On the Ball

This year hockey at Victoria is flourishing with such outstanding success that once again the V.U.C. teams are proving really formidable in the Wellington hockey champs. These meritorious performances reflect in no small way the abounding enthusiasm and the "team spirit" remarkable throughout the club.

The First Eleven and Third "B" have to date been undefeated. The second and third "A" teams have have been defeated only once and the Fourths, although they have lost more than they have won are improving with pleasing rapidity and before long their keenness should pave the way for many successes. In the club championships the first, second and third "A" and "B" teams are leaders in their grades.

The First Eleven this year is quickly developing into one of the finest teams Victoria has produced. Its tactical play is perhaps the best so far witnessed in Senior club play.

Second Grade. Although the general standard of play is high, there exist sevral faults which need to be ironed out. The full-backs indulge in too much indiscriminate placing of the ball—clearances should go straight to your own players, not to the opposition. The halves must develop more understanding with their forwards and full-backs. In the forwards the obvious weakness is the inability to exploit to the full the numerous opportunities. Like the First Eleven, forwards, they show inaccuracies with their goal shooting and a lack of "fight" in the opposition's twenty-five.

Third "A." General faults in play are those evident in the First and Second Elevens, though here the ball control and stick work must be practised. This team, showing an excellent team spirit, should be able to emulate last year's performance when they were the most successful Victoria team.

Third "B" The team to date have won three and drawn two of the five games played. They have been showing pleasing form and are steadily improving their knowledge of tactical play. However, they should Concentrate more on the elements of tackling, passing and ball control.

Fourths. Although not as successful as other teams, the Fourths show that same team spirit which is a marked feature of the club this year.