HOCKEY

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26515, 1 September 1951, Page 8

HOCKEY

TEAM FOR OLYMPIC GAMES INVITATION TO NEW ZEALAND ' The International Hockey Federation has asked the New Zealand Hockey Association to send a team to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952. This was announced by the secretary o£ the association (Mr W. H. Down) when he presented the management committee's report to a special meeting of delegates to the association in Christchurch last evening. The federation had advised him that New Zealand had been Invited to send a team to the games, upon the withdrawal of the Australian team, said Mr Down. The competition was limited to 12 teams, of which four were from the semi-finalists at the 1948 Olympic Games, six from countries which had “consistently supported" the hockey section of the games, and one from the American continents (Argentina). Australia, the host country for the 1956 games, had been given the opportunity of sending the twelfth team, but had declined.

"There is a strong possibility that the necessary money for the trip will be found," Mr Down said. The association still had to get the approval of the New Zealand Olympic Association for the trip, however.

"I am sure the team will give a good account of itself at the games, in the manner of the great New Zealand representative sides of the past," said the president (Mr C. C. Holland). “When the Indian team came here before the war. their manager expressed the opinion that this country’s hockey placed her among the top two or three hockey-playing countries in the world. We can be sure that our team will finish in the top half dozen at Helsinki next year," Mr Holland added. The tour of New Zealand by a Pakistan hockey team would have cost £BOOO, said Mr Holland. ’This association was unable to provide more than £3OOO, so the team did not come. If. however, we had been able to arrange for a further £3OOO from Australia in exchange for a series of games by the team, it would have been possible to arrange the tour. It can be seen from this example that much closer co-operation between the Australian and New Zealand associations in matters of this kind is needed.”

INTER ISLAND MATCH

GAME IN CHRISTCHURCH TO-DAY The North v. South Island hockey match will be played at Williamson hockey park this afternoon. It is the first game of the kind to be played in Christchurch since before the war. Last year the South Island beat the North Island at Wanganui by 3 goals to 2. The first North v. South Island game, played at Lancaster Park in June, 1903, wa< drawn. In this afternoon's game, 11 of the players taking part have already represented New Zealand. They are: J. Buchan (Auckland), R. Johansson (Wellington), J. Tynan (Wellington), H. Englert (Wellington), B. Turner (Manawatu), M. Down (Canterbury), B. Bedford (Otago). R. Peacock (Canterbury), P. Cassin (Otago), E. Gribble (Nelson), and P. Munro 'Manawatu). The teams will take the field as follows: North Island.—W. Shaeffer (Wairarapa), J. Buchan (Auckland), R. Johansson (Wellington). B. Turner (Manawatu), J. Tynan (Wellington, captain), L. Cassin (Hawke's Bay), H. Englert (Wellington). W. Percival (Wellington). B. Tooby (Wellington). P. Munro-(Manawatu) O. Hill (Taranaki). Reserves: J. Smith (Wellington) and R. Whitcher (Wellington). The manager of the team is Mr K. Falconer and the selectors Messrs W. Newsham and K. Falconer.

South Island.—G. Maister (Canterbury), M. Ddwn (Canterbury), B. Bedford (Otago), K. White (North Otago), R. Peacock (Canterbury), M. Louden (Otago), P. Cassin (Otago, captain), E. Gribble (Nelson), H. Hannah (Canterbury), G. McGregor (Otago), A. Boustridge (West Coast). Reserves: B. Hall. R. Randle, and E. Thomas (al! Canterbury). The manager is Mr W. H. Down, and the selectors Messrs W. H. Down and E. J. Rennick. The umpires for the match will be Messrs N. Pinder and C. Gutry.

The Quatre Bras Cup competition among South Island minor associations will be completed in Christchurch to-day. Ashburton will play North Otago at Hagley No. 6 ground at 9.30 a.m., and South Canterbury will play the West Coast at Hagley, No. 7, at 9.30 a.m. The final will be played at Barrington Park at 1.15 p.m—Advt.

Other representative games to-day are: Canterbury third A v. West Coast, at Hagley, No. 6, at 11 a.m.; Canterbury fourth A v. Ashburton, at Polo 15, at 11 a.m.; and Canterbury under 16 v. Ashburton, at Polo No. 16, at 11 a.m. —Advt.

HATCH CUP

WEIGHT LIMIT ABOLISHED

The weight limit of Bst 71b on primary schoolboys for inclusion in teams for the Hatch Cup (interprovincial) competition was abolished at a special meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Hockey Association in Christchurch last evening. A motion to this effect was proposed by the secretary of the association (Mr W. H. Down). The restriction had resulted In some boys going without essential food in order to bring their weight down to the necessary.Jimit. Mr Down said. "If a boy wants to starve himself, there is nothing you can do to stop him," said Mr A. Stubblngs (Wairarapa). "Boys who are keen to represent their province at a game they are good at will always starve themselves if they are only a pound or two over the limit.”

He had heard of many cases where boys had been kept back at school an additional and unnecesary year so that a provincial side could be built up, said Mr C. A Rogers (Manawatu). "Such practices will tend to increase if this restriction is removed.”

WOMENS HOCKEY

K CUP COMPETITION AT AUCKLAND OTAGO WINS SECTION A (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. Aug. 31. Although, unexpectedly beaten by Canterbury. Otago had sufficient points to win Section A of the K Cup competition when the last series of matches in the Dominion women's hockey tournament was decided at Melville Park to-day. Otago will meet Eastern, the winner of Section B. in the final to-morrow afternoon. The winner will hold the K Cup and the loser the Floyd Shield. Rangitikei’s success over Wellington puts ts level with Canterbury, and a replay will be held at Melville Park to-morrow morning to find the runner-up in section A The winner of this match will play Auckland Town for the Holden Cup. A draw in the Mills Cup section A competition will require another match between Bush and Poverty Bay to-morrow morning The winner will play Ashburton.

To-dav's results -were:— K Cup—Section A: Rangitikei 3. Wellington A 2: Malvern 2. Auckland Countrv 1; Canterbury 4 Otago 2. Section B' I 'astern 6, Wairarapa 1; Wellington B 3 'VaiVato 0; Auckland, a bye. Mills Cup—South Canterbury 1. Poverty Bay 1; Manawatu 1, Nelson 1; Auckland 1, Wanganui 0.