HIGHER STANDAED

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 98, 27 April 1935, Page 22

HIGHER STANDAED

HOCKEY IN AUCKLAND

A correspondent has asked the following question: "Why is Auckland so strong in hockey, and why is the standard of hockey there so much higher than in Wellington?" A brief survey of hockey in Auckland might be interesting and instructive. ' '■ . ■" ' ■ ■ .■■'.. Auckland has nearly all its primary schools playing in the Primary Schools' Hockey League. Older boys act as coaches to the younger boys. When the boys leave the primary schools they, as a matter of course, link up with teams in the secondary schools. Therefore, there is a steady stream of young,' enthusiastic, and properlytrained players being continually abj sorbed by the grade teams. Auckland feeds its senior and : representative teams with j native-trained players who have steadily advanced through the schools.to senior ranking. , The Auckland Grammar School, which has a wonderful record in New Zealand hockey, provides an excellent example of the soundness of the policy adopted.' Hockey was introduced into the school by Mr. P. O. Veale in 1920, and has progressed in.popularity and strength since then until it now has eight teams in the grade competitions, as well as being represented in the secondary schools' competitions. Hockey in this school is now on the same level as Rugby, which seems, to dominate sport in most Wellington schools. • The following record of the Auckland Grammar School gives some idea of. the progress of the game there:— (1) The school has held the secondary school's championship since 1926;l (2) it has supplied New Zealand with the following players who were trained while at the school: R. L. Munro (captain) 1932), M. J. Bay, T. L. 'Clark, and, D. J. Reid. The school has also given New Zealand the following hockey captains: A. C. Johns (captain, 1922), N. R. Jacobseri (vice-captain, 1922), H. Speight (captain, 1923), and E. McLeod (captain, 1929). Many'old boys have also represented New Zealand. (3) The school has supplied senior A hockey players to all parts of New Zealand. In Wellington alone there are Auckland Grammar School trained players and two former school hockey captains in N. Burnett (1927) and K. Falconer (1924), both of whom are playing with another Grammar School old boy, E. McLeod, for the Hutt senior team this year. '

in Hamilton due to the policy of seriously training the players when at school. The Hamilton High School has produced, players of the calibre of T. Ewen and H.F. Bollard, both of whom went to Australia with the 1932 New Zealand team. This steady supply of players from its own district must have a wonderful influence on hockey in Auckland. The main point is that Auckland always has good players "coming on" and does not depend upon importations to maintain the desired standard. School hockey, both primary and secondary, is essential if the game is to be fostered and a high standard kept. The Technical Club in Wellington, and the Schools' Association are doing a great deal towards this end, but more can be done.

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