unqualified success. Our Senior team won the Tournament trophy, which somewhat compensated it for its misfortune in club games. Besides benefitting the Hockey Club to a great extent, the Tournament contributed very materially to the social life of the whole College. The various entertainments provided for our guests were thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended them.

We take this opportunity of congratulating those members of the Hockey Club who were successful in obtaining N.Z. University representative honours at the Tournament. They are: H. F. Bollard (centre-half and vice-captain), who, largely owing to his splendid play throughout the Tournament, won himself a place in the New Zealand representative team; L. H. Davis (goalie), who, throughout the Tournament, and especially in the final representative match, earned the enthusiastic applause of the crowd for his brilliant "saves"; and K. N. Struthers, whose brilliant play in the forward line was to a large measure responsible for the team's success.

Shortly after the Tournament it was announced that H. F. Bollard, captain of the Senior A team, had been selected for the New Zealand team which toured Australia during the months of July and August with such splendid success. Bollard's achievement has marked a very important incident in the history of the Club, as he has the distinction of being the first V.U.C. hockey player to rise to such heights while playing for the Club.

It now remains to make a few remarks about the various teams:—

Senior A.

Although this team has met with very little success in the Grade Competitions, its humble position on the championship ladder is the result of misfortune rather than poor play, and this can be corroborated by a study of the newspaper reports of the different matches. In the final game of the season the team defeated Y.M.C.A. by 6 goals to 1, and we should have been pleased to see this state of affairs throughout the season. The chief fault of the team was its failure to make the most of its opportunities in the circle, and this fault is very much apparent throughout the Club. The team played 15 games during the season, winning two and drawing three with its opponents.

H, F. Bollard captained the team until his departure for Australia, after which his place was very capably filled by K. N. Struthers, the vice-captain.

Senior B (A.).

This team—also known as the "old men's team"—has toppled from its lofty pinnacle. So hard was the fall that by the end of the season the old "diehards" were becoming quite despondent. At one stage it looked as if the Senior B Championship would be easily annexed by this once brilliant team, but after its dramatic and totally unexpected defeat at the hands of one of the weakest teams in the competition, the team seemed to lose heart and its decline culminated in its being totally routed by the Huia team, which won the championship, the score on this particular occasion being 8—2 against the veterans.

In spite of its decline, however, this team has met with more success in the club matches than any other Victoria College team. It must also be remembered that some of the players comprised in this team have done a great deal to the furtherance of hockey in the College.

Senior B (B).

At the beginning of the season the Wellington Hockey Association seriously considered dropping this team to Junior Grade, but so strenuous was the opposition of the Club's officials to such a measure that the team was allowed to re-

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main in its previous grade. As the season progressed it became evident that the retention of the team in the Senior B Grade was fully justified, and it astounded its critics by defeating some of the strongest teams. The team finished the season with a pleasing total of points, and due credit must be given to its energetic captain, A. G. Clark.

The two occasions on which the two Senior B teams were drawn to play each other were marked by keen rivalry on the part of the players in both teams. The contests were very even and on both occasions the A team won by a narrow margin.

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Junior A.

This team, which is composed of very keen players, commenced the season with a series of wins, but it soon became apparent that it had been drawn to play the weaker teams in the grade first. K. J. Duff, centre forward, was selected for the Junior representative team. Duff, who won the Hain Stick for 1931, is a promising player, and during the season was promoted to the Senior B (B) team, where he acquitted himself well. J. Gapes, an outstanding goalkeeper, was also selected for the Junior representative team.

Junior B.

This team, although enthusiastic, proved rather weak for its grade and did not succeed in winning any of its matches. Nevertheless, there are some good players in the team. Arlow certainly deserves a game higher up. The goalkeeper, who was only discovered half-way through the season, shows great promise, and Roberts, a new player, improved steadily throughout the season.

Third Grade.

Although not successful in winning the championship, this team proved a match for most of its opponents. D. Kerr, one of the backs, was selected emergency for the Wellington Third Grade representatives. An outstanding player in this team is Paul, who should be watched by the Selection Committee when next season's teams are selected.

Fourth Grade.

The Club entered two teams in the newly-formed Fourth Grade. Both these teams consisted chiefly of new players, and several of them promise to be useful to the Club in future seasons. Unfortunately, the Fourth B team had to default on several occasions as a large number of its players had to leave Wellington for the vacation. Both teams had the misfortune to be short of players on several occasions and, in the circumstances, did very well.