Hockey

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 60, 8 September 1934, Page 22

Hockey

AUSTRALIAN TEAM RECORD OF WINS THE TEST MATCH

By "Sticks."

The standard of- hockey played by the present Australian touring team is considerably higher than that of previous teams that have visited the Dominion. So far the visitors hae won nine out of eleven matches, their only defeats being at the hands of Waikato and Wellington. The match, -with Waikato was the first appearance of the team in New Zealand, and the fact that the ground was muddy and that they had just stepped off the boat accounted for the players not showing their true form. Wellington turned on »ne of its worst winter days for the match here, the Basin ■. Reserve being like a quagmire after the first quarter of an hour's play. In the circumstances it would have been better for' the W.H.A. to have transferred the match to Karpri Park, where the ground would nave been more suitable for; play. The general conditions were more_ in Wellington's favour, the Australian team being accustomed to hard grounds. The next important match was against Canterbury, and it was confidently expected that the Australians would be up against a stiff proposition. Canterbury certainly proved formidable opponents, but superior'stick work and field tactics enabled the visitors to win by a margin of one goal. The following is the Australian team's record to date,: — Lost Waikato, 2-3; beat Dannevirke, 5-1; beat Horowhenua, 4-0; lost Wellington, 1-3; beat Nelson, 4-2; beat Motueka, 4-0; beat Marlborough, 5-0; beat Kaikoura, CO; beat' Canterbury,-2-1; beat Malvern, 6-0; beat Geraldine, 8-0. '•..... A strong, well-balanced side, fully representative of all parts of-the Do-, minion, was chosen by the selectors for the Test match against the Australians at Dunedin today. Eight of the players are from the North Island and three from the South. C. Moore, the Wellington goalkeeper, Evvan, Wellbourne, and Bay are the only members of the New Zealand team which toured Australia in 1932 included in the team for today. Clark, C. Hore (Canterbury), R. Verco'o (Hawke's Bay), O. Dey (Otago), and S. Betts (Ta'ranaki) are representing New Zealand for the first time. The match is being played at Dunedin, as it is that centre's turn for an international game. Also, the match had to be played about that stage of the tour, and it was necessary to save the Australians as much travelling as possible. ■

FINAL CLUB MATCHES Last Saturday the final games in the men's senior B and junior competitions were, played, completing the Wellington Hockey Association's club fixtures. As Was anticipated the Technical junior team was strong enough to stave off defeat by Karori, a drawn game resulting and giving Technical'the narrowest of winning margins in the championship. ■■ Incidentally, the team's success put the seal on the Technical Club's fin© record this season, reference to which was made in this column last week. The Technical senior B eleven had a lead of six points from University A, the next team on the ladder, and could not be robbed of the championship, but the game between them, which ended in a draw, was hardfought and interesting. Technical had suffered their only defeat of the season at the hands of University A, and in consequence Saturday's game was a willing one. The complete senior B and junior tables are as follows:

Among those who have recently taken out licences to box as professionals in New-Zealand are Con. Brosnahan (Ashburton), Tommy Donovan (Napier), Don Stirling (Dunedin), Frank Taylor (Auckland), and George Singleton and Ray Nicol (Southland).

SENIOR B. Goa lis Ch. r. W. L, D. r. a. rts. . 10 14 1 1 (14 25 29 University A . 15. 10 2 3 51 31 23 . in 9 4 3 39 32 21 . in 7 3 3 40 28 17 . ig 7 7 2 47 43 16 Wellington'' . is 7 8 1 24 22 15 . 15 J 7 1 31 35 15 University B . IB 5 11 — 2fi 50 10 . "16 4 11- 1 32 40 0 . 16 1 14 1 23 71 3 JUNIOR, Goals Ch. r. W. L. D. F. A. rts. . 14 11 1 2 54 8 24 . 13 10 2 1 35 15 21 . 13 7 4 2 40 25 16 . 13 8 4 3 28 27 15 Wellington . 13 6 (i 1 20 14 13 . 14 4 7 3 10 28 11 . 12 3 7 2 12 30 8 . J:! 2 10 — 14 45 4 University . 12 1 0 2 8 26 4 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP. Average No. c >f per Team, Si Points. Team. . 7 . 138 19.71- . fl 111 19.00 . 7 . OH 13:71 . 8 P4 11.75 . 0 SO 13.33 Wellington .... . G GO 10.00 . 3 45 15.00 Hutt .- . 3 23 7.67