PLAYERS and the GAME

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12411, 3 April 1926, Page 17

PLAYERS and the GAME

RUGBY Cjrotty, the big Hutt forward, has been transferred, and will not be amongst the Maroons this season. It is doubtful whether Sullivan, too, will bo avail---able. ... . * Two West Coasters, Pedwell, a halfback, and Green, have thrown their lot in with the Hutt Club. « ... * . Pope, the Borhamporo forward, has joined the Athletic Club, and Gunnion, another of last year’s light blueß, has gone to America. ••. • . Hawkins, the strong-running Petone wing-three-quarter of last year, has transferred to Wellington. *•. * # Deere, of Berhampore, is at present in Auckland, but he is expected back by the beginning of the season. • » • • New players in the Borhampore Club are Slater, late of Poneke, and Cooke, of Auckland, a brother of the AH Black. He will probably play behind the scrub*. • * a • Hume, a Berhampore forward, who did not play last year, will be in the scrum again this season. • * • • Darby, the Wanganui full-back of last year, has taken up residence in Wellington, and will play for Oriental. •*• • • According to reports from Hawke's Bay, every club in the district is confident that George Nepia will play for it this season. • • • • Maurice Brownlie will play in Hastings again this season, but Cyril is now farming near Wairoa, and is not expected to turn out on the football field. «•• • « If Cooke's idea is to keep people guessing about his intentions ne has succeeded. He was to play in Wellington ; then he had decided to turn out for Hawke's Bay; he was returning to Auckland; and this week dame the re?ort that he was going to England with, he League team. But he has denied it. In Napier they say he will play with Technical College Old Boys, and that one of his team-mates will be Swain, the Hawke's Bfiy and Wellington representative. • • • • Wairarapa and Wanganui have challenged for the Banfuriy Shield. The first match will be played on the King's Birthday, and the second on June sth. .•’• • ■ •

Falwasser, who scored a great try for Hawke's Bay at Athletic Park last sea* son, may play in Taranaki this season. „• - * • • New South Wales should have a stronger aide this year. A. C. "John" Wallaoe, the international three-quarter, two South African representatives, Van Her Heme ■ and Pegler, and a London Scottish half-back, Robertson, will be available for selection. ■*» . * • Apart from these additional players, of whom the greatest is Wallace, New South Wales will have Ted Thorne, Tom Lawton, Ross, Nothling, Bowers, Crossman, Morrissey, Reid,) Meagher, and Horan, of last year's touring side. The union is considering the possibility of Quartering the team together for special training before the All Blacks arrive. ,• * . It is possible that the All . Blacks in Bvdney will have Maoris playing against them*.Several sturdy boys from Te Aute College are now at Richmond College, and their play will be keenly watched. • -./ • - • ' • The Southland Rugby Union's finances will make many other unions envious. The union did not obtain the whole profits of the All Gold Art Union, "but it has been granted £9250 by way of a loan. This is being used for thß completion of a grandstand at Rugby Park and .for the erection of a caretaker's residence. The money is to be paid back to the Amateur Sports Trust every two years in instalments of £soo— 2± per cent, interest. • * * * Youth and speed will be the chief features of the Marist senior team this season. The backs will be young and fast, and most of the team will he light. Even in the pack there will be a suggestion of lightness which, if not overdone, will prove a handy asset in the loose work on the field. There will be a try-out to-day, when the club is to play the Wanganui Marists, for a eup donated by Wanganui enthusiasts for competition between all Marist teams in this island. This Is the first year of competition, and if the teams enter into the contest with a keen spirit, it might be extended to the South Island in later years. • • ' • • ’ Til. winner of the Wanganui Marist Cap, which is being played for today, will he challenged later in the season by AncEland, and later, perhaps, by Napier Marist*. ... * There will be quite a change in the personnel of the Marist team this year. Mcßae, Morphy, and Mahoney, who were among the outstanding figures last season, will drop out for the coming term, although they will remain available if required in an emergency, to save upsetting the junior grades. Bowman, who has stood, the test, of a few years since his migration from the West Coast, may or may not take the field again. Another' Coaster, who has for some time been in the King.. Country, comee with a good reputation as a half-back. Bo is Garrity, who played at five-eighths as well while in the. Greymouth team, and who is being tried out behind the scrum to-day. ■ . « • • • Among last year’s stars who will again be seen in the Marist ranks are - Johnston, one of last year’s asSirant to the New Zealand team, 'oley, Griffen, and Hall, the latter’s accurate kicking doubtless being ’ a decided asset. 1 From the junior team E. Barry will be piaced at full-hack in the senior fifteen, and if he shows the same form as he did last year m his grade, he should he still among the mg men at the finish. A namesake, S. Barry, an ex-Wanganui representative forward of last year, is quite young, but he has weight, enthusiasm, and a good head, and plays a good dashing forward game. «...

Gourley, another young player from Wanganui, will appear for the first time in the senior field. He is described as being very fit, and his record in the River Citv is a good one. He might be a bit light for the forward division, hut the text will tell. There is a doubt as to whether Ward, last year’s half, will come out, hut if he does he will probably line with the five-eighths. Donovan, last year’s junior representative centre threeouarter. will also have a try-outrin the five-eighths line, but he may later <*et his place at the wing. Coming has justified his place at three-quarter, and will again appear there. • * * * So, all round, the Tykes have a pretty light team, but with good generalship and assiduous practice, it should be moulded /nto a fast bark combination and a very useful pack. The coaching thia year will he under Mr F. Galvin, Mr Geo. Aldridge—last year’s coach—being unavailable. In other grades, the club will be very strong. It is rumoured that a couple of Southerq Hawke’s Bay players will join up before the season is far gone.

The bout between Rez. Trowern and fiilvino Jamito takes place in Wellington on April 10th. It should be fcrcm and fast. Jamito is working out at Merv.' VVilliams’s gym.

SOCCER Club finance in Wellington in the past has been somewhat lax, which is putting the fact mildly, but at the annual meeting of the W.F.A. last week a motion was carried which is going to have far-reaching effects—possibly more so than, the clubs realise -—in that it is both automatic and mandatory. .... Having decided the ground fees, etc., the meeting decided: “The amounts to include capitation fees, ground fees and cup entriSs, and be paid in three equal instalments by May Ist, June Ist, and July Ist. Any club _in arrears with its instalments within 14 days of the above-mentioned dates shall be disqualified from taking part in any further matches until arrears are paid. • . • '.

The balance-sheet disclosed that outstanding (subscriptions amounted to £ll3, showing that several of the dubs are in arrears. They will now have to'make themselves financial, as well as to be prepared to meet the season's liabilities on due dates, or suffer disaualification. It may seem a harsh ecision,. but the management committee has heavy liabilities which have to be met, including the provision of grounds, and it cannot possibly carry on as it'has done in the past. dubs will have to ho financial, or go under.

The new rule will reduce the treasurer's difficulties considerably, and will result in the money coming in much more quickly. If players. want to show their real interest in the desire for the welfare of Socoer they will “dnb up” bright and early, and put their club in a position to carry on. v » e * .

The association has also become “incorporated,” a. movement that has become the fashion’ recently among other snorting communities. It. will enable the association to hold and own land and other property, and to take over Association Park altogether, the old company going into liquidation. The debenture issue will have a sound security in Association Park, which should he worth from £15,000 to £20,000, and values of building, land in that area are rising tremendously.

There is, however, the important question of accommodation on ' that ground to be considered, and it is recalled how extremely unpleasant' were the conditions under which the games were reported'for the first few weeks last season owing to the heavy' rains. If something is not done to improve the conditions for taking notes of the games this year the reports are likely to suffer. The dressing accommodation for the players also leaves something to he desired, so. it is hoped the W.F.A. will give fie; matter real and serious consiaeratiolt.

> A development which has beeii brought about since the end of the last season ought to have a good effect on the game, so far as Wellington is concerned, and that/is the amalgamation of the Scottish clubs 'under one banner, that of the Wellington Caledonian Society. This is the eequal to the amalgamation of the Wellington Scottish and Caledonian Societies; so happily brought about, and, chiefly due to the active work of the chief of the Caledonian Society, Mr R. H. Nimmo, and Mr George Lauchlan. They will play under- the old name of Thistle, but will be a much stronger combination than hitherto, for that fine team of youngsters, the Scottish Wanderers, will play under their banner, and with the whole of the material thus available the Scottish A and B teams, should put up a big proposition to the other dubs in the city. They will certainly put Y.M.C.A., Marist and Hospital upon their mettle, and .should • place Scottish Soccer in a, very sound i position indeed. It Was not an easy ■.task by any means to bring all the Scottish Socoer interests under one banner, hut it has been accomplished, and if they can. get through their first season without p rift in the lute, then their, prospects are indeed excellent. - • » » •

The new off-side rule is going to make a big difference to Soccer in New Zealand, but whether it will he beneficial or not remains to be seen. It is bringing higher goal scoring, as maybe judged from its effect in England. In the 1924-5 season 59 players scored 15 or more goals in Football League matches, and of these 23 scored 20 or more goals. The effect of the new offside rule is shown bv a comparison with this' season’s individual scoring. When the season was a little more than halfway through 33 players had scored 15 goals, and 14 had reached the 20 mark. , ... ■ , , , It may be inferred that all who had scored. 10 goals have a fair chance of bringing their totals to 15 before the end'of the' season. In that event ,105 players will do so, compared with 59 last winter, a fact which would prove beyond dispute that the new rule has made the. task of the forward easier and more profitable. *j • * The opening of the season last September was of greater interest than usual, for everyone was anxious to seo how the new off-side rule would affect the games and the Scoring. It was generally expected that the new rule—a player need have only two opponents between him and their goal to be onside —would Tesult in, heavier goalscoring, and the results of .the. opening games oonfirmed the expectation. The following table shows how the scoring compared with that of the opening day of the preceding year:—

Thus, in the first three leagues there were 68 more goals scored than on the previous year’s opening day. Aston villa scoteda sensational win of tO-O against Burnley, an almost unheard of score in first division Soccer. , • • » * “Geordie” Campbe ll . whose ability as a player and capTuin will not be forgotten for many a day, has left the P. and T. Department to take up the position of inspector of Black and White Taxicabs. He was selected from hundreds of applicants, and those who know his personality will not be surprised to hear of it. j • • I The following are a few extracts j from opinions expressed by leading plavers and critics: — I Charlie Pringle (Manchester City).— I like it. It will speed up the game. Jimmy Blair (Cardiff City).—lt may be spectacular and may produce more goals, but it certain K- will not improve the quality of the football. It will have a contrary effect, and it is simply placing a premium upon speed and stamina. “The Veteran” (“Sunday Chronicle”). —Tn the game between Manchester City and Cardiff City the players seldom, if ever, attempted to take advantage of the new rule. That it. will make plav faster is certain, and there was nothing in this game to show thst it will spoil scientific footbsl'. T must reserve judgment. TToallnss /Blackburn Rovers). Tt means harder work for the helf-hncks and backs, as I have already discovered. # • * * A. G. Bower /Chelsea's amateur!.— The chancre will be better for football

in the all-round sense, even though it might be slightly detrimental to the defenders. Hudspeth (Newcastle 17.). The game has been improved, and to-day’s match was better because of the change. There will be more goals, and a nippy forward line will score freely. There is more running about for the full-backs, .but the extra work is not too much. . Joe Smith (Bolton Wanderers). I am inclined to think the game has been spoiled by the alteration. We shall probably see lees football owingto tfie development of the kick and rush type of play. David Jack (Bolton Wanderers). —. There will be too much kick and rush, and the game is going to be dirty. Harry Grundy (Oldham Athletic captain) I think it is a great improvement, giving a much faster game, and with the forwards keeping well up I think there will bd about 30 per cent, more goals. Bedford (Blackpool).—lt is calculated to increase interest in the game. It means more work for defenders, and forwards will benefit by it. Campbell (Southampton).—The new rule in itself is to be greatly commended, but with the haphazard and oatdh-as-can throw in it led to a great deal of scrambling and therefore indifferent

play. Either rule would be a good thing, but the two together constitute a menace to the game. V : m '» «* w , Gittins (Barnsley).—lt has quickly been proved to be a first-rate change, which must be welcomed by players and spectators alike, Players must ever be on the alert, and there will now be an absence of those irritating stoppages. It is more like football. MoGrory (Stoke City).—lt would be a pity to go baok to the old rule, but defenders must use their heads and not allow attackers too much latitude. • * * *

There is every reason to think that Diamonds will take the field a stronger combination than was the case last year, for they did not finish too strongly. Diamonds Club has been orie of the stalwarts of Soccer in Wellington, for it was formed in 1893, and many past and present players of note have played for the club at some time or other. It commenced in the junior competition, but soon rose to senior rank, and it has had its name engraved on the. Charity Cup on more occasions than any other'club. It achieved the distinction of winning the championship and the Charity Cup twice in succession.

Albert Wells, Alf. Williams, Frank O’Connell,' A. G. Barnett, H; liversage, Colin Webster, Fred Earle, Harry Power and Joe Taylor have all appeared in the black jersey, and the club has had many players- in important rep. matches in the old days, while several who joined the, Expeditionary Force paid the supreme sacrifice. Things did not ■go quite so well last year as could have been desired, but some of the old supporters vvho had been resting on their laurels have returned to give the' club a solid backing, and Diamonds will be a force in senior Soccer this season. The old management committee bit off more than they could chew in running so many teams last season, and although this, time they will be fewer in number they will be proportionately stronger. • * • •

Among the Diamond seniors who will answer the roll call are Hearne, Cutler (goalie), McLeod brothers, Bolt, and Guest. Reyling and Dickinson are j not quite certain, but something more definite is probably known by now, as there was a meeting pn Wednesday night, and the annual meeting of the club is to be" held shortly. Now the management has been stiffened up prospects are brighter, and there is some promising new blood in view for the team. Mr Devonport was- over a long period of years president of the club, but upon his death three years ago the honour devolved upon Mr A. G. Barnett, who has served the club as player, and committeeman, and has been a member of the N.Z.F.A. He is also a vice-president of the W.F.A.,. and in everyday life is known as the secretary to the Wellington Harbour Board. J. W. St. Clair, the sculling chnmpipn, considers the Petono course the best in New Zealand. Suzanne Lenglen, after her match with Helen Wills, said: “I am*getting to he an old woman; she is a mere child. T will Tie twenty-seven next May. Bho is a good sport, a nice little girl. If ever I lose ray (71.1 e before I retire for good and nfl from the courts, there vs no one to whom I would like better to pass it on than Miss Wills.”

ATHLETICS j (By “Stop-Watch.”)' Coming Events. —To-day : Country clubs’ championships and McVilly Shield, at Palmerston North; Waikanae A.A.C., at Waikanae; April sth, New Zealand University championships, at Dunedin; Plimmerton A.A.Cs, at Plimmerton; sports at Lower Hutt gala. ' • * • * The Easier holidays mark the close of the present athletic season, which ha* been the most successful in the history of amateur athletics in New Zealand. There are the usual Easter meetings to be held to-day and Monday, after which athletes will put their shoes away for- six months. • • • *

In view of the fact that the Aus-tralian-New Zealand championships are, to be held at Brisbane in August, the New Zealand Council should select immediately a team to keep in training throughout the winter mouths. The material is here for a first-class team, but the burning question of finances will have to be overcome. • .. * • . • Ibis will probably be the last time New Zealand will „ send a team to Australia to compete in the championships, which are held bi-annually. For years past w ehave been advocating the abolition of the Australian-New Zealand championships; and the substitution of contests between Australia and New Zealand every! two years, alternately in Australia and New Zealand. The Athletic Union of Australia and Now Zealand has consistently turned down our proposals, for what reason it is hard to. understand. From Now Zealand’s point of view the present arrangement is a most lopsided one. We have to send a,-team to Australia about seven/ times before we get the .championships here. That means once in-every 14 years. The expense of sending a tea mto Australia'every two years is a tremendous drain on the finances ,of the New Zealand Council. • • • *

Every year the, various Australian States meet and take part in the Aus4 tralian championships, but every, two years New Zealand comes'ft, and the meeting is called, the Australian-New: Zealand championships. Tf tho New Zealand proposals were given effect to it would not in any way interfere with the Australian meeting. They could hold their meeting as usual, but every four years a team representative of the, whole of Australia would visit these shores and take part in a test with New Zealand. Likewise, every four years a New Zealand team would visit Australia. * • • *

It has been suggested from time to time that New Zealand should break away from the union. This wrould be very unwise at the present time, because it is New Zealand’s turn’ to have the Australian-New Zealand championships in 1928. After that we can, break away, whether our proposals for Australia versus New Zealand contests are accepted or not. •_•,• • -• • To get back to this year V meeting at Brisbane. It is essential that New Zealand should be represented by a strong team if the money is available. The financial result of the American tour is not yet known, but whatever it is the, the New Zealand Council receives only 25 per oent. Several liabilities incurred by the visit of the Australian athletes last year have to be met, and as the only income the council has is a percentage of the profrom the New Zealand championships and affiliation fees from clubs, the financial position of the parent body is very poor. • ■ * «, •

At the last championships, held at Hobart two years ago, New Zealand tied with Victoria for the shield, but lost it owing to the Victorians having the greater number of seconds. Were it not for the fact (hat H. E. Wilson met with a nasty accident, in the 120 yards hurdles New Zealand would’ have carried off the honours. * # * *

From the material available this year New Zealand could select a team with every chance of winning tho shield. Certain winners are Kyle (Wellington), 440 yards; Munro (Web Tington), shot and discus; Lay (West Coast ; N. 1.), javelin; and W. Harvey (Wellington), throwing the hammer. But for the fact that he will be letting Nurmi admire his back, Bose would he certain for the one and three miles. Possible winners are Shirley (Auckland), high jump; Batstone (Canterbury), pole vault; Morgan (Otago), 120 yards and 440 yards hurdles; and Cabot (Otago), one and three mile walks. • * • » It is questionable, however, even if all the men are availahle whether the council is financial enough to send such' a large team., • • • • In spite of the fact that the street collection on Tuesday was not pushed as much as it could have been the response was good. Considerably over £2OO was collected, with the result that the' bulk of the money required to send Rose and MoHolm away is in sight. A further collection was taken throughout tiro Wairarapa on Wednesday, but at the time of writing the amount collected is not known. It will probably be found to hove greatly exceeded the Wellington collection. , # # # * It ,is now practically oertain that Rose and McHolm will leave Auckland for Vancouver by the Aorangi on April 13th. This will give Rose about two months in England before the English championships in July. The main reason for Rose’s trip abroad, however, is that ho measure strides with the, great Nurmi. Nurmi’s whereabouts and intentions are at present unknown, and if he is not a competitor at Stamford Bridge then Rose will have to chase him to wherever he may ho competing. * ■* • * . The New Zealand .Council has received advice from Philadelphia to the effect that there is a possibility of Nurmi's competing at the American championships this year. As this

meeting is usually held in July or August the chanoes are that if the flying Finn is a competitor Rose will have to out out the English championships and stay in America.

That good old sportsman, H. S. Alpe, the champion . long distance walker, is ever ready to .help a good cause. Mr Alpe has offered to walk from .Masterton to Wellington, breaking reooihds and collecting money on the road to assist the Rose fund. During the war Mr Alpe made many walking tours collecting on behalf of various patriotic funds, and as recently as last year he walked from Nfew Plymoutn to Wellington, via Wairarapa, collecting for Dr. Barnardo’s Homes. His present offer is, as he himself says, “a. sporting offer from an old sport.” I am indebted to an Eiketahuna athlete for the following notes on the meetings held there:— The main attraction was, of course, the appearance of R. A. Rose, who won both the 880 yards and the mile. Both races were only a jog for the champion, his stride wearing the limit men down. C. Oliver and A. Porter also ran good races and will improve; both these runners belong to the Eketahuna Club, and Oliver, who is only a boy, should make a good distance runner in a season or two. • * # ' * The sprint events wfere well filled, the presence of E. K. Eastwood adding' interest to the events. He was unplaced in the 100 yards first heat, won by A. Parker, with F. Gruscbour second. The final being won by McLeod, with Ball second. Both belong to the Masterton Club. * • # »

The 220 yards wits run in two heats, E. J. Duffy winning the first with Eastwood second. The second heat was won by F. GrUscHour with L. Lovell second. The filial was won by Duffy, with Lovell second. The winner is a member of the Palmerston Club. Butn Gruschour and Henderson seemed to be feeling the effects of the previous runs.. ' • • * » Eastwood won the 440 yards with Ball and Ferguson dead heat for second. This was a grand raice. He winner ran with good judgment and finished well. *. , * ♦ * The relay race was won by the - Masterton team, which with the services of Eastwood, managed to defeat the local boys, who ran well against more experienced opponents. • •* * » The two cycle races were won by H. Russell, of the Eketahuna Club. He rode with great judgment and won easily, This,- boy. is the material of a first-class rider, as he rides with a very easy motion. He wits almost as popular as R. A. Rose on the day. »- 1 J. Ferguson. 10ft lit), won the pole vault, with Roberts 9ft 7in second, the winner has a good style and should train more for this branch of sport. This was his first attemp’t for over. 18 months. • • • *

Of the Eketahuna athletes, J. Ferguson is running very well at present and at Nireaha (Easter Monday) wil) make his presence felt, esneeially in the 440 yards. L. Lovell, a fair sprinter, is running very well at present. Papatawa on Easter Monday will find him in a place. F, Gruschour, a fair man up to 440 yards stops quickly after that. He is running well at present, and will be close up at Kumeroa ou Easter Saturday. H. sell, cyclist, is going to Papatawa, and is" a certain for one event at least. P. Lynch. C. McLaughlin, Valentine Porter, Oliver, Parker, Johnstone, and Snell are still in the maiden crass, but Lynch, who has a bad ankle, rind Parker will soon account for a race in average company. G. Snell is a runner with possibilities, especially in the half-mile, but he neglects his training. V , „ , . ■■ . Hose will need all his stamina abroad. "When Nurmi, on hfe visit to America, defeated ,Joie Ray, the American chatapion, over a mile he might have been expected to watch the rest of the programme. Instead, only an hour after the mile race, he defeated Willie Ritola over 6000 metres.

TENNIS Miss Kathleen MoKane is ranked at the top of England’s women tennis players in the list of the twelve best given out by Hamilton Price, Britain’s fending handicapper. “The form of a woman playep is more variable than that of a man,” says the report, “but ■Miss MeKane is plainly the best. Mrs Lambert Chambers has almost retired | from singles, but she defeated Miss Eleanor Goss in the ladies’ match for the Wightman Cup in America. Her doubles play still reveals Her wonderful Control and craft on the courts. Mrs M. Watson endSfl the season with a splendid win in the South of England championship.” These are given as the first three. * " • •' • No fewer than 51 clubs, with _ over 1000 registered members, are affiliated to the London Table Tennis league, and six representatives of these will compete in the German Natrona! Championships in Berlin from January 13th to 17th. At the invitation of tho German Association, these six (under the captaincy of W. J. Pope) will also form an English international side to oppose a. combined German and Austrian team. • • . • ’ " • The first serious step_ toward the betterment of junior" tennis in New South Wales liaß been taken by the N.S.W.L.T.A. The association has included in its programme of events in the New South Wales championship a men’s invitation doubles. The event, which is to be decided by the best three advantage sets, is open to junior and senior players, who will be paired by the association’s selectors. In this novel way, if the leading senior players enter into the spirit of the idea, young players should gain valuable match experience and come into contact .with some of the leading first-grade and inter-State players. * • * * W. T. Tilden was 33 years of age on February 10th. | ' * ‘ * * The Viotorian tennis people are sue-

gesbing that Norman Brookes be asked to lay down the guiding principles of the game for young players. They are anxious that the hew generation should mould themselves on the Victorian, and not on the. Nerw South Wales’ methods. The play of Brookes, Patterson, and Co. is more attractive than that nf their contemporaries in N.S.W., and, moreover, it yields better results. Tilden has said that it- will be a net player who takes from him his title.

Randolph Rose is a second crusin of W. J. Burk, who held the Australiantvew Zealand three miles record from 7593 to 1901.

Duncan Thompson, the famous Australian half-hack has retired from the League game. He intended to strip again for Toowoomba, hut on medical advice he has given up the game.

HOCKEY In. several towns of the North Island hockey has made great strides, with the Result that during the year a new association was created with headquarters at Dannevirke (says the annual report of the Wellington Hockey Association). • • * • The Manning Memorial Cup, which has been donated by players throughout Australia and New Zealand in memory of tho late A. W. Manning, of Wellington, has since been purchased in England by Mr L. H. Norton, of Auckland. The cup is due to arrive in New Zealand before the end of the present month. • • * • The first match for the Norton Memorial Cup, for competition between the primary schools of the North * Island, was played at Auckland during the 1925 season. The competing teams were Auckland and Wellington. The match was drawn, and Wellington and Auckland are bracketed as the first winners of the cup. It is hoped that a schoolboys' tournament will be held in Wellington during the coming season. • • • •

During the coming season a visit will be received from a representative team from the British Army, India. Thes team will number 15 players, three''being British officers and 12 being natives, mostly Sikhs. The team is due to arrive in Auckland on Tuesday, May 11th, 1926. Eighteen matches win be played in New Zealand, including two tests, one each, at Christchurch and Auckland. The natives play hockey as part of their armv training, consequently have reached a very high state of efficiency. • • * •

The associations which will be fortunate enough to obtain a match against tho visitors have a wonderful opportunity of advancing the game in theii districts. No effort should he spared to make the visit the really great success which it deserves. The Defence Department throughout New Zealand will be pleased to assist in any direction pos6ibe. Already the newspapers and the general* public are keenly interested in the distinct novelty of natives from India playing hockey in New Zealand. Most of the players were at the front during the war. • • • • The Challenge Shield has now been competed for in 57 ordinary matches and two tournaments. It has been won or retained by the Auckland Association on 24 occasions,'Wellington 19,- Canterbury 11. and Manawatu 5. . • • . • • hockey promises to be very popular this season. So far 25 school* have entered for competitions. This shows an increase of eight teams. The executive of the Hockey Association U considering the matter of filling vacancies in the senior A grade. Probably when nominations come in from various clubs a team from senior B grade, which is not represented in the A grade at present, will be promoted. ••* • * Several rules are to be changed this year, and several ambiguities are to be straightened out. These matters are before the executive now. The executives hope to call a general meeting soon after Easter, for the purpose of amending the rules. The selectors for 1926 are Mr H. Me* Gregor (senior) and Mr Osihie (junior). BOXING Hector MoDondld has been unlucky in not securing more engagements in New Zealand. He is a good two-handed fighter. # , * * George Stace meets Eugene Yolaire for a purse of £l5O at- Greymoutk tonight. Jamito has signified his willingness to have a cut at the winner. iCr Harry D. Woo 4 is president-of The New South Wales Rugby Union this year. He had a gijeat career us full-hack for University and New Souih Wales.

Div. Dir. • Div. Div. 1 ' ' 2 3<N) 4 (S) 1924 . .. to 20 14 23 1926 . .. 38 29 47 42