HOCKEY North-South Game Next September

Press, Volume C, Issue 29502, 2 May 1961, Page 15

HOCKEY North-South Game Next September

A motion to have the North versus South representative match omitted from the the season's itinerary was lost on the casting vote of the chairman (Mr A. D. Holland) at last evening's meeting of the New Zealand Hockey Association’s management committee.

After the motion, framed by Mr R. A. Milne, was put before the meeting, it was agreed to hold the match in September and to invite applications from South Island associations to organise it. It was decided to hold the North versus South Minor Associations' match at Wanganui, a suitable date to be suggested by Wanganui.

Members had all had the chance to assess the importance of the practical value of both the major and minor North-South games, said Mr J. G. Leggat, "I would not like to see it dropped,” he said, referring to the major match. “Retrograde Step” To drop the major NorthSouth match would be a retrograde step, said Mr L. G. Taylor. It had been dropped a few years ago, and it had been a hard job to get it reinstated. He added that although the standard of play had not been very high last year, it should be maintained. Because the season was a very full one and no applications to hold the match had been received, he thought it would be no great loss if the major NorthSouth match was not held, said Mr Milne. It was not so much that the association could not run it but that the players would not be available, he said. An invitation had been received for New Zealand to tour India in January, and such a match would be useful in choosing a team, said Mr M. R. Good. Sole Selector

Mr E. G. McLeod (Auckland) was appointed sole se-

lector for New Zealand. Messrs B. A. Turner (Palmerston North), P. Spieres (■Wellington), I. R. Smith (Christchurch) and R. McKinley (Dunedin) were appointed advisory selectors. Messrs M. J. Cooper (Auckland) and E. G. McLeod (Auckland) were appointed co-managers of the New Zealand team to tour Australia later this season. Mr McLeod will be responsible for selection and coaching. A team of 16 players will be selected for the tour.