HOCKEY TOUR All Six Games To Be Tests

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 18

HOCKEY TOUR All Six Games To Be Tests

A unique hockey tour of New Zealand by the Pakistan Olympic team is in prospect for July and August.

The recommended itinerary, approved by the management committee of the New Zealand Hockey Association last evening, proposes a short tour of six matches—all tests.

This was one of three departures from normal tour practice, said the chairman of

the committee (Mr R. S. Jenkins). The others were that the itinerary called for two tests on successive days in two centres, and that the entire tour would be controlled by the New Zealand body. There will be two tests each at Auckland and Christ-, church; the other venues will be Nelson and Wellington. The six tests will be played in 10 days.

i The recommended itinerary

July 27, first test at Auckland; July 28, second test at Auckland; July 30, third test at Wellington; August 1. fourth test at Nelson; August 4, fifth test at Christchurch; August 5, sixth test at Christchurch.

Best Proposition The Pakistan side of 18 players and officials will arrive in Auckland on July 25 and leave Christchurch for Japan on either August 6 or 7.

The special sub-committee handling the tour had given earnest consideration to the type of matches to be played on the tour, and had decided that an all-test series would be the best proposition, said the convener (Mr M. R. Good). “We want this tour to benefit the New Zealand team as much as the Pakistan team,” said Mr R. A. Milne.

Mr Good reported that pro-, posed short pre-Olymplc tours by India to New Zealand and by New Zaland to Australia had fallen down. Advice had been received that the New Zealand team’s tour of Australia next year would be of three weeks duration, and would consist mainly of tests and games against southern states.

Challenge Shield The eight teams to play for the Challenge Shield in section one of the Rothmans interprovincial tournament this winter wilt be Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, Hawke’s Bay, Wanganui, Whangarei and Waikato.

In section 2 (Rothmans Cup) will be Marlborough, Taranaki, Manawatu. Wairarapa, Poverty Bay, West Coast Bay of Plenty and Southern Minors.

A second side from Southern Minors will be accepted if a team from the R.N.Z.A.F. enters the field.

The Air Force wishes to enter the tournament as a specially affiliated body—but it wants first call on players in the service. Under the rules of the New Zealand association, this is not possible unless players have the permission of their local associations.

Norden Cup.—Hutt Valley holder of the Norden Cup for minor associations, will be called on to face five challenges this season. The order of challenges will be Nelson, Waipa, Central Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Islands, Ashburton.

Selectors. —The management committee chose the following selection panels for the season: North Island.—Messrs I. D. Armstrong (Dannevirke, conveners C. F. Bint (Whangarei) and T. Moresby (Auckland). South Island. —Messrs R. H. MacKinlay (Dunedin, convener). D. G. Page (Otago) and D. Hef ford (Ashburton). North Island Minors.—Mr P. B. Willis (con vener, Wellington) and one other to be appointed. South Island Minors.—Messrs B. V. Cox (convener, Nelson), W. M. Carr (Southland), and L. J. Goodman (South Canterbury).