hockey field. Daughters of Merv. Kenny, yet another of the sporting family, these two players have won the admiration and respect of capable judges of hockey. Mrs Ina Lamason, Wellington selector and New Zealand representative at hockey and cricket, tells me that Janie, now about 14 years, is likely to develop into one of New Zealand's greatest hockey players. Luxford Peti, one-time sports enthusiast, of Dannevirke, who did so much for the Maoris in women's hockey at a time when Ruahine held supremacy in that sport, would be thrilled to know of the progress being made by the young Maori women. Janie, who played senior for Wellington's Toa team, had to transfer to Wellington Technical College in the Secondary Schools' grade, but her average of about six goals a match indicates that she is far too good for that grade. Elder sister, Alice, would have made the Wellington — and perhaps New Zealand — team last year had it not been for injuring the cartilage of a knee. This put her out of action and at her own request she was not considered for the Wellington team to play in the K Cup tournament, a tournament lasting a whole week. Instead, she played for the Wellington Seconds and was the star player. ‘You can't go wrong in forecasting great things for these two splendid hockey players', was Ina Lamason's assurance to me. From the foregoing it is evident that sport in the Kenny family is traditional or inherent. And so it has been with many a Maori family. Look through the list of Maori Rugby representatives and you will find the Gemmells (with Jack and the evergreen Sam as the stalwarts), the Graces, the Lockwoods, Macdonalds, Warbricks, Ellisons, Wynyards, Paratas, Tureias and Winiatas — great names in New Zealand and Maori sport. But the name of Asher doesn't appear in that list of New Zealand Maori Rugby representatives because, perhaps, the greatest player New Zealand ever produced, Albert (“Opai”) Asher, who played for New Zealand in 1903, turned to Rugby League before the first official “New Zealand Maori” team was chosen in 1910. (The great team of 1888–89 was officially known as the ‘N.Z. Native Team.’) Albert Asher was only 11 years old when he played his first senior Rugby representative game, playing for Tauranga against Rotorua. Eighteen months later, still under 13 years, he played against Auckland—the youngest senior representative on record. I am indebted to R. A. Stone's ‘Rugby Players Who Have Made N.Z. Famous’ for some of the details about ‘Opai’ Asher. He tells that ‘Opai’ Asher played many brilliant games for Auckland, but none better than in 1902, when Auckland was awarded the Ranfurly Shield, to become first holders of that ‘Log of Wood’ for which many Maori players have battled in winning and losing teams. They used to call ‘Opai’ Asher the ‘India. Rubber Man’ and not without good reason. It was in 1903 that Australians saw him at his best. ‘Thrilled were the crowds by the Maoriland wonder who, when picked up and dumped, appeared to bounce, and was the next moment making for the goal line, with a running action entirely his own,’ wrote R. A. Stone. ‘When White, the N.S.W. three-quarter, collared Asher in the 1903 match; Asher fell to the ground. White turned to take up his position again and when next he looked was astounded to see Opai running over the goalline. Opai had jumped, or rather bounced, up and was off to the desired haven.’ Asher scored 17 tries on that tour, playing in 10 matches. In 1904, Bedell-Sivright captained the British team to New Zealand, the team playing a series of wins in Australia before coming to New Zealand. Flushed with success, they were warned that they didn't know what footballers were until they had seen ‘Opai’ Asher. But ‘Opai’ didn't get in the New Zealand team — and Sivright was said to have exclaimed: ‘What sort of players have you if Asher can't get selection?’ But there was good reason for his non-selection. Working with the fire brigade, he had suffered a leg injury. He insisted on playing for Auckland in the Ranfurly Shield match won by Wellington, 6–3, but his old-time speed and trickery were missing. They took him to hospital for a more thorough medical check, and there they found that a splinter of glass had been lodged behind his knee. That piece of glass kept Albert Asher from almost certain selection in the 1905 All Black team to Great Britain. He played his last Rugby Union match in 1907, and then transferred to Rugby League. The first New Zealand Maori Rugby League team to play in Australia, says a Rugby League publication,’ was organised by prominent Maori footballers and assisted to a great degree by “Opai” and Ernie Asher.’ The Maori team of 1909 created a sensation, winning the O. T. Punch Cup by wins in the first three of five matches between the Maoris and the ‘Kangaroos’. The third match was seen by 45,000 people, and it was after this match that ‘Opai’ Asher (Albert Wharepapa) jumped the fence at the Sydney Cricket Ground to take the cup! His brother Ernie (Pouwhiuwhiu) was also in the team. A great player, ‘Opai’ Asher was later, and for many years, custodian of Carlaw Park, the