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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 4 (July 1, 1938.)

Hockey in New Zealand

Hockey in New Zealand.

By the time this article appears in print New Zealanders will have seen the Indian and British Women's Hockey teams in action. Although the Indian team comprises men from one State, and is merely a club and not a national representation, the early indications were that the standard would be up to the high one set by the other two teams sent from India. Hockey is a sport at. which Indians excel and in Olympic hockey competition India has never suffered defeat-nor have her teams been hard-pressed.

With this knowledge in view it might be possible to get a comparison of New Zealand's chances in Olympic hockey competition. Should New Zealand teams, with little or no team practice, hold the present team of Indians to close matches, or defeat it, there is reason to anticipate New Zealand hockey players doing well at the Games. Hockey-as is the case in other team sports-is a game where combination plays a big part, and whenever New Zealand hockey teams have played in Australia they have done so with credit. Should New Zealand decide to have hockey representation at the Olympic Games in 1940 I would suggest that a preliminary selection be made next season, and that the “possibles” be brought together for match play. At the worst it seems to me that New Zealanders could take second place to India-there does not seem to be a nation capable of extending the players from that country.

Hockey for women is not included in the Olympic programme, but in the limited opportunities the women players of New Zealand have had against visiting teams the local standard has been high. It is the ambition of the New Zealand Women's Hockey Association to have representation in the International Hockey Tournament. Last year this tournament was held in America, and the showing made by the Australian team proved that New Zealand has the right type of players to put our hockey skill on the roll.