Hockey Notes

As usual, the V.U.W. men's hockey club is fielding five teams in the Wellington senior grade competitions, and is responsible for a primary school boy team from Porirua. The strength of the club and its depth of ability this year is reflected in the fact that until recently, five of these six teams were winning their respective grades.

The senior team, having shared the lead in the senior competition with W.C.O.B. for most of the season, is now lying second equal with Karori, one point behind Hutt, and has a good chance of taking championship honours this year. The success of this team is partly due to the lack of complete dominance by any one of the top four teams, and partly to improvements within the team itself. A reorganised forward line with ex-N.Z. representative Bruce Judge at centre forward and Wellington B. representative Mark Lumsden at inside right has strengthened the team's scoring power, and its defence has been reinforced by the increasing confidence of young right half, Don Sandford. The consistent form of the captian, Robin Kendrick, at centre half, and Brian Turner at left fullback are other features of the defence.

For this team Turner has been selected as a North Island representative, and both he and Kendrick are in Wellington senior team. Lumsden, Derek Wilshere and John Scott play for the Wellington B. team and Sandford for the Wellington colts.

The Senior Reserve team won eight games in a row to give it a convincing lead at the end of the first round, after which it entered a promotion relegation series with the bottom two teams in the senior competition, where, against stronger opposition, it has already suffered a loss.

Because many members of this team have played together for some time now a certain measure of cohesion and understanding between players has developed. Contributing further to this team's success is the recent top form of individuals, in particular of Paul Dentice at inside right. Together with right win Roger Wilcox and centre forward Trevor Bates, he gives the team a formidible right attack. On defence Chris Kirkham (right fullback) and Dick Myhre (left half) have been playing extremely well.

The team has been rewarded with five representatives in the Wellington senior reserve team; Dentice, Wilcox, Bates, Kirkham, and left wing, Brian Pointon.

The senior second grade team is also having a good year, and is still leading the grade, despite the problem of establishing combination between players in a team of fluctuating composition. However the efforts of Bill Webb, Don Burtt and Graeme Cooke in the halves, and Phil Judd and Steve McRae in the forward line have overcome this problem somewhat. Goeff Sidwell was selected for the Wellington second grade team as right wing.

The senior thirds often lose players to fill gaps in the higher teams, and it is partly as a result of this that the team has not won many games this season. The dependable work of Ralph Pannet at left fullback, and Simon Williams at centre half, along with the drive of Lindsay Fookes and Godfrey Scoullar in the forward line, probably deserves richer reward.

Despite the 'social' attitude of many of its palyers, and the depletion of its ranks during the holidays, the senior sixths remain at the top of their grade. Much of the success of this team is due to the efforts of Geoff Dyer at centre forward, who has scored the bulk of the team's goals. In the halves, Andrew Kirk on the right and Phil Gurney on the left are solid, as is the right fullback, Phil Alley.

The Porirua primary schoolboys' team is the club's 'ward'; a responsibility undertaken by the club in an effort to foster hockey in that area. Starting the season in the junior fourth grade, the team was promoted to junior third which It is now leading. Some credit for this is due to Mark Lumsden who has undertaken the coaching and organisation of these boys.

The most important social even of the year, the hockey club cabaret, is to take place on the 24th of July. It will be preceded by a dinner.