HOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13844, 2 September 1908, Page 4

HOCKEY.

WELLINGTON V. AUCKLAND. The Auckland representative hockey team is to be further tried on Saturday at Victoria Park, when the chosen of the Wellington Association will endeavour to .secure the New Zealand Association's shield. Wellington lias- always had a strong representative team, and at one time were not even second to Canterbury. The game was organised - there about 10 or 11 years ago, and it was in the course of a couple of seasons that Canterbury had to-lower their colours to the. Empire city devotees. For a time Wellington had a team, the United, which was looked on as a model in combined play. A number of leading cricketers adopted the game in Wellington, F. Ashbolt- and B. Weybourne being notable examples. Ashbolt is still "one of Wellington's leading fullbacks, but he is unable to get away for the trip. Commenting on the prospects of the match, the Dominion says:—"lnterest centres on "the Auckland match on Saturday next. ■■■ It , "is very unfortunate that F. Ashbolt cannot get away, as he and Hickson are .a wonderful combination. - Under the circumstances, the selectors have done the right thing in putting Brewer in his place, and. judging by his recent play, he can be relied upon to give a good account of himself. The men { arc hopeful, and are determined to do their! best. The referee for the match will be j chosen at Auckland; it is a pity that the ! proposal of having two referees was not j brought up." Tins Wellington Association has forwarded j a letter to Auckland with a request that no I effort be made to entertain the visitors. For i some years past Wellington has discounten-1 anced entertaining, as it is not good for the teams. At a meeting of the Auckland Hockey Association, held last evening, complete arrangements were made for the Wellington match on Saturday next at Victoria Park The. Garrison Band has been engaged for the occasion. Afternoon tea will be provided. Mr. E. W. Payne, the well-known Wanganui referee, finds he will be unable to come to Auckland to control the game, and Mr. W. E. Robinson, of the Auckland Referees' Association, has been appointed. A special tram service from all suburbs has been arranged to run to the park gates, and arrangements have been made for ground and grandstand tickets to be obtained in town from Miss Gerti Campion and H. E. Partridge and Co. A practice of the Auckland hockey representatives will be held at the Newton football shed this evening, and on Victoria Park to-morrow afternoon at four o'clock. A correspondent, writing under the name of "Visitor," urges that the association should see that the players in both teams on Saturday are properly numbered, that is, right to left and also that the programme be made to correspond. " The association." says "Visitor," " kindly supply spectators .with programmes gratis, but- they are of no use if the numbers which the players are . wearing do not correspond with those contained in them." WELLINGTON V. WANGANUI. [BT TELEGRAPH.—-PRESS ASSOCIATION,] WAXGA.vrr, Tuesday. The Wellington representative hockey team, which is on its way to play Auckland for the challenge shield, played a match against a Wanganui representative team today. The weather was beautiful and the ground dry. The game was of a very even nature, and resulted in a draw, each side scoring a goal. lii the first spell the visitors showed better combination in their forward division than the local team, but the defence of the. Wanganui backs more than equalised matters. The Wanganui team expects to play Auckland for the shield on September 12. ,