HOCKEY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27395, 7 July 1954, Page 5

HOCKEY

N.Z. TEAM LEAVES FOR AUSTRALIA

New Zealand’s 17 hockey representatives and their manager, Mr C. C. Holland, of Christchurch, were among the 43 passengers who left Harewood by Tasman Empire Airways DC-6 yesterday morning. The team will play 23 games on a six weeks tour of Australia which will open with a match against Camberwell at Melbourne tomorrow. “They are a good bunch of chaps— I have found that out already,” said Mr Holland when he was asked if he had anything to say at the airport. “We are all in good health and condition and are keenly looking forward l °Mr 6 Holland said that he was not inclined to comment on the prospects of the team in Australia. I wo™ rather wait and see, he said, we realise that the standard of hockey in Australia has improved a good deal in recent years but we feel that we have got a good team and we will all give of our best.” The main match of the tour will be the test match against Australia at Sydney on August 7. The Manning Memorial Trophy, at present held by Australia, will be at stake on that ° f 'New Zealand’s test record in Australia is: 1923, won 2-1; 1927, drew 3-all; 1932, won 7-0; 1937, won 1-0; 1950 lost 1-2. New Zealand’s record in tests against Australia in New Zealand is:—l922, won 5-4; 1925, won 5-1, 1929, won 2-0; 1934, won 5-3; 1948, lost 2-3-1952, lost 0-1. Five other New Zealand teams have toured Australia. Their records were:— 1923: won 11, iost 1; 1927. won 12, drew 2, lost 0; 1932: won 15, drew 3; 1937: won 18, drew 1. lost 3; 1950. won 17, drew 3, lost X