A FAIR INVASION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2215, 30 July 1914, Page 3

A FAIR INVASION

ENGLISH HOCKEY GIRLS IN WELLINGTON WELCOMED BY THE PRIME MINISTER

A unique event in the history of sports gtimes ill the Dominion was tlie arrival of the all-English ladies' liockey team from Sydney yesterday by the Maunganui. The occasion was a unique one, 111 tiiat this is the first ladies' team, in any sports game, that has ever come to the Dominion from the Old Country. The fair representativesol: tho English hockey field' number iourteen, and are of healthy mien, and of appearance, that suggests that tliey are capable of wielding the hockey stick with a will. Indeed, their short and triumphant stay in Australia gives point to the 'assumption. Altogether eight games were played there in the inter-

state tournament held at Sydney, and in every game the English ladies were victorious, with substantial goal totaU to their credit.

Ihe team, which was met by Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., president of tho New Zealand Ladies'. Hockey Association, and , Miss Ooatos (vice-president), on immediate arrival of the Maunganui, is as follows:—Misses 0. Smith (Clieshfro), M. I. Leacroft (Somerset), S. L. Weatherall and V. 51. Blwell (Northamptonshire), M. L. .JSames (Leicestershire), E. M.'Morgan (Norfolk), K. M. Robinson and G. O r i3rycn-Hodge (Kent), ~ ,P- K. Seymour Tuke, and B. Tuke (Middlesex), VY 3D.'R. Lambley, ? r?" f i, !!' r<>u 3 i V (Surrey), and Miss C. ri 5 (captain and manager). . There were also present at the impromptu reception on board the Maunganui, Mesdames I<Y Ward, Birkett, A. Duncan, and Peacock (members of the executive), Miss Welsby (secretai'y of the Wellington Association), and a number of the hostesses of the visitors. In a, few words, Mr. Wilford extended to the team a hearty welcome,' Miss Gaskell (captain of the team) returning thanks on behalf of the team.

WELCOMED TO NEW ZEALAND

MR. MASSEY'S CORDIAL FEELING.

TW visitors were accorded a Minis- ■ terial reception by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister (Mr. W. I'. Massey) a 1 Parliament .House at half-past five yesterday evening. There was quite a large gathering ol' Hostesses and local Locke) officials at the reception. . All'. T. M. Wilford, M.P.j introduced the team to thQ. Prime Minister. He said that tht>y (t'he English team) had come hero with a great reputation. o.ver in Australia they had shown'themselves sterling players, and hockey people ill the Dominion were looking forward to see from the visitors how the'game .should be played.' "I am proud to say, however," continued Mr. Wilford, "that wc. in New Zealand-pos-sess some-very fine players, who will be seen in tile games to be played against the visitors." In conclusion, the speaker extended an invitation to Mr. and Mrs. Massey and members of the Cabinet to attend tho representative game noxt Saturday. ; . The Prime Minister, in a short 'and felicitous speech, extended a liearty welcome to the visitors. "I am glad to see all the members of tho team looking so well," he remarked. "I sincerely hopo . they will enjoy their', trip through this country, and that tliey will have tho timo of their lives whilo they are here. Mr! Wilford has stated that they are far ! cleverer than . oui players here. I don't, liopo they will win all tile games, however. I am too patriotic for that., I hope that they ■will meet quite' as' inaiiy good specimens of '-Britisher, as thoy have met iii tlieii games in England." The Prime Minister. added that cri behalf of the Government and pooplo. of tho Dominion lit invited each and every member of -ilu team to stay hfere for good. (Laughter.) ' Miss Gaskell, captain of the .te'amj replied in a neat little speech. Hei team, appreciated very, very much',./she said, the wonderful reception tliey had been given, and from present judications showas quite sure that the Prime Minister's hope that they "would have the time of their lives" ■ would be fulfilled. ; "I don't doubt that 'if we dc have the time of our lives," added Miss Gaskell ■ aptly, "that we will stay here for. good:" j Outings and the Games. ,) . A comprehensive programme of outing and entertainment has boon mapped out for. the visitors during their stay here. The team leaves here for Palmerston. North-on Monday morning. The following , is the. complete itinerary of tho English ladies' tour through the_Dominion:—August 1, Wellington, ai t\ cllington; August 5, Manawatu, at Palmers ton rNorth;; August 8, Hawko's Bay, at. Napier August 12/ Poverty Bay. at' Gisbonte;-August 15, Auckland, lit Auckland; August 20, Wanganui, at Wanganui; August 22, Taraiiaki, at New Plymouth; August 29, Nelson, at Nelson; September 2, West Coast, at Greymouth; September 5, Buller, at Westport; September 10,' South Canterbury, at T'iinaru; September 12, Canterbury. at Christohurch;: September 16, .Southland, at lnvercargill; September 19, Otago, at Duriedin; September 26, North Otago, at Oamiiru; September 30, New Zealand, at Wellington; October 3, New' Zealand, at Christohurch; and October 10, Now Zealand, at Auckland. Team to Play Wellington. The following team was selected to meet Wellington on Saturday,' just before, the arrival of the boat in Wellington Goal, Miss Weatherall: fullbacks, Misses K. Tuke and Smith; halves Misses Robinson, Gatey. and Morgan; forwards, Misses B. Tuke, Earnest Gaskell, Leacroft, and Elwell. Ladies' Trial Game. 'A practice match between the representative team to play the English ladies' team on Saturday, and an eleven picked from Ramblers and.Girls'- College (with tho exception that -Miss Roadley played in goal)., was played at Wakefield Park yesterday afternoon.' The representative ' team won by 4 goals to 1. In tho first half of , the game play was a bit .scraggy, but after a ivliilo both teams settled down to work,and some good combination was displayed. Miss Pickering (2) and Miss Oarrock scored/for tho representative team in the first half of the game. The B team made a much bettor showing in ;he second spell, and their good defensive tactics limited tho score to only 3iio goal for their opponents, while on ;he .call of time they sc-ored. ; The ;ame ended 4-1 in favour of the repreientativc team. Mr. H. J. Hunter was the referee. At a meeting of the Ladies' Associaion this week, Mr. IJ. J. Hunter was ippointeel to act as coach to the Welington representative ladies' team.

A REQUEST DECLINED. A request was received from tlie Ladies' Hockey Association at the Rugby Union's meeting last evening that in view of the fact that the English ladies' team was playing the local representatives on the Basin Reserve on Saturday, tho importance of such an event and their desire foi a record gate, that the union postpone their fixtures.' ' j It was decided to reply that much' as tho union would like to comply with tho request of tho association, tlie position of the union's own fixtures would notallow it to comply with the request.