WOMEN'S HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 148, 25 June 1938, Page 7

WOMEN'S HOCKEY

NEW ZEALAND TEAM

GOOD SELECTION GENERAL TOPICS

(By "Corner.")

The selection of the New Zealand Test team calls for little comment as the selectors seem to have chosen the strongest side that New Zealand can produce. Wellington, following the tradition of previous selections, has only, one player in this year's team, Miss H. McLellan, of College Old Girls, gaining selection as left inner. The two provinces who figure the most prominently are Eastern Southland and Canterbury, who each have had four players selected. Auckland is next with two, and the remainder of the selection consists of one player each from Marlborough, Wellington, and Otago. Of the thirteen players seven are new selections, while the other six played either in the Australian tour in 1935 or against the Fijian team in 1936. The whole thirteen have been provincial representatives, and a number of them have had experience in the annual Dominion tournament. Four players were selected after the trial match at Dannevirke last Saturday, and these were Mrs. J. Gawler, 'Miss H. McLellan, Mrs. L. Askew, and Miss M. Woolley. When the last English women's hockey team visited New Zealand in 1914 three Tests were played, as will be played on this tour. The result of these games,was indefinite as England won one, New Zealand won one, and the last was drawn. The score in the first Test at Wellington was England 6, New Zealand 5, the second at Christchurch was 3 to 1 in favour of New Zealand and both sides scored one goal each in the third at Auckland.

The choice as captain of Miss M. Nicol is inclined to raise a little doubt as the logical selection appeared to have been Miss A. Mackie, of Otago, who was vice-captain of the 1935 team that toured Australia and of the 1936 team against the Fijians. She has had plenty of experience of a responsible position in an international side, whereas Miss Nicol has not been a New Zealand representative before, although she has led the Eastern Southland team. Miss Nicol was captain of the Eastern Southland team that won the Dominion tournament last year, and is captain of Hokanui, her club team. \

Some disappointment will be caused in Wellington through the omission of Miss I. Pickering, College Old Girls' right wing who played as a New Zealand representative against the Fijian team in 1936. This season Miss Pickering has shown good form and been prominent in all the matches she has played. She must rank prominently among the leading wings of the country. Her combination with Miss H. McLellan in the same club team would have been useful in the Tests, as the two players have played together for some years. Although there are only eleven more days to the first Test match New Zealand should do well if they have sufficient practice together and learn each other's method of play. Some hard and keen hockey is anticipated as a result of the two teams' meeting. The following are the players chosen for the first Test. The final eleven are to be selected later;— Eastern Southland. Miss M. Nicol (captain).—An Eastern Southland representative for eight years. Fast and positional play good. Position, right wing. ■ Miss M. Sanson.— Played in both the 1935 and 1936 New Zealand teams. A provincial representative since 1933. Position, right half. Miss M. Sherriff.—A member of the 1936 New Zealand team, and has been a provincial representative for seven years. Position, centre-forward. Miss A. McDonald— Plays right fullback and has represented her province since 1932. A member of both the 1935 and 1936 New Zealand teams. Canterbury. Miss M. Rhind—Has already played against the Englishwomen as she played for her province last Saturday. She has been a provincial representative for three years. Position, goalkeeper Miss S. years a representative for Canterbury and also possesses her New Zealand University blue. Position, centre-half. Miss M. McKenzie.— Played in both 1935 and 1936 New Zealand teams and has been provincial representative since 1931. Position, right-inner. Miss D. repre- ; sentative since 1934. Posttion, left- , wing. Auckland. Mrs J. Gawler.—Has been provincial representative for some years. Played ■ against the English team on June 11. Position, centre-forward or left inner. Mrs L. Askew.—Provincial representative, and also played against the English team on June 11. -full-back, either right or left. Marlborough. Miss W. Woolley—Has been provin- '. cial representative since 1929, and represented New Zealand in both the 1935 and 1936 teams. Position, left full-back Wellington. . . Miss H. McLellan.-Provincial repre- : 'sentative since 1933. Plays for Col- ■ lege Old Girls' team. Position, left ' inner. Otago. ; Miss A. Mackie— Vice-captain; has ! been provincial representative since 1927 Flayed against Australians and j Fijians for New Zealand. Position, ! left half-back