Hockey Club

As these notes are being written at the beginning of the season, an accurate assessment of the strength of the Hockey Club in the 1948 season can scarcely be given. However, the fact that in two Saturdays of play the club has lost only one out of ten games seems to be a favourable augury for the present season. With five teams instead of six entered in the competitions it should be possible to field reasonably constant combinations week by week, and there should be no necessity to 'scratch' a team because of a shortage of players.

Eight of last year's stalwarts—still smarting at the memory of the debacle of Winter Tournament 1947—will form the nucleus of the senior team. Newcomers who will undoubtedly strengthen the team include Ivor Ting, former Club Captain, Jim Beard of A.U.C. fame, and Reg Burney, Hec Lawry and Gil Johnston will again be on hand to mould the team into an effective combination. It is to be hoped that last year's tendency to substitute talks on hockey theory for practice in stick work and physical education will not occur this season.

The initial success of the club in most games should provide a fillip sufficient to ensure that every team, junior or senior, gives of its best in spite of the handicapping change in personnel, inadequate coaching, and the usual lack of goalkeepers. The progress made by junior teams last year was encouraging. The 3rd Grade A team fully deserved the award of the Dixon Trophy, and this season they have won both their games in convincing style. The other 3rd and 4th Grade teams are untried as yet and will find it difficult to combine well unless they make efforts to obtain coaching or—even better—arrange regular team talks. The 2nd Eleven has been relegated to the 2nd Division of their grade and fields a side that is stronger than that of previous years. The team will enjoy an advantage in that it is no longer necessary to use it as a stepping stone for the senior eleven, as the team selections have been finalized earlier than usual.