HOCKEY Canterbury View On Cut In Shield Games

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 17

HOCKEY Canterbury View On Cut In Shield Games

i A letter from the Canterbury Hockey Association objecting to a statement by a member of the New Zealand association about other associations getting "browned off" with too many challenges for the New' Zealand Challenge Shield, was received by the management committee at its meeting last evening. The letter also said the Canterbury association had been quite happy with the seven challenges issued to Canterbury this year. The j number has since been reduced to five by the New Zealand association

"Once again I would like to point out that it is not the

wish of Canterbury that the number of challenges be reduced,” said the letter. The chairman of the management committee (Mr A. D Holland) said that a statement made by a member of the committee was not necessarily the feeling of the management committee, and that it had never been under the impression that Canterbury had been reluctant to accept challenges.

“The decision was made in the interests of the other associations in New Zealand. We are concerned with the administration of hockey in New Zealand, not just in Canterbury.” said Mr Holland. It was decided to write a letter to the Canterbury association along these lines. Colts Tournaments

The suggested dates of August 2, 3. and 4 for the northern zone colts' tournament were received by letter from the Auckland association. and approval granted subject to revision in the event of a protest from one of the five associations participating. By playing one round on the Wednesday afternoon and two rounds on the Thursday and two on the Friday, the tournament would be completed on the Friday, and there would be no need to play games on the Saturday morning before the representative game against Auckland.

Although the meeting felt that Auckland's idea was sound, it was decided to make the approval provisional after Mr R. S. Jenkins raised the point that an association might withdraw its team from the tournament because of the problem of time away from work which it involved. The Canterbury suggestion for the southern colts’ tournament was approved. Th* dates will be August 3,4, and 5. Rotorua Association Objection to the exclusion of the Rotorua association from the Bay of Plenty association was expressed in a letter from the Rotorua association. “We strongly object to Tauranga. Whakatane, and Opotiki being named the Bay of Plenty association, as these towns are on the extreme eastern boundary,” said the letter. It was decided that as the Bay of Plenty association had been approved at the last annual meeting the matter would have to go through the proper channels at the next annual meeting. Selectors The following selectors were appointed:— North Island Majors: Messrs L. Monteith (Auckland!. convener. P. Spires (Wellington), and R. Vercoe (Hawke's Bay). North Island Minors: Messrs J. Macintyre <Wanganui), convener, Vercoe, and Monteith. South Island Minors: Messrs B. Cox (convener) and R. McKinley (Otago). The South Island Major associations' selectors will be announced after the next meeting. Mr E. G. McLeod was appointed coach of the New Zealand team to play the Indian team.

Approval was granted to Canterbury to hold the North-South game at Christchurch on Saturday. September 9.

TESTS AGAINST INDIA

Non-Replacement Rule To Apply

The non-replacement rule will be observed for the tests between New Zealand and the touring Indian team. This was decided at a meeting of the management committee of the New Zealand Hockey Association last evening after considerable discussion. Mr M. R. Good said he favoured the non-replacement

rule for the tests but replacements for the provincial games. He said New Zealand should stick to the international rules.

•‘I don't like the no-replace-ment rule." said Mr L. G. Taylor, “but we should adopt it as a matter of policy to step up our whole game.”

The motion that the nonreplacement rule be observed in the three tests and that the replacement rule be allowed in provincial games at the referee's discretion, was carried with one member dissenting.

Indian Empire For Tour

A request from the manager of the Indian team that provision be made for an Indian umpire. travelling with the team, to umpire in every game in New Zealand except the three tests was discussed by the management committee of the New Zealand Hockey Association last evening in the course of a report from the emergency committee dealing with the Indian, tour. The decision of the emergency committee granted the Indian umpire only five games. "The Indians are coming here to play hockey, not to umpire." said Mr A. D. Holland. The five matches allowed the Indians were through "courtesy" and no more, he said.

The Indian touring party will now number 18. The Indians had planned to bring a coach but decided against this after receiving word from New Zealand that it would not accept a party of ninre than 18.