HOCKEY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 383, 7 May 1910, Page 3

HOCKEY.

(By "Bully.") It is difficult to believe that the championship lixturos start in a little over a vueii's time. Hockey isn't a bit lively in -New Plymouth. Practices have been fairly ,poorJy attended, despite the formation of the new club.

From present appearances it is doubtful whether the united Club, will get \ ( ry far beyond the actual formation stage. Its promised members include a number of members of the New Plymouth Club, who now say they had no intention at any time of leaving it. The whole matter will be brought up at a meeting of the New Plymouth Club on Monday night.

So far as the writer can learn, only six of the New Plymouth Club's team and two of the United have put in practice this season. Is it'that the cancellation of the rJiiglish team's tour, and ihe disappearance of a chance to represent the province against a national team, ilias robbed the game of its interest?

Hut the Tarnnaki Association has decided to make a bid for the Challenge .shield, and New Plymouth players will have to look alive if they intend to see ivjs. honors.

Uraines, who played for Nelson reps, last year, will strip for the New Plymouth Clu.b Mutters are. no more enthusiastic in the Carrington Road Club. Perham and Jordan have decided to scratch from Llie active list, and they'll he hard to replace. Hudson will also lie missing lixm the ranks this vear.

Inglewood and Stratford Clubs -will | lit tli be strong this season. Hawera will sulfur greatly irum the los* of Cook, one of the Club's ibost men. There is a chance that an Australian I'i-ain wig! vi-:'. .m-w Zealand this year. Tl:;s is move reasonable than the proposed tour of an English team. Hockey isn't strong enough locally to warrant !lmt guarantee of a £75 gate, and the Australian matoJli will be just as big a draw, and provide the players with practically as much education. An Australian tour could probably be worsea on guarantees of about £25 from eacli association.

The Inglewood Hockey Club has just taken delivery of a new roller for its ground. It is of concrete, and weighs something in the region of 1% tons, ft should prove more than useful on the Club's ground, which has long felt the want of a solid horse-roller. Previously only hand rollers have 'heen used, and these entailed a maximum of labor for a minimum of result.

The ladies' hockey season opens well. Last year only three clubs entered championship teams, but this year there are eight, which suggests a ra.pidly growing popularity of the game amongst our girl folks. It is hoped that the very satisfactory interest at present displayed will be maintained, and that the standard of play will show such improvement as to enable our lady representative team to give an even better account of ii<e!f than at Napier last year. This ytar the championship tourney takes place at Nelson.