(By A. D. Brodie, Hon. Sec. V.C.H.C.)

The Hockey Club bids good-bye to what has been, on the whole, a satisfactory season. At the beginning of the year it added to its responsibilities by deciding to place five teams in the field instead of four. In spite of the pessimism of some, this step has been justified, and although III B on several Saturdays has been sorely diminished numbers, no College team has defaulted. Now that the fifth team has survived its first season there should be less difficulty next year in filling its ranks.

The last issue of The Spike related how the bubble reputation was burst for the Seniors. Some excuses even were made for the first month's dismal record. Since then, however, the team has blown a new bubble for itself and has won most of the later matches. It has behaved as in 1908, starting with disaster, but finishing in a way to colour bright prospects for the next year. At last representative honours have fallen to our lot. No fewer than five of the team—H. W. Mongahan, D. S. Smith, B. Kibblewhite, R. St. Beere and A. H. Bogle—have represented Wellington during the season: a sixth, Griffith, was asked to play but could not. Monaghan an smith were in the team Zealand Championship Shield from Auckland; they were accounted by the calm judgment of certain prominent hockeyites of Wellington, as two of" the brightest and he best."

The Juniors, again under S. Eichelbaum's management, finished bravely, but not first. The captain will tell you the losses, but for which his men would have won the championship. The company he urged to the fray (from his position at full-back) in the opening encounter was very different from that which fought the later battles of the campaign. It has been the old tale of change and experiment which, however, has been unavoidable this year, several members having left page 41 the Club during the season." It never rains but it pours"—the Juniors also have supplied representative player: M. H. Oram (who captained the Junior representatives) an C. A. L. Treadwell.

II B during this, the first year of its existence, is a team with a grudge. The captain has been ground between the upper and nether millstones—above him the rapacious Juniors clamouring for men to fill vacancies, below him III A'a fixed determination not to yield a man. With it all the team has done very creditable. J. D. Smith is captain.

The mention of II A calls up the brightest story of the year. III A Cries no more "O mihi praeteritos. . . .!" The glories of 1907 have returned; Captain Cook (H. L.) has assumed the mantle of H. G. R. Mason; the honour of the team is redeemed. To be plain, III A won the Third-Class Championship without a defeate, scoring ninety goals to four in eleven matches, a twelfth match being won by default. The team owes it success in no small measure to the fact that it has been kept together throughout the season. This should be an object lesson to the Selection Committee. During the dark days of the vacation, when five of the regular members of the team were away, material assistance was lent by two or three footballs.

III B has consisted chiefiy of new player. Under the guidance of G. M. Hogben, it has come through the season with losses and wins about evenly disposed on its record sheet. III B fail to strike terror through its ranks.

Record of Matches.

Seniors—Captain, H. W. Monaghan; Vice-Captain, R. St. J. Beere.

V. C. v Wesley. Won, 4—1.

V. C. v Karori. Lost, 4—6. A great game and fast. Kibblewhite's way of peppering their winger's legs was artistic, but grew monotonous. Beere (3) and Pope scored. Bogle retired hurt, and was made much of by a bevy of fair supporters.

V. C. v Wellington. Won, 3—2. Our playing one short left Wellington sometimes on-side. Pope shot a goal—before his argument with the referee. Beere added two more goals.

V. C. v Vivian. Won, 5—0. A field day. Beere (2), Bogle, C. Strack, and Monaghan contributed to our total. Monaghan won his dinner, which we have reason to believe he has not yet realised.

V. C. v Wellington. Won, 4—1. G. Strack, Pope, Smith and Beere were the scorers. Burbridge maintained a kind of guerilla was at right half. Griffiths played well.

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V.C. v Thorndon. Won, 3—1.

V. C. v United. Lost, 4—5. A splendid game. The score was 4-1 against us early in second spell, but was 4 all just on time. There was excitement among V. C. Iadies on t the line. Y. M. C. A. wept at our downfall.

II A—Captain S. Eichelbaum.

V. C. v Petone. Lost, 4—3. Went out expecting to win, came back wondering why we did't. petoneites good mountaineers and used to rugged and precipitous nature of the country. Wilson turned up on this occasion. Oram (2) and Castle scored. No one played well.

V. C. v Greggs. Won, 6—3. Team played well. In first spell forwards, especially Oram, played in jest. In second spell settled down and played really well. Tread well and Salek best of backs. Rutherfurd played a good game and scored three goals. H. G. Brodies, Oram, and Paterson one each.

V. C. v Thorndon. Won in pouring rain by default.

V. C. v Vivan. Won, 5—0. Played on submarine territory, Miramar. They had only seven men. Features of game were Waldegrave's filne undercuts, and J. D. Smith's refereeing. Goalkeeper Salek felt cold and scored a goal for us. Oram, H. G. Brodie, Paterson, and Treadwell completd our tally.

V. C. A. v V. C. B. Won, 5—1. A family affair. Youngsters hopped off twig early and Fair scored a goal. Paterson, Wild, Oram, and Rutherfurd scored for us.

V. C. v Metropolitan. Lost, 3—6. Rutherfurs (2), and Oram scord. H. G. Brodle best forward; Treadwell best back.

V. C. v Karori. Won, 3—2. Wild, H. G. Brkodie, and Rutherfurd scored. Wilson again absented himself without notice and left us to play one short.

V. C. v United. Won by default.

II B—Capatain J. D. Smith.

V. C. v Vivan. Won, 3—0. Report is silent who our champions were.

V. C. v Government Life. Lost, 1—2. Smith scored.

V. C. v Petone. Won, 5—4. Played with nine men to Petone's eight Chapman—from III A—(2), McAlister (2), and Smith scored.

V. C. v United. Drawn, 1 all. Smith was the scorer for us.

V. C. v II A. Lost 1—5. Unexpectedly lost. Fair scored.

V. C. v Wellington. Won, 6—2. Smith (3), Wild (2), have acknowledged their guilt, but the sixth remains unknown.

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III A—Captain, H. L. Cook; Vice-Captain, S. Mason.

V. C. v Petone. Won, 12—0, Cook (4), Vernon (3), Bates (2), McDowall, Cleghorn, Chapman scored. Played at Petone; miserable ground and no referee.

V. C. v Wesley. Won., 10—0. Cook (4), Vernon (3), McDowall (2), Bates. Wesley dangerous on one occasion. Captain felt easier after the sixth goal. D. H.enderson played well in backs.

V. C. v Government Life. Won, 5—3. Our line crossed for the first time. Capping dances spoil averages.

V. C. v Metropolitan. Won, 2—0. An anxious time. Metrops, were our closest rivals. McDowal scored and Inder.

V. C. v III B. won, 9—1.

V. C. v Government Life. Won, 3—0. In colder weather this had been hockey on the ice. Bates twice and mason once waded through and steered the floating ball between the posts.

V. C. v Wellington. Won by default.

V. C. v Metropolitan. Won, 9—0. Vernon (4), Cook (4), and Robinson showed little respect for the dread name Metropolitan. We think we may win the cup.

V. C. v Greggs. Won, 2—0. Greggs were not Greggs, but mainly but mainly recruits from different junior teams. However, assisted by some III B's we more than held them. Watson and Cook Scored.

III B.—Captain, G. M. Hogben; Vice-Captain, Walton.

V. C. v. Government Life. Lost, 1—2, Morrison opened our account, but it went no further.

V. C. v Wesley. Won, 4—0. The scorers were Castle (2), Tinney and Morison. Our debit equals our credit.

V. C. v St. Pats. Won, 5—2. Hancock (2), Castle (2), and again Morison scored. We are certainly a better team, and meet III A in a fortnight.

V. C. v Petone. Lost, 1—6. Morison scored.

V. C. v. III A. Lost, 1—9.

V. C. v. Metropolitan. Lost, 4—7. We are getting used to it. Mason (3) and Morison scored.