Hockey

After two practices had been held at Karori Park, it was possible to make a tentative selection for the six teams to be entered for the local competitions. Of the seventy-odd men available many are Freshers or Returned Servicemen, and it will be impossible to allocate them to final team positions until the competitions have been in progress for some time. The Committee has been looking for a non-playing coach—but so far without success. To make up for this deficiency it intends to make senior players responsible for the lower grade teams which certainly have dire need of coaching.

On Saturday, 26th, the season opened. The results—Five losses and a win by default—were largely due to a lack of understanding between players who had possibly never seen each other before, let alone played together.

1st Grade.—This lack of combination was evident in the seniors' first game which was lost 1-3 to Karori. Against the formidable halves and forwards fielded by Karori, only two regular members of last year's Varsity seniors were available. Despite this handicap, the team put up a staunch light and did remarkably well against such opponents. In goal Froome was outstanding—his reliability and hard kicking were largely responsible in keeping Karori's tally so low. Buxton and Johnstone, last year's tournament combination, did everything that was asked of them. Stairmand, O'Connor and Persson, all newcomers to VUC hockey, were by no means overawed by, the occasion and on Saturday's form they should continue to fill the half-line billets throughout the season. With the exception of Tilley on the left wing, the forwards showed little inclination towards the fast and constructive play that is an essential for senior competition. The spoiling tactics adopted by their opponents and condoned by the referee were obviously bewildering to those who had learned their hockey in the comparative calm of the lower grades.

2nd tirade.—Lost 4-8 against Upper Hutt Warriors. Again a hitherto untried combination was put into the field against a team that had changed little since last season and lack of combination again lost the day. Kiddle and Sutherland of last year's Third Grade played solid hockey which the forwards were unable to turn to account on the day, although they give promise of forming a very strong line in future games. Harry Gajadhar, Horner and Orman, showed that they could still make individual penetrations even though effective interpassing was sadly lacking.

3rd Grade A.—v. Tech. Old Boys, lost 1-2. Handicapped by forwards playing out of position this team was unable to press home the many good scoring movements that were initiated by a fine set of halves.

3rd Grade B.—v. Trentham Army, won by default.

3rd Grade C.—v. Island Bay, lost 3-5. Little appreciation of positional play was the deciding factor in this loss. Ian Carron was prominent as centre-forward, making some penetrating runs but lacking the support to pull them off.

4th Grade.—v. Tech. Old Boys, lost 1-8. With only nine men playing, there could be but one result. Players must advise the club captain if they are unavailable.