THE AUSTRALIANS' TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 73, 23 September 1922, Page 14

THE AUSTRALIANS' TOUR

NEW ZEALAND TEAM FOR TEJST MATCH

NO WELLINGTON PLATERS INCLUDED.

(By "Sticks.")

The New Zealand team has been selected for the Test match at Palmereton North next Saturday, and no Wellington men have been included, ' What is the reason? To say that no Wellington men are worthy of a place-f-and that is what the selectors have said—is surely, on exaggeration; it it difficult to understand the action of the selectors.

"Sticks" is very ready to admit that individually Wellington is not particularly strong this season, but there are at least two players, E. Heaphy and A-. M. Cousins, who have played well enough to warrant their inclusion in the team. However, the selectors have thought otherwise 1 and'it would be useless to further labour the point. The team that has been chosen is a good one, and the Australians will have to play very hard to win. H. Snooks (Canterbury) us undoubtedly the leading goalkeeper in New' Zealand at the present time, 1 his sparkling display in the North v.' South match, at Nelson proved that. P. G. Martin (Canterbury) and 0. K. . ("Kiwi") Perrin (Manawatu) are two good full-backs, and were the respective captains in the inter-inland contest. A. C. Johns, who 1, besides filling the position of centre-half, will captain the team,' is known throughout New' Zealand as one of the best exponents of the stick game, and he will have goor 1 support from E. M'Leod (right-half) and S. A. Mander (left-half). Thf forwards are a fine lot, and as three of them are from Auckland, there should be a good show at combination. The last match will be played at Palmerston North next Wednesday, and will conclude the Austral lian tour. ■ ■ NOT TOO SUCCESSFUL. Since their arrival in New Zealand the Australians have not been very successful in their matches, but they have proved themselves the best off -sports. Referring to the'tour, the Auckland "Star" says :j—"The visit of the Australians has opened a new chapter in the history of the game that grows in New Zealand. Hockey was established in Auckland in 19C}3, and since 'a-Utv time it has been the ambition of the local authorities to try conclusions with a team from abroad. Several attempts Were made to induce an English team td travel the Dominion, and just before the war arrangements were almost completed in that direction. While in England representatives from the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces tried conclusionsl with most of the leading teams or what could be mustered during the. Great War, and the ( result of the matches gave some indication of the com-.-parative strength of hockey in the Dominion and abroad. It wag not until last year that an official effort was made to attempt to bring an Australian team to.. New Zealand, although in th« days when Auckland and United were at their zenith a trip to Australia was contemplated, but it never eventuated, and only a few weeks ago:'ia- New Zealand University team accepted an invitation to visit the' other side. , The visit of the Ausr tralians is an accomplished fact. The visitors so far have not met with a full measure of success, but it must be remembered that they are operating on strange ground in each,contest, while there is a slight difference in the interpretation of the rules; also the New I Zealanders have proved themselves topnotchers iri the wielding of the ash, alI though not altogether so, artistically as i some'of the exponents of the game in , the Old Country." ' ' ; , The results of the matches played by, I the Australians are as follow :—

Against Nelson, drawn: 4-4. Against Wellington^ lost 4*3,

Against Otago, won 3-1. ■ Against Canterbury, lost 2-0. Against Waikato. • i