HOCKEY TEST MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 161, 9 July 1926, Page 12

HOCKEY TEST MATCH.

N.Z. V. INDIAN ARMY,

AT THE DOMAIN TO-MORROW.

The Indian Army hockey tram, which: has had such a remarkahly successful tour of New Zealand, and which defeated New Zealand in the first Test match by; the substantial margin of 5 goals to 1, will play the second Test game against the Dominion's national team at tho Domain to-morrow afternoon. Admiration for the individual skill and controlled team-play of the visitors has been universal, and Xew Zealanders have been compelled to admit that the standard of hockey played by the visitors is much above anything yet reached by Xew Zealand players. Only in Canterbury, where the provincial side \vm beaten 2 —l, and in Palmerston North, where the Manawatu eleven achieved an unexpected 4—t draw, were the visitors at all troubled. Even then it is du-.H-fill if they called on their full resources. Since they won the first Test, their methods have been studied, and the second Test team for Xew Zealand has been chosen with a view to endeavouring to turn the tables by forcing the play into the style at which the New Zealanders excel. Whether or not the home team will be able to make the game suit them, it is certain that the hockey of the Indian Army team will be of the highest class. In all probability they will display their versatility by changing their tactics to meet the altered methods of their opponents. Two curtain-raisers will precede thfi Test game. The first, starting at I.: 1 .',) p.m., will be a hockey match between school teams representing East ami West. This will be followed by a ladies' football match between rep. A and l> teams. Some changes have been made in the New Zealand team, the Wellington player Perrin, who is injured, being replaced by Spiers, of Wellington, and C. Watts, of Auckland (also injured) replaced by Loekey, of West Coast. The team, which will be captained by E. McLeod, of Wellington, is:— Goalkeeper: Fletcher (Waikato). Fullbacks: Soper (Canterbury), Spier 3 (Wellington). Halfbacks: Mahoney (Canterbury), McLeod (Wellington), captain; Hore (Canterbury). Forwards: Hookham (Auckland), Bell (Canterbury), E. Watts (Auckland), Loekey (West Coast), E. A. Burton (Auckland). Reserves: Baildon (Auckland), Cole (Auckland). Messrs. H. B. Speight, of Auckland; and H. Hatch, of Wellington, lave been, appointed referees.