MOUNTING PUBLIC INTEREST IN AUSSIE HOCKEY PLAYERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 70, 19 July 1948, Page 5

MOUNTING PUBLIC INTEREST IN AUSSIE HOCKEY PLAYERS

It is very encouraging to the Central Bay of Plenty Association to note the mounting public interest in the coming international hockey match between Australia and the Central Bay of Plenty on July 26. Those who remember with pleasure the touring Indian team some years back, will be looking forward to the visit of the Australians, who also have a very high reputation in the field of international hockey. Central Bay of Plenty has been very fortunate in securing this .game as it is the only Sub-Association in New Zealand to have secured a game against the visitors. The Central Bay Association ; has had to put up a very substantial guarantee to get this match and with only very limited -finances at its disposal will have to rely on the support of the sporting public in the district to back the venture to the limit. Local business people are cooperating with the Association by closing , their shops at 2.30 on that day. With no gate takings from club or other representative fixtures to increase its finances, the Central Bay Association is to be commended upon its courage and initiative in undertaking the necessary com-

mitment to bring the Australians here. Apart from giving the public an opportunity of seeing really first class hockey, the visit will be of untold value to the progress of the game locally. The local team will in all probability be led by J. E. Wyatt, a player who is well up to international standard. He is at present away in Fiji with the Auckland Provincial touring team and has already made his presence felt over there by his dashing style of play. He has also been nominated for the New Zealand Test team to play Australia at Dunedin on August 7. Others of the local team who have made considerable names for themselves in provincial and association hockey are: N. E. Rigden, Ken Civil, Buck Waller, Ben Hill, Maurice Jensen and Ben Nuku, all well seasoned players who should, with the assistance of the younger players of the team, make an interesting game of it.