HOCKEY IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2447, 28 April 1915, Page 4

HOCKEY IN EGYPT

NEW ZEALAND TEAM VICTORIOUS. Word has been received by the chairman-, of the Auckland Hockey Association from W. H. Johns, the Auckland representative forward, who is now in Kgypt, of a match played by an Auckland eleven and the Gezira Sporting Club at Gezira on Saturday, February :iO, says the "New Zealand Herald. This is the first match, ever played by a New Zealand eleven outside the Dominion, so that considerable interest attaches to the event. The New Zealand team was: —Goal, R. B. Sparrow (lato Arota); full-backs, T: G. Jackson (University), W. M. Jones (University); half-backs, L. H. Thomas, J. F. Potter (University), A. F. Yates (Ponsonby); forwards, H. B. Risliworth (Collego Rifles), C. N. Nowman (Mount Eden), J. W. Muldoon (Wellington), W. H. Johns (Waipa), W. C. Rimmer (Mount Eden). The New Zealanders won by 5 goals to 1, and the "Egyptian Mail." in referring to the iiiatck, said: —"Tno game opened very fast,/the New Zealanders soon getting their stride, and were quickly in the vioinity of their opponents' circle. The visitors were first to score, Newman netting after ten minutes had expired. The same player put in a second goal with the half only 17 minutes old. Almost immediately from the centre bully O'Grady was put in possession by a nice forward pass, by Kidd, and shooting from the edge of the circle scored a fine goal for the club. No further scoring took place before the interval.

"With the second spell only five minutes old, Rimmer .added a third goal for his side with a cross shot. The visitors were now complete masters of the situation. Johns scored bis side's fourth goal after 18 minutes' play, while Muldoon added a fifth seven minutes from time, which arrived with the New Zealanders comfortable winners by 5 goals to 1. The visitors, who were playing together _aa a team for the first time, put up a fine game, and were much quicker on the ball than their, opponents. The whole of their defence was-good, the backs tackling and clearing their tines well. Their forwards also combined well, and were a bustling quintet.

' In an interesting letter W. H. Johns says: "You.-will be pleased to hear that the Auckland hockeyites, though scattered broadcast through all the different arms of the service, have formed a hockey team, which, judging by its first performance, is in for • a successful season. With the canal business things have been very uncertain tip till now (February 22), and very little effort has been made in the way of sports. Then the infantry, arid with it R. W. Barry and A. G. Baddiley, is still at the canal,' However, with the arrival of W. M. Jones (the New Zealand Rhodes schojar) with the Home New Zealand contingent, we thought we could arrange a respectable team. I noticed that the Gezira Sporting Club had been having all its own -way with the English Territorials, so challenged them, with the result stated.. We hired cabs and enjoyed a delightful drive through Cairo across the Nile to the hockey grounds. The ground, though very hard, was splendid—fine level ttiTf—consequently the game was fast. W. M. Jones supplied us with a set of 'All Black' sweaters, so we turned out well. The game itself was tip-top hockey, the ground helping to make it so. Our opponents knew how to play short passes, and were tricky, but the splendid back play of Jones kept their score down; he was quite at home, and they could not pass him. . • "The club's grounds were interesting, containing dozens of tennis courts, chiefly sand, golf links, cricket patches, and chief of all the polo ground. The whole of the grounds, acres and acres in extent, were beautifully laid out with gardens, hedges, and trees. It was hard to believe. we, were in the land where 'it never rains.' The club-romß were luxurious, the club is the most exclusive in Egvpt,.its members being the Imperial officers of the permanent army of occupation, and those from the Continent who prefer and can make their winter residence in Cairo."