27 September 2022 is the centenary of Australia and New Zealand men’s first international matches.

It is unusual for two nations to have their first international matches occur simultaneously, but the geographical distance of Australia and New Zealand from other hockey-playing nations of that era led to this exceptional first fixture.

The match was played at Palmerston North Sportsground (now Fitzherbert Park in New Zealand) with the home nation winning 5-4.

One of the umpires was Sidney Holland who later became Prime Minister of New Zealand (1949-1957).

Above: the first New Zealand men’s hockey team (1922). Below: the first Australian men’s hockey team (1922).

The match report from the Manawatu Standard

A fair attendance, estimated at 1,500, enthusiastically greeted both teams. “As the Australians appeared it broke forth into hearty applause, which throughout was strictly impartial.”

New Zealand made an excellent start, Auckland centre forward Eric Watts opening the scoring, with Heaphy and Bell adding two further goals to take New Zealand to a 3-0 half-time lead.

Seaman opened Australia’s account shortly after half-time, but Heaphy scored again to extend New Zealand’s lead to 4-1. Australia were not done, however, Craig and Seaman scored in quick succession to take their team to within one goal of New Zealand. Watts then extended New Zealand’s lead to 5-3 before Seaman scored his third goal, the match finishing in a 5-4 win to New Zealand.

New Zealand were somewhat fortunate to win, the correspondent’s report asserting Heaphy was clearly off-side when he scored New Zealand’s fourth goal.

Following the match both teams were entertained “at a complimentary dinner” which “concluded at a late hour”. They, along with 80 couples, were then invited to a dance at Zealandia Hall on Broadway, which was decorated in green and gold in their honour. Shields with green and black halves, with the letter “A” on the green side and a silver fern on the black side adorned the walls. “Directly above were representations of the Kangaroo and Kiwi with crossed hockey sticks.”

* Research by Geoff Watson, Associate Professor in History at Massey University, University of New Zealand.

More Information

Click the PDF icon to the right to discover more about Australia and New Zealand’s first international hockey match.

Courtesy of the Australian hockey historian John Sanders.