Hockey move to three sections

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33654, 2 October 1974, Page 18

Hockey move to three sections

There is increasing support for proposals to have the national inter-provincial men’s hockey tournament played in three sections — probably of eight teams each — from next season. A remit has already been received from the Hawke’s Bay association and it will be forwarded to the annual meeting in March. Last evening, members of the N.Z.H.A. management committee were critical of the present system of' two divisions. In his report from the 1974 tournament, Mr R. H. Campbell said that he “did not think that having 10 teams in the top section was doing hockey any good; the difference between sides was too great.” The association might take heed from women’s hockey and introduce three sections. With 23 regular provinces, a vacancy would be available to Fiji or another “guest” team.

However, he also considered that while the tournament catered for minor provinces there was no provision for the second Xis of areas such as Canterbury, Auckland and Wellington. “The second-string players could learn so much if they were entered as a second team. That is what the tournament is all about — we should take care of the major B sides,” Mr Campbell said. Mr R. Gillespie said that some province's might number only “about 20 or 30” regular players, yet were assured of a place at national contests. But he was dubious whether provinces could afford to send two teams. The remit received from Hawke’s Bay was referred to the fixtures sub-committee. Doubts about whether the inter-island fixtures should be continued were also raised by Mr Campbell. He said that the recent match Hamilton had

not provided the rivalry that i would be expected from players. ; The management committee should be careful that it did not become the judge of individual games, or “write down our sport,” said Mr G. S. Malster. The fixture at Hamilton “had been a pretty interesting match." It was unusual for an interisland match not to have a lot of interest — “the ones that I played in had been preceded by blood-and-thunder team talks,” Mr K. Thomson said. “I do not have any intention of giving any *Boys’ Own Paper’ reports. Just the facts: the ground and facilities were good, but as far as I am concerned the game was disappointing. The players enjoyed the ground, not the game. We have to be factual about these things. How necessary is this game?” Mr Campbell replied. It was agreed by the meeting that the fixtures sub-committee consider the points made by Mr , Campbell in his report.