STANDARD OF HOCKEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 350, 10 May 1928, Page 10

STANDARD OF HOCKEY

INFLUENCE OF SENIOR B GRADE There seems to be a good deal of controversy and a certain degree of dissatisfaction over the Auckland Hockey Association’s allowing the formation again this season of the B division in the senior grade. It was felt in many quarters at the end of last season that the division of the grade was not warranted, and it was hoped by several Auckland authorities that the experiment would not be repeated. Nevertheless the fact that this year again finds the first grade so partitioned indicates that there must be a majority of the Executive Committee who consider the B grade merits continuation. In a nutshell the argument of those who want a reversion to the old order is that a team Is either a first-class side or it is not. A player, they contend, must either be ranked with the top-notchers or he must be not worthy of that classification. There can be no half-way house between first and second grade. Opponents of the present arrangement hold that the creation of senior B grade is making hockey too cheap; it is robbing first-class hockey of its prestige. It is making the ranks of those who excel too easy of entry. The result is an all-round lowering of the standard of play. Instead of it being counted an honour to be admitted to grading as a senior, as has been the rule when first-class hockey indeed was first-class, to-day many half-fledged players of two or three years’ experience seem to expect, as a matter of course, to get into senior grade because they consider they have been playing long enough in lower levels. As a natural consequence sufficient young fellows make themselves into a team and on request are recived into the once jealously-guarded body of first-rate men. REFEREE'S OPINION Commenting on the present position a former New Zealand representative player and a respected referee, said that with possibly one exception none of the teams now labelled senior B grade should ever have gained entry . to any higher classification than second

grade. Further, one of the teams properly belonged to grade three. So markedly has the game deteriorated in Auckland that, in this authority’s opinion, only three out of the six sides in senior A division are worthy of their place. Exactly which these teams are, in both A and B sections, is well enough known to their members and to all who give the matter any thought. It may be argued that the season is not yet far enough advanced to judge the standard of the game and of the various teams in the first-grade. But several persons qualified to speak by reason of 15 or 20 years’ experience, are emphatic that the game has deteriorated not only here but in other parts of the Dominion. The fault, it is claimed, lies not altogether with the personnel of teams, but rather to a lack of coaches. It stands to reason that no side can

attain to excellence in any sport unless it is rigorously trained and schooled in the finesse of the game undertaken. Footballers, cricketers, boxers, and others have to submit to such training, and the result is progress. It is perfectly true that hockey does not allow of the same degrees of practice as do other forms of sport, but this and the lack of coaches does not gainsay, rather does it accentuate, the gloomy fact that the standard is lo\v. * « * Dominion Challenge Shield. —There

seems to be satisfaction in most parts of the country that the New* Zealand Hockey Association has decided that tournaments for the Dominion Challenge Shield shall be a thing of the past and that individual challenges are to be reverted to. The debacle last season when two Southern associations withdrew from the contest at Auckland at the eleventh hour seems to have given voice to simmering dissatisfaction. Auckland, holders of the shield, has already received a challenge from Waikato. * * *. Changes in the Executive. —Finding himself unable to agree with a cer-

tain point of policy held by the majority of the executive committee, Mr. Jack Giles, of St. Luke’s, has resigned his seat. The resignation was accepted with regret at Tuesday’s meeting. Mr. J. N. Wilson, of University, has been elected to the vacancy. * • * New Sub-Association.—The Auckland Association has granted affiliation of a new sub-association called the Maniapoto Hockey Association. It embraces clubs playing in Te Kuiti and tho northern King Country. * * * Grounds Problem.—Up to the present the executive committee has not yet had time to go into the problem of obtaining grounds for next year. The question will probably be discussed at next week’s meeting. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY

The third series of matches under the control of the Auckland Hockey Association will be played on Saturday, unless otherwise stated all games to take place at Remuera. Senior Grade.—North Shore v. Mount Eden, No. 1, 3.5 p.m., Mr. It. Avery; Somerville v. Areta, No. 1, 1.50 p.m., Mr. A. Williams; University v. St. Luke’s, No. 2, 3.5 p.m., Mr. L. C. Kent; Otahuhu v. Epiphany, No. 3, 3.5 p.m., Mr. H. B. Speight; Somerville Colts v. Training College, No. 2, 1.50 p.m., Mr. G. Waddington; University Colts, a bye. Second Grade.—St. Luke’s v. Wesley, No. 6, 3.5 p.m., Mr. D. Fraser; Areta v. University, No. 5, 3.5 p.m., Mr. A. Williams; Somerville v. Mount Eden, No. 4, 3.5 p.m., Mr. L. G. Crawshaw; Epiphany v. Papatoetoe, Papatoetoe, 3.5 p.m., Mr. H. Donaldson. Third Grade.—Waitemata v. Wesley A., Victoria Park, 3.5 p.m., Mr. L. Davern; University A v. University B, No. 6, 1.50 p.m., Mr. R. Avery; Training College v. Mount Eden, No. 8, 3.5 p.m., Mr. G. Peace; Auckland Grammar v. Wesley B, No. 5, 1.50 p.m., Mr. N. Ellison. Fourth Grade.—University v. Papatoetoe, Papatoetoe, 1.50 p.m., Mr. H. Donaldson; Grammar v. Somerville, No. 7, 3.5 p.m., Mr. N. Ellison; Otahuhu v. St. Luke’s, No. 9, 3.5 p.m., Mr. C. Preston. Fifth Grade.—Auckland Grammar A v. Auckland B. Mount Albert Grammar B v. Mount Albert C, Mount Albert A v. Auckland C, all postponed; Mount Eden, a bye. GIRLS' MATCHES Following are the fixtures under the jurisdiction of the Auckland Ladies’ Hockey Association:— Senior Grade.—Wesley v. Y.W.C.A., No. 3, 1.50 p.m., Mr. H. B. Speight; Somerville v. Arawa, No. 4, 1.50 p.m., Mr. L. C. Kent; Mount Eden, a bye. Junior Grade.—Y.W.C.A. A v. Papatoetoe, Papatoetoe, 3.5 p.m., Mr. Wellington; Y.W.C.A. B v. Technical, No. 7, 1.50 p.m., Mr. A. M. Burton; Wesley v Somerville, No. 8, 1.50 p.m., Mr A. B. Burton; Mount Eden v Papakura, Papakura, 3.5 p.m., Miss G. Lowe.