HOCKEY ARMISTICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 491, 22 October 1928, Page 6

HOCKEY ARMISTICE

LONG SEASON ENDS PLAYERS QUIT OLD HOME The hockey season has ended, and not a day too soon. There were unmistakable signs of relief at Remuera on Saturday that a protracted calendar of matches drawn out to an unreasonable extent had at last been brought to a close. Nevertheless, it was with certain feelings of regret that players trooped off the field, not because the 1928 games were concluded, but because Saturday marked the last occasion that the Remuera grounds will be used for hockey, the Auckland Association having had to yield up the lease to other interests. Remuera. has been the home of hockey for over 20 years and now the association does not know where to turn for accommodation for next season. The final match was one between Somerville seniors and University for the Kent Cup. The weather was really too hot for sparkling hockey and by the time the game had run two-thirds of its course players were slowed up by the hard ground and dripping with perspiration. The final score of 7 —2 to Somerville was not a fair indication of the merits of the students, who, one man short, put up a creditable showing against an admittedly superior eleven. Somerville’s forwards were in fine fettle and some dazzling work was performed by Eric Watts and Seccomb© who could hardly go wrong. Indeed, the whole team frequently displayed real brilliance. Varsity also -were seen in many pleasing movements and during the first half looked like holding their own. The students had numerous opportunities but sound defence on the part of their opponents and over-keenness on their own account spoiled likely chances. By way of a curtain-raiser a team selected from the referees met and vanquished a side representing the hockey girls of Auckland. The men turned out in a weird and wonderful regalia of mid-Victorian costumes, wore false noses, and played deplorable hockey. It was probably because the girls were in convulsions of laughter that they lost to so disreputable a team to the tune of 4—3. ROWING SEASON OPENS FOURS AT AUCKLAND The Auckland Club staged the first race of the city’s rowing season on Saturday, when a set of subscription fours was rowed from King’s Wharf to the reclamation. Water conditions were excellent, and three crews entered, the race being for last season’s oarsmen only. The crews were:—Eaddy (stroke), Barrett, Buck, Bouil (bow); McComish (stroke), Wigley, Cleal, Coutts (bow); Bygate (stroke), Mahon, Rose, Battley (bow). The three crews got away together, all making good starts, and remained fairly equal until about opposite the club house, when Bygate dropped back a little, leaving Eaddy and McComish to fight out the race. McComish made a great bid about 100yds from the finish, but Eaddy quickened up, to win by a length. Bygate, who came up well at the finish, was another length, back, third.