HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 150, 29 June 1929, Page 22

HOCKEY

BY "STICKS" A STRONG TEAM

AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS

THE AMENDED ITINERARY

The negotiations for the visit of the Australians .to the Dominion next month have-at last been finalised, and the position now, is that the tour of Fiji has been cancelled. When the visit was first under consideration the Australian Hockey • Association advised that the team would remain in New Zealand over three Saturdays only, and would then go on to Fiji. For various reasons the N.Z.H.A. decided to confine the tour to the North Island, and an itinerary was accordingly drafted. This, however, aroused a storm of protest when it reached Australia-, and some of the; leading players stated that, unless matches were to be played in" the South Island they would accept- nomination for the inter-State tournament to be held at Perth. The N.Z.H.A. considered this new aspect of the, situation very carefully, and .then cabled, the'A.H.A. that the South Island.-could,be included only if the visitors came a week earlier and remained in. the.Dominion a week longer. This, it was stated, would enable the South Island to be. .visited at the commencement-of the tour without disturbing the; dates -already given to the North Island associations. The A.H.A. replied: that it was impossible ■to sail before 16th July, the original' date, but that an extra Saturday Was available, as the Fijian trip had been cancelled;. and. the team would '.. leave Auckland for Sydney, on-12th 'August. It was suggested',- that the itinerary should be revised; sq. as to include at least two games in the South Island., This placed the N.Z.H.A. in a veryawkward position, especially as it meant disturbing the dates given to Wanganui and Auckland for the Test matches, as well. as the - - elimination from the itinerary of two associations previously granted smatches. It was found-impossible, to' alter the date of the Test at Wanganui, but fortunately* the Auckland Hockey Association agreed to the postponement of the second Test for a week, and that enabled the itinerary to bo rearranged to allow the visitors to play in the South Island between the two Tests. I ■ _■'".,. ..-.'".• '.■.-•■.- ' The amended .itinerary is as follows:—l2th July, leave Sydney; 16th July, arrive at Wellington; Thursday, 18th- July, v. Wairarapa, at Cartertpn; Saturday, 20th July, v. Wellington, at Wellington; Tuesday, 23rd July, v. Dannevirke, at Dannevirke; Thursday, 25th July, v. Taranaki, at Eltham; Saturday, 27th July, first Test, at Wanganui ; Wednesday, 31st, July, -v Otago, at Dunedin; •■• Saturday, 3rd August, v. Canterbury, at Christchurch; Wednesday, 7th August, v. Feilding, at Feilding; Thursday, Bth August, v. Thames, at Thames; Saturday, 10th August, second Test, at Auckland; Monday, 12th August, or Tuesday, 13th August, leave Auckland for Sydney. . .. The N.Z.H'A. lias been advised that thirteen of the touring, team have already been selected, leaving the selection of a manager and two more players to complete, the team. Those selected are as follow: —Goalkeeper, O'Connor (Queensland); backs, Todkill (N.S.W.), Ferguson (Queensland); halves, Wariless, Counter, Grant (N.S.W.); forwards, A. Fitzpatriek (N.S.W.), W. Nettleton (N.S.W.), T Lee (N.S.W.), S. Stephens (N.S.W.), W. Hudson (N.S.W.), H. Connie (Queensland), E. Cormiev(Queensland). The team was chosen from. 47 nominations, and ia considered an excellent, one, being .far superior to any that has yet left the Commonwealth. Todkill, right back, and A. Fitzpatriek, in the forwards; are considered by competent Sydney critics to be superior to any players who have represented New Zealand in Test matches against Australia. W. Nettleton and W. Grant have toured New Zealand previously. Mr. W. Both well has. been nominated by both N.S.W. arid Victoria for the position of manager, but, it is understood, a knee injury, may prevent him from accepting. V T "The: Post's" Sydney correspondent says that since the New Zealanders were, last in Australia the game has made considerable progress so far as the number of players is concerned. The five Queenslanders in the team are all seasoned players who have had good experience in interstate and international -hockey. Of the. New South Wales members, it may be said that it would be difficult to replace any one of them: The inclusion of Bruce Tate as centre-half, if he were available, would complete the team.arid make it an even more formidable combination. It is- unfortunate that Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia were unable to noiriinate any of the representatives,; though had they done so the selectors' job would have been considerably more difficult, for the standard of play in, those States is high, too. New Zealand can rest assured that a firstclass team has been selected—a team that will be able to give displays that will be an excellent advertisement for the game in the Dominion. It is considered that the team is strong enough to win every game, but the results of the matches against : New Zealanders will be awaited with great, interest.. Dominion Ladies' Tournament. Gisborne has been selected by the Management Committee of the N.Z. L.H.A. at, the venue of the Domiui&n Ladies' Tournament, commencing at the end cf August.. There are Baid to be indications of good entries, probably more than for last year's tournament at Tiniaru. ' Auckland and Eotorua were the other associations which applied for the fixture. Two more. associations have advised the Management Committee of the N.Z.L.H.A. that they are in favour of sending a team to the Empire tourney in South. Africa next year, and will assist in raising funds. It is understood that the N.Z.L.H.A. now feels that. a team will almost definitely be sent. Hutt and Swifts senior ladies' teams will provide tho curtain-raiser to the Rugby match at Athletic Park on 13th July,

Senior A ■ ' ■ ■ ■ Goals Ch. ' P. W.-.li. D. P. A. Pts 'Varsity A . 6 5 0 1 21 11 11 Karorl ..., .7 4 1 2 23 13 10 Wellington ■ .... 7 < 4- 2 1 28 14 9 Hutt .....,v... 7 4 .2 1 20 18 9 Y.M.C.A. ...... 7. 2 2 3 19 19 7 Wesley ........ 7 2 4 1 23 25 5 "Varsity B .... 6 1 4 1 11-26 3 Petone .:.... ..7 0 7 0 4 23 0 ! Senior B Hutt ....... .7 5 1 1 12 9 11 Karori ........ 7 5 2 0 fl 12 10 Huia ...... 7 4 1~2 17 11 10 Wesley 7 4 3 0 21 19 8 Petono ; 7. 4 3 0 10 12 S 'Varsity 7 2 a 0 22 22 4 Y.M.C.A. ..;... :7: 15 1 10 25 3 Training Col.. .. 7- 1 G 0 .8 11 2