Hockey rivals to resume

Press, 17 December 1976, Page 28

Hockey rivals to resume

By

KEVIN TUTTY

The CanterburyAuckland hockey match, an annual event until two years ago, will start again next season in Christchurch.

The postponement of the game in the last two years led to a misunderstanding and a short verbal battle through the news media between the two associations, but they are now on amicable terms again.

The chairman of the Canterbury Hockev Association (Mr C. W. Walklin) travelled to Auckland recently with another member of the management committee and met a delegation from the Auckland association.

The associations decided that either July 24 or 31— both Sundays—would be. the date for the match, and it is hoped live coverage can be arranged with TV2.

Christchurch was named as the venue, because had the

game not been postponed for two years, by natural progression it would be in Christchurch next season.

In previous years the match was sponsored, and the C.H.A. had arranged prize money for the intended game last year before it fell through. It hopes to have sponsorship again next season. Without question the match will be the biggest on the

inter-provincial calendar outside the national tournament final. For several years Canterbury and Auckland have been the top two teams in New Zealand. Auckland has won the Challenge Shield the last two years, and in 1974 the trophy was shared after the teams were locked at 2-2 after extra-time. In 1975 at Hamilton, Auckland beat Canterbury, 2-0,

in the final on a field swamped by torrential rain, and at Nelson this year Auckland beat Canterbury 2-1 in a semi-final, which most regarded as the final. Auckland went on to beat Wellington 1-0 in the final. Providing all are available 10 of the Montreal gold medal winning side will be involved in the game—three from Auckland and seven from Canterbury;