N.Z. team held to 0-0

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33775, 22 February 1975, Page 48

N.Z. team held to 0-0

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright} SINGAPORE. New Zealand began the final stage of its preparation for next month’s World Cup hockey tournament with [a scoreless draw against Singapore yesterday.

The New Zealanders are playing four matches before going on to the 12-nation World Cup, starting in Kuala Lumpur on March 1. They will play against Johore today, and then return to Singapore for [matches against India and ! Singapore. The New Zealanders, who have had only one practice;

since their arrival on Tuesday night, met strong opposition from a young Singapore team which was much improved after a recent tour of India. Their best players were the inside-forward, Ram Patel, who twice went close to scoring in the second half, and the full-back, Greg | Dayman. i After the match, the team, [manager, Mr A. Palmer, said' | the New Zealanders had' ’found difficulty with the; ’ground conditions. He added ; that he was riot too dis- ! appointed with the performi ance as it was their first outing. Australia scored a hardfought, • 1-0, win over;

Sheikhupura zone to preserve an unbeaten record on its World Cup warm-up tour of Pakistan. The forward, Mai Poole, netted the winning goal three minutes into the second half from a pass by Greg Browning. It was reported from New Delhi that the Indian Government had granted permission for an Indian team to com[pete in the World Cup. The 16-man tCam was to have flown to Singapore last Tuesday to play warm-up matches, but could not leave because of a dispute between the Indian Hockey Federation and the Indian Olympic Association, which selected and trained the team. I