What are the Chances?

The most important event in University Hockey this season will take place in Wellington during the coming week-end. Men's and Women's Hockey teams from A.U.C., C.U.C., O.U., and V.U.C., together with a team from Massey College will meet at Karori on Saturday in the first round of the Annual Hockey Tournament. The semi-finals will be played on Monday morning and the finals in the afternoon. The trophy for the Men's Tourney is the Seddon Stick, at present held by C.U.C. Naturally, they will not easily relinquish their hold on it, but they will meet some keen competition. Auckland is sending down a strong team and Victoria's representatives should also prove formidable. "Smad," without venturing too far into the realms of prophecy, anticipates some evenly contested games. The series should be fraught with considerable interest and offer an exhilarating exhibition.

C.U.C's Prospects.

The C.U.C. team is (so C.U.C. says) hardly up to the from of previous years, but has been well coached and hopes to give a good account of itself.

Hall, in goal, is an N.Z.U. Blue and should retain his place. As full-backs, Shillito, on the right is very solid, while Metson, on the left, newly promoted, is very promising.

Of the halves, Walter and Cooper at centre and right respectively, hold N.Z.U. Blues; the former was in teh Fiji touring team. Both are playing well up to standard. The other half, Hurst, recetly promoted, is a capable man.

The wingers, Prebble and Mogan, both new, show distinct propmise. Huston at right inside and Barnett, centere, well-known experienced Tournament players, are going very well. Duffield, left inside, should have no difficulty in retaining his place in a N.Z.U. team.

The team is captained by Ford, a veteran, who is playing as well as ever.

Can A.U.C. Do It?

Judging from the recoreds of its personnel and the showing in competition matches, Auckland has the strongest team for years. Of the 21 players chosen to train for the Auckland reps., seven are from A.U.C.

In goal, is Hnenderson, junior rep. 1934-35. Halliwell, B rep. 1935, and Hogben, Auckland rep. and N.Z.U. Blue, 1935, are the fullbacks. As halves they have Watson, N.Z.U. Blue, Brown, ex-Auckland rep., and Miller, A.U.C. sprint champion and ex-rep.

The forwards are no less impressive with Roberts, left wing, Provincial sprint champion, Lawry, N.Z.U. Blue, ex-Manawatu and Waikato rep., Brown, centre, N.Z.U. Blue, Cooper and Fraser, B reps., 1935.

Such pedigress surely speak for themselves.

Here Is Massey.

A team of hard-hitting stalwart individualists, Massey many be somewhat confounded by the short passing game in vogue among the other colleges. They are a hard, willing set of players who tear into it from the world go. "Smad" sympathises with anything that is so misguided as to come between a Massey Goliath and the poor little ball. They certainly mean business!

What of V.U.C.?

And now we come to our representatives. It may come as a surprise to some that V.U.C. are intrudign upon this "merrie and gentle tournie" of stickwielders. Contrary to the general rule, our prospects are considered birhgt. During the last fortnight the team has settled down to a display of respectable combination. We hope this happy state will continue indefinitely; if so that vague myth, the Seddon Stick, may materialise before the astounded eyes of Wicktorians.

The team has a fighting chance. Let's look it over. The team has reverted to the three full-back formation of last year, resulting in two draws and a win in three mathces. Asuccessful change was moving Abraham from left wing to full-back, where he has shown up well by making good use of his exceptional speed. The other full-backs, Foster and Robinson, are old hands and work well consistently-Give added concentration to penning your opponents in their own territory. In the halves, Grant does a great deal of work in an unobtrusive way, showing initiative on defence. Correct, however, a tendency to drift towards the centre. Johnson on the left is the best positional player among the halves and intercepts brilliantly. Newcombe, filling the difficult position of fourth half, knows his job, lbut does not display sufficient vim. The centre-half, Stewart (captain), undoubtedly gets through a tremendous amount of work, but does not seem to have regained his former dash. Show that pep!

The chief difficulty lies in finding forwards with sufficient finish in the circle. The right wing, Innes, a newcomer this year from Hamilton, is showing improved form, his centres having been responsible for some good goals. Centre sooner. Shaw, inside right, has probably the strongest shot among the forwards, and has had hard luck with his corner hits, which travel fast and straight. He has the best goal record so far. The forwards want a leader—the solution to the whole problem. Show dash; go to it and keep at it. The centre-forward, Webb, is improving in dash and finish but is still too much of a gentleman in the circle. Don't think too much of the other fellow's feelings; he won't do the same for you. Egleton, with the whole left attack to himself, whows great stickwork, but is inclined to delay passing a trifle, giving the defence time to mark the rest of the attack.

The Unknown Quantity.

There is still to be reckoned with, OU., about whom we know nothing except that they have a good goalie. Evidently they prefer it that way-strong silent men from the South who give nothing away.