BIG HOCKEY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11307, 5 September 1922, Page 8

BIG HOCKEY

ARRIVAL OF KANGAROOS GOOD ALL BOUND TEAM READY POE THE PRAY. PLAYERS AND ITINERARY. The Australian hockey representative team arrived hy tho s.s. Moeraki from Sydney yesterday afternoon. The boat arrived in the stream at 3 o’clock and berthed at 5.30, and the team was not sorry to Land, ae the passage during the last two or three days had been somewhat rough. All were fit and well, however, although they were unable to get any practice aboard owing to tho prevailing conditions. THE PLAYERS. The party consists o-f eighteen in all, one of whom is Mr El Bates, vice-presi-dent of a Sydney club. The manager o-f the team is Mr W. Rothwgll; captain, Mr J. M. - Abel; vice-oaptain, Mr K. M. Hughes. The following are the players, with the numbers by which they may be identified through, the tour:—Goalkeeper, (1) H. J. Plockaxt; hacks, (2) C. A. Harry, (3) R. E. May, (15) W. Rothwell, (16) Major J. P. Rogers; half-backs, (5) J M. Abel, (4) J- R- Elder, (6) P. B. Freeman, (13) C. B. Ayling; forwards, (9) A. Seaman, (8) A. M. Craig, (10) K. M. Hughes, (11) S. R. Nieklin, (7) V. M. Kendall, (12) C. R. Harwood, (14) W. A. Grant; reserve (17) P. J. Campbell. Selectors, Messrs Abel, Hughes, and Flookart. There were two first-class players who found it impossible for business reasons to spare the time necessary for the tour, and to this extent the team is not quite as strong as it would otherwise. have been; nevertheless it is a formidable side, and one which hopes to secure the honours for the Cornstalks.

On their arrival in the stream the oaptain received; telegrams of welcome from Canterbury Hockey Association, and from Fred. Gracie, of Christchurch, who played in Sydney for a couple of seasons. The representative players come from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, and only as late as last Wednesday completed a big hockey carnival In Sydney. The New Zealand Association had desired them to leavo on August 26th, but the inter-State carnival precluded them from leaving until the 31st. They have not yet played together os a representative team, but hope to get in some praotice together before they meet Wellington on Saturday. Some belong to State beams, and others, to Melbourne and Sydney Universities. It is the first international hockey team to leave Australia’s shores, and it is hoped that this will be the prelude to a series of international gapes. THE TOU®. Th team left by the ferry steamer last evening for Nelson, where they play on Wednesday. Their team for the first match win be:—H. J. Flookart4 .C. A. Harry and R. E. May; P. B. Freeman, J. M. Abel, and K. ®. Mder; S. R. Nieklin, K. M. Hughes, A. Seaman, A. M. Craig and V. M. Kendall. The itinerary is as follows Wednesday, September 6th—Nelson, at Nelson. 1 Saturday, September ,9th—Wellington, at Wellington. Wednesday, September 13th—Otago, at Dunedin. Saturday, September 16th—Canterbury, at Christchurch. Wednesday, September 20th—Waikato, at Hamilton. Saturday, September 23rd—Auckland, at Auckland. Wednesday, September 27th—Test ▼. New Zealand, at Palmerston North. ENGLISH ASSOCIATION RULES. The Australian Cluibs are affiliated to the English Association, and according to its rules, for the articles of association provide that the English rules may not be altered. There are, therefore, net likely to -be any differences of opinion as to different styles of play, such as arose between the Australian and New Zealand Soccer teams. Their colours are' green and gold. During the past season members of the Australian team (have met Cathro, of : Wellington, and Jarmian, of Auckland, in Sydney. PERSONAL ITEMS. .A. Seaman, inside right, a Sydney University player, is engaged in , the Education Department of the New South Wales Government. . Owing to so many officers from State departments applying for. leave of absence to participate in sport, Cabinet had decided that leave of absence would not in future be granted. Consequently Mr Seaman was 'in the first place refused leave of absence, but several delegates waited upon the Minis, ter, who finally, put the matter before Cabinet, pointing out that Mr Seaman’s absence would be a severe loss to the Australian team. The necessaiy leave was then granted, and it was decided that in future leave should- be' granted to any one player from any one institution’ when that player had reached international standard. A, M. Craig and R. E. May are .both. Varsity players, the former of Sydney, the latter of Victoria. v . . P. B. Freeman is a first-grade cricketer and topped the howling averages for Western Suburbs last season. C. R. Harwood is a crack runner. At the Metropolitan championships he won the 229yds in 2& 4-ss@o. In IM4 he ran seoond to Parker, the American crack,at Sydney, who did the 220 in 22 3-Sseo, but a month later Harwood did the same distance on the Sydney track in 22Jsco, a record for seven years. . W. Eothwell, manager of the team, is a. member of the New South Wales Cricket Association.' and playa for Central Cumberland C.C. In the last two years he has taken two teams over to Tasmania. K. M Hughes is w flret-dlaes oarsman, aid a, member of the North Shore Rowing dub, Sydney H- J. Campbell is from the Hawkes-hu-iy agricultural district of Now South Wales, and is also a criokeiter of prominence. ... ; 1 Ten of the Australian *. - players were overseas members of the Australian Imperial Forces -