HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 79, 3 April 1926, Page 22

HOCKEY

BY "STICKS" PROMISING OUTLOOK

THIS YEAR'S PROSPECTS

INDIAN ARMY TEAM'S VISIT.

In a fortnight's tima the local hockeycompetitions will commence, and there is no doubt that players generally, men and ladies, will welcome the opportunity of getting out on the fields again. An ever-recurring, problem last year was that of finance, but in spite of this bogey the game went ahead at a rate which must have surprised even its most ardent supporters. An improvement in the standard of play was-a pleasing feature noted in the annual report of the Wellingtonl Hockey Association, and in addition great things were accomplished by the playing here of the inter-provincial tournament, and the Test match, New: Zealand versus Australia. In the schools splendid progress, too, was made, and .there are indications that this year the ranks of the schoolboy players will be swelled by a gratifying number of new recruits to the game. ; The note of optimism on which play this year will commence is reflected in the annual report of the N.Z.H.A. to I be presented' at the ' annual meeting in Christchurch on 12fch April, which states that the management committee confidently looks forward to the coming season,being the biggest and best in the history of the game in New Zealand. There are several . reasons why this prediction'should not lack fulfilment. Of paramount importance is the approaching visit.ofi a team of players from the British Army in India, which will be comprised of three British'officers and twelve natives, mostly Sikhs. Not only will they prove a real attraction by reason of their nationality but they Should also provide New Zealand players with the kind of opposition which will draw big gates and boost the game along immeasurably. The natives play hockey as part of their army training, and-consequcntly.they have reached a very high state of efficiency. The associations which are fortunate enough to secure a match, against the visitors will have a golden opportunity to advance the game in their, districts. Indian Team's Visit. * ■ ' ~ The coming-visit of the Indian team will, no doubt, '. create a good deal of interest throughout New . Zealand, not only to hockey players but to the public generally. Wellington has been promised a match on" 3rd June, and, provided there are no counter-attractions, there should be no difficulty in getting a good attendance. - Owing to the team being scheduled to. arrive a week earlier than was previously expected,, the original itinerary has been upset. The amended itinerary for the tour is as follows: —Tuesday, 11th May,, arrive at Auckland by the Marama from Sydney; Saturday, 15th May, play Waikato at Hamilton; Tuesday, 18th May, play South Auckland Sub'Associationß at Rotorua; Thursday, 20th May, play Poverty Bay ,at Gisbornc; Saturday, 22nd May, play Hawkes.Bay at Napier; Wednesday, 26th May, play Dannevirke at Dannovirke; Saturday, 29th May, play Wanganui at Wanganui; Thursday, 3rd June, play Wellington at Wellington; Saturday, sth June, play Nelson at Nelson; Wednesday, 9th June, play Buller at Westport; Saturday, 12th June, play Canterbury at Christchurch; Thursday, 17th June, play Geraldine. at Geraldine; Saturday 19th June, play Otago at Dunedin; Saturday, 26th June, play first Test match at Christchurch; Wednesday, 30th June, play Manawatu at Palmerston North; Saturday, 3rd July, play Auckland .at Auckland; Wednesday, Bth July, play North Auckland; Sub-Associations at Whangarei; Saturday, 10th July, play second Test match at Auckland; Wednesday, 14th July, play Franklin at Waiuku; Friday, 16th July, sail from Auckland per Ulimaroa, for Sydney. Obviating a Eye. That either the Petone or V.M.C.A. elevens be promoted from tho senior B grade to the senior A grade in the event of there being odd teams in the A and B grades was suggested by a member of the Management Committee of the W.H.A. on Monday evening. It is not known at the present moment .how many teams will.be entered for the two senior grades, and entries from the various clubs have not all been received. It was pointed out that the promotion of either Petone or V.M.C.A. would enable those clubs who had done well last season to get a footing in the A grade. Mr. Armstrong thought that, the chances of a senior B team, gaining the premior honours;in the B competition should be considered first. before . raising it to senior A status. A senior B teanij he said, might stand a good chance in the B grade, but,.perhaps, would be out of its depth in the.A grade. Mr. R. H. Boys considered that an advantage of raising a team to A grade status would be that it would attract non-attached members, who would not join the club, perhaps, if they thought they would be playing senior B, and who had no chance of getting into a senior A eleven of any other club. After some further discussion it was decided to defer the matter until the actual nominations from the clubs were received, j Game in the Schools. Already the nominations for the schools' competition show an increase of seven teams on last season. So far 25 teams have been nominated, and applications are expected from a few more teams before the season commences. The increase in the number of teams means an increase in the number of sticks. At least seven dozen new sticks will be required, and these are again to be purchased by the , Wellington Hockey Association. It is very gratifying, indeed, to know that hockey is making such good progress in the schools, and it seems that the work put in to foster "school hockey is bearing a good measure: of success. Notes. The selectors for the Wellington senior and junior. representative teams for the 1926 season have already been appointed by the Management Committee of the W.H.A. Subject to their approval, Messrs. H. M'Gregor and A. Cathie have been elected to fill the positions. It is said-that, there is a possibility of the Karor.i C}ub- entering two teams in the senior A competition and one in the B competition. When the last mail left England, Mr. B. G. Lampard Vachell, the Welsh international hockey player and prominent official of the Cambridge University Wanderers, was founding a new hockey club, to be called the Wanderers, for the purpose of touring abroad during the Easter holidays. It was proposed that a team visit Hamburg to compete in a tournament there. Fifteen players were ixpected to make the journey. j, ft ,