HOCKEY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 August 1933, Page 8

HOCKEY

INTER-ISLAND BATCH PLAYERS NOMINATED The most important hockey fixture in New Zealand Ibis year, the interIsland match, will he played at Trafalgar Park on 2nd September. In view of the probable visit of an Australian team to New Zealand next season this year’s match is of greater importance than usual and the New Zealand selectors will he on the lookout for promising young players to represent New Zealand in the tests. ’The match is creating considerable interest throughout the whole of New Zealand and nominations of players have been made from such distant places as Auckland and Invercargill. As an added attraction a curtainraiser to the big match will be played by a touring Auckland representative team and the Nelson representatives. Tlie Auckland team is a strong one and includes some members of the team which represented Auckland this year when it successfully defended the New Zealand Challenge Shield against the Waikato and Poverty Bay challengers. Nominations for the North and South Island teams (dosed to-dav and the announcement of the seleeted teams is expected within a few days. The North Island selector is Air R. L. Thompson, of Wanganui, who will accompany the team as manager, and the South Island selector is Air Bellamy, of Christchurch. It is unlikely that Air Bellamy will visit Nelson, but > K expected that Air S. G. Holland, of Christchurch, who proved such a capable manager of Hie New Zealand team in Australia last, year will act, as manager of tlie South Island team.

The following players are known to have been nominated for the North Island team:—

11. B. Massey (Wnirarnpa): Left full-lmck or left half. This player has without doubt the best stick work in the Wairnrapa and as is most necessary in a full-hack is a very cool and heady player. Important games and teams in which he has played are—Victoria University and New Zealand University, 1927-28-2!); Wellington v. Canterbury, Nelson and Auckland, 1928-2!!; Wairnrapa representative 1930-31-32-33. He represented Wellington against Auckland when Wellington won the New Zealand Challenge Shield from Auckland, and for Wairnrapa. when they defeated Wanganui for tlie Nordon Clip. He is playing as well this year as he has ever played in the past, and is very consistent.

R. Berrctt (Dannevirke): Right or centre half. Has represented Damievirke in all Nordon Cup matches and before going to Dannevirke previously represented Bullet'.

F. Hand (Dannevirke): Is a young player and has played very consistently this season as right full-back. He lias represented Dannevirke this season and is a very clover stick player. W. A. Cuinniing (Wairnrapa): Fullback or half back (preferably right full-back). This player lias represented Wairnrapa for the last two seasons and previously played in Wellington for Training College, Petone and University. He is only a young player and this year is at the top of his form. He is a very sound defender, is very fast and his play is free from obstruction or “sticks.” His stickwork is also very good and he possesses a wonderfully keen eye.

C. Dal/ell (Dannevirke): Another young player who plays inside left. This is bis first season as a representative player for Dannevirke and lias improved remarkably during the year, lie is very fast and lias proved himself to be a particularly fine goal scorer. L. A. Brooks (Wairarapa): Inner right or right wing, in l!)2.‘! when only 17 years of age was selected to represent Wairarapa against Wellington, lie was away from the game for five years, but in 1 !)2S again represented Wairarapa. In 102!) be played against the Australian team and in 10.‘!0-;U-.‘i2 represented Wairarapa in Nordon Cup and other representative matches. He was also nominated for the New Zealand team to tour Australia last year. Brooks lias plenty of puce, has very good stick work, and is very clever at making an opening. In the circle lie is a dangerous player as he shoots with plenty of power and follows in very quickly whether he or another player has a shot. M. W. Worsfold (Feildiug): Centre half or centre forward. First represented Feildiug in 1022 at the age of 10. Since then he lias represented either Feildiug, Horowbemia or Manawatu every year, and in 1027 was a member of the New Zealand team in Australia. He is a particularly fine forward and this season is playing as well as ever. SOUTH ISLAND NOMINATIONS The following are known to have been nominated for the South Island team:— L. Ireland (Southland): Has represented Otago and Southland as a fullback for many years. He lias already played previously in inter-island matches. C. Gibbs (Motucka): Full-back. Has represented Nelson consistently for a number of years and since going to Motucka this year lias been a tower of strength to the game there. He is a very cool-headed player and is a tireless defender. In iP.'i'o be captained the South Island in Nelson. L. limiter (Nelson): luill.-back. Played his first representative game last year in Wellington and made a very lavofirable impression. 'l'liis year he lias been playing very fine, clean hockey and further enhanced bis prospects by playing in bis best form against Boiler and Canterbury on the recent tour. Hunter is one of the cleverest stick players in Nelson at present. lie gives away very few penalties, and is an export at coming through the opposing forwards with the ball. As be and Gibbs know each other’s play very well they would make a very solid pair to represent tile South. K. Holland (Nelson): Goalie. He was also a newcomer to representative hockey last year and this year lias been playing very soundly, lie uses bis lent well and knows when to come out of goal to effect a clearance. It. Lest (Nelson): Half. Has represented Nelson for soma years, and was in New Zealand team which visited •Australia, last year. He is a clever sties player, has a keen eye, and is very fast, lie played well on tour and in the recent match against Wellington. I. O ( allagha n (Nelson): Foil-hack ior halt back. Has bad considerable experience as a Wellington and Nelson Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure for j Children’s Hacking Coughs.

r; prcsentnl ive. Although he has had a long time at liic game he is still very fast and is a resolute defender. Cn; hliued Nelson team on recent tour. If. Harford (Nelson): Inside forward. Represented Ornua for 7 years, a oil Manawatu for 1 year before comin:; to Nelson. Last year and this yen he represented Nelson. He is a fast aad bustling type of forward, and is a solid tacklin'. He lias a hard goal shot and is an expert on shuts from corner hit. .

it. Wiiilwell (Nelson): Centre forward. Has represented Nelson consistently for many years and played !t r ihe South Island as centre forward in |; 30. He also represented the Soulli Ij-.anii on a previous occasion in Christchurch. He has very clever stickwork and seizes every opportunity in the circle

Accompanying the Auckland team is Air H. E. Watts a well-known personality in the game in the North. He and Air W. Russell, of Nelson, two "A” grade referees, have been nominated as referees for the inter-Islaud match.

The Nelson Association is responsible for the billeting of* visiting players. Home billets have already been offered, but as there will be approximately thirty visitors here, more are wanted. Any person who is prepared to billet one or more of the players is requested to immediately get in touch with tlie secretary of the association or any member of the management committee.