HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 102, 4 May 1929, Page 22

HOCKEY

By "Dropkick-

IMPORTANT EVENT

BY "STICKS"

AUSTRALIAN VISIT

MATCH IN WELLINGTON A QUESTION OF LOYALTY Although the W.H.A. was, and still is, against the visit of an Australian team to the Dominion this season, in loyalty to the N.Z.H.A., it intends to assist in making the tour a success, if possible, and will invite the visitors to play in Wellington. An endeavour is to be made to have the match played on the Basin Reserve on 20th July, the first, date on which the ground has been applied for for hockey. Tt is doubtful whether the fixture will prove, much of a draw, unless in their earlier games the visitors perform better than the previous Australian tourists. Tho 1025 team from across tho Tasman made a very poor showing, and the New Zealand team which visited Australia, in 1927 had matters practically all its own way. There has been nothing recently to show that hockey in Australia is on the upgrade, but a definite assurance has been given tho N.Z.H.A. that only a team capable of holding its own against New Zealand players will be sent. A writer in the Christchurch "Star" says that it is doubtful whether the "delegates' decision at the annual meeting of the N.Z.H.A. to invite the Australians will meet with the approval of the majority of the associations. The voting on the motion was certainly fourteen, votes to four, but the votes of two associations accounted for 'six in favour, and those of one association counted for two against the proposal. Canterbury has always lost on matches with Australian tourists, and it ia questionable whether the risk of losing more money in this direction is justified. j The Empire Tournament. It is still uncertain whether a New Zealand ladies' team will bo sent to tho Empire t f rnament in South Africa next year, silinough it is necessary to let the South African authorities know definitely by July. Delegates to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Ladies' Hockey Association on Monday, evening gave careful consideration to the invitation, but were unable to arrive at a decision, as quite a number of the affiliated associations had not advised whether they were in favour of a team being sent. Another question which apparently carried a good deal of weight with delegates was whether the heavy expenditure which the tour would involve would be warranted by the benefit likely to be gained by the team. Several speakers considered that the programme drawn up by the South African authorities was likely to imposo such a severe strain upou tho New Zealand players that they would probably give up" tho game altogether on their return, and thus the beneficial results of the tour would be lost to the other players in New Zealand. The fact that a'motion to abandon tho proposal was lost by one vote only indicated that the delegates as a whole were by no means convinced that the tour would be worth while, but it was decided that in the meantime the associations which had not stated their views on the desirability or otherwise of sending a team should be given an opportunity of doing so. The writer's view is (hat the tour should be. abandoned. Much was said on Monday evening about tho likelihood of the game in Now Zealand benefitting from tho tour, but experience lias shown that more good results from inviting a really good overseas team to visit the Dominion. Certainly if young players am sent to South Africa, they will be able to pass on their improved knowledge of the game, but tho older players, and there are bound to be a number in the team, if sent, will retire long before any beneficial results are apparent. After all, tho. expenditure will be warranted only if tho tour raises the game here to a higher plane, and there is no certainty that New Zealand representation at the Empire tournament achievo this result. Tirst Shield Challenge. Already a challenge for Ihe New Zealand Hockey Challenge Shield, won from Auckland last season by Wellington, has been made by Canterbury, a writer in the Christchurch "Star" pointing out that an early challenge is considered advisable as the minimum of travelling is a factor in gettin" j together a first-class team. Whether he means by that statement that there is a likelihood of the Shield being taken from Wellington by one of the northern associations unless Canterbury gets in first is not clear, but that is certainly the natural inference. It is quite on the cards that challenges will come in from Auckland, Poverty Bay, and Nelson, the last date by which challenges can be made being the end of July. Judging from tho form shown by last season's representatives, most of whom will again bo available, challenging teams will be. meeting a tough proposition, and at the present time the chances of the Shield leaving Wellington arc fairly remote. There is always the possibility of a successful challenge being made, but even so, tho victors will have to extend themselves to win. If the Canterbury Association is willing, the challenge match will be played on the Basin Roserve on 29th June, as tho Wellington Football Association needs the ground on 31st August, one of the, dates originally applied for by the W.H.A. Hooking of Sticks. The hooking of sticks was discussed at the annual meeting of the N.Z.H.A. last week, and it was agreed to ask the N.Z.H.R.A. to bring about further uniformity of interpretation on the matter, owing to certain associations prohibiting hooking under the rule which does not allow play with the reverse side of the stick. These associations claim that to hook a stick is to play the reverse side. The matter was brought up at the annual meeting of the N.Z.H.R.A. in Wellington on Monday evening, when it was decided to reply, drawing attention to tho interpretation already given to the following effect: "It is almost impossible to hook a stick (which is permitted) with any part of it except the curve (which is not the flat side), and we rule that the curve is intended to be for the hooking mentioned and is permitted." Notice to Players. The following notice issued by the Wellington Beferees' Association may be useful to players now that the competitions have commenced: — All players must turn out in club colours. Eeferees have power to forbid a player taking part in a game unless he is wearing proper uniform. Practice on and between grounds while matches are in progress is not fair to the teams playing, and must be cut out.