N.Z. HOCKEY TEAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 87, 4 July 1927, Page 11

N.Z. HOCKEY TEAM

SMALL PROVINCES CLAIMS TWO WORTHY BULLERITES By ABAYDOS It is a well-knoWh fact that in every branch of athletic sport, where it becomes necessary to make a selection of the best in the Dominion, players from the small provinces are generally overlooked. This is a sorry state of affairs and many a tip-top Rugby, Soccer and hockey player has missed All Black honours because he does not hail from one of the centres. A New Zealand representative hockey team is about to be selected, fl nd it will be interesting to note how the small associations are treated in the question of consideration. BULLER’S CLAIMS There is one province that can honestly claim to at least two players w ho are right up to All Black form and that is Buller, where the game has never been allowed to wane since its inception 20 years ago. It is one °f the popular pastimes in the coal area, and in later years some fine Players have been unearthed. A DASHING FORWARD Harry Lockey, who plays for the United team, is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant forwards in New Zealand. The writer, who was sole selector of the Buller team for several seasons, well remembers the fight experienced in getting Lockey recognised in the All Black team that toured Australia a few seasons back. The Westport lad was eventually given a berth and made good, proving one of the most consistent forwards in the combination. Last season another fight was put up to get Lockey a place in the Dominion team a £ainst the Indian Army eleven, but despite the remarkable exhibition he Put up against the visitors at WestPort, which convinced one N.Z. selector who was present of Lockey’s a bilities and claims for inclusion, he was selected twelfth man in the second test. No doubt the Westport bockeyite would have gained his cap in the final trial, but was called home 'or business reasons before the selection was made. Lockey is this season Playing more brilliantly than ever and there will be disappointment on the west Coast if he is overlooked on this occasion. CLEVER HALF-BACK Another Buller player, not so wellknown perhaps as Lockey, who'will be Worthy of every consideration- this ® e _ ason is young Atkin, the versatile ivesley left half. His career in the ®°ckey world was meteoric, as last his second season, he not only on hia Buller representative cap, but

in the games against Canterbury and Nelson was the outstanding placer in the half line. Atkin is a heady lad. cool, dashy, a great tackier, while his stick work, like that of Lockey, at times savours of the uncanny Dhian Chand. Given a chance in select comnanv the Wesley lad will make good and he promises to develop into one of the best half-backs yet seen in New Zealand.