HOCKEY.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17078, 16 April 1927, Page 21 (Supplement)

HOCKEY.

n\w clubs. (By “Left Half.”) A new ladles' club lias been formed at Feilding with the title of the Kia Ora Club, the uniform being of royal blue and black, with blue and black caps and ties. A men’s club has been formed at Taumarunui with red and black colours. It was stated at the initial meeting that clubs had been formed at Kakahi, Eaurimu, and Manson’s Siding, while endeavours were being made to establish the game at Mananui, Owhango, and Oio.

PROPOSED AUSTRALIAN TOUR. After New Zealand’s fine showing in the tests against the famous Indian Army team last season no difficulty should be experienced in selecting a team which should more than hold its own in Australia during the coming season. The invitation of the Australian authorities has been definitely accepted, but the itinerary has not yet been settled. A suggested programme includes games at Sydney, Goulburn, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide, with a-test match at Brisbane. It is proposed that the team shall commence ils tour at Sydney on August 13, and play its Anal game at Adelaide on September 10.

THE ZANOL CUP. The edict of the N.Z.H.A. that only second grade players shall be eligible to compete for the Zanol Cup has resulted in the past in Wellington's junior team having to represent this city, whereas senior B players are logically the grade which should contest the cup games. Although the senior B men are virtually in the second grade the fact that they are not so named and are designated as seniors •has barred them from Zanol Cup games To render them eligible it was recommended at the annual meeting of the W.11.A. that instead of the teams being graded senior A, senior B, junior, etc., as at present, they should be termed first division teams, second division teams, etc. This motion was lost after much discussion, the consensus of opinion being that as senior B flayers were equally elegible with senior A men for representative honours it would be unfair to grade them in such a way as would be likely to prejudice their chances of getting into first class teams. Moreover, it was felt that the juniors would be quite willing to strive for success in Zanol Cup games, and would achieve more honour if they were victorious.