HOCKEY TEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22166, 20 July 1935, Page 15

HOCKEY TEST

TO-DAY'S GKEAT GAME I N O|A AND NEW ZEALAND CLOSE MATCH EXPECTED VISITORS' UNBEATEN RECORD The third and final hockey test match between the touring All-India team ancl jfoy Zealand will be played at Eden park this afternoon. India is fielding the very strong side hich gave such clear indication of its Labilities in the match last Saturday .gainst Auckland. The only change made is that Blake will replace Mukerjeo in goal. Similarly there is on lv one change in the personnel of the >'ew Zealand team which played against the Indians in the first two tests. Tho alteration is on tho right wing of the forward line, where M. Bowden, of Canterbury, will replrce 0. B. Dev, of OtagoIn the first test, played at Christchutch, India won by four goals to two after New Zealand had been leading two to nil at half-time. In the second test, decided at Wellington, tho game was'even closer and India beat New Zealand by three goals to two, with tho Dominion sido staging a strong recovery in the final stages. Taking the results of these two earlier contests into consideration and the fact that the New Zealand players have now become accustomed to tho clever tactics of the Indians, the match this afternoon shotild prove very close and should be an exhibition long remembered in the annals of Auckland's hockey. Although India has already won the rubber of tho test matches, the visiting players aro anxious to return to their home country with an undefeated record. The New Zealanders, on the other hand, will spare no effort to lower the colours of a country which has»twice had its banner hoisted at the Olympic Games in token of the world's hockey supremacy. Following are tho teams:— India Goalkeeper.—T. J. Blake. Backs. —Mohammad Hussain, P. Das. Halfbacks.—M. J. Gopalan, M. N. Masud, Harbail Singh. Forwards.—Shahabuddin, F. C. Wells, Dhyan Chand (captain), Roop Singh, P. P. Fernandez.

New Zealand Goalkeeper.—C. M. Moore (Wellington). /* Backs—T. A. Ewan (Waikato), C. A. Rogers (Canterbury). Halfbacks.—W. J. Bowden (Canterbury), E. G. McLeod (Wellington), captain, L. E. Spiers (Waikato). Forwards. —M. Bowden (Canterbury), M. J. Bay (Auckland), E. S. Watts (Auckland), T. T. Turbitt (Poverty Bay), F. dc M. Wellbourne (Auckland).

TOTAL OP 290 GOALS ONLY TWENTY AGAINST To date on their New Zealand tour the Indians have scored the phenomenal number of 290 goals in 25 matches, while only 20 goals have been registered against them. They have an unbeaten record, the closest match played being against New Zealand in the second test when the score was 3 —2 in favour of the. visitors. Following are tie details: — Against Dannevirke.—Won, 21 —0. Against Hawke's Bay.—Won, 17 —0. Against Poverty Bay.—Won, 11 —0. Against Wairoa. —Won, 18—1. Against Bush Union. —Won, 6 —o. Against Wangariiii.—Won, 18—0. Against Manawatu. —Won,22 2. Against Horowhenua. —Won, 16 —0. Against Wellington.—Won, 10 —1. Against Canterbury.—Won, 5 —2. Against South Canterbury. Won, 12-0. Against Otago.—Won, 17 —0. Against North Otago.—Won, 16 —1. Against Southland. —Won, 13—1. Against Mid-Canterbury.—Won, 11 —0. Against New Zealand (first test). —

Won, 4 —2. Against West Coast. —Won, 13 —0. Against New Zealand (second test), — Won, 3—2. Against Nelson. —Won, 12 —0. Against Taranaki. —Won, 3—o. Against Waikato. —Won, 7—o. Against Piako.—Won, 14—1. Against .Waipa.—Won, 5 —2. Against Auckland. —Won, 9—3. Against Rodney.—Won, 7 —2.

UNIVERSITY TEAM PLAYERS TO TOUR FIJI [by telegbafh->-press association] CHRISTCHtmCH. Friday The following New Zealand University hockey team has been selected to tour Fiji:—Goalkeeper, L. R. Hercus (Otago); fullbacks, R. D. McEwan (Victoria), S. McDonald (Canterbury); halfbacks, F. H. Stewart (Victoria). C. V. Walter (Canterbury), E. S. Hobson (Otago), F. L. Newcombe (Victoria); forwards, R. J. Walton (Otago), K. N. Struthcrs (Massey College), H. B. La wry (Massey College), K R. Huston (Canterbury), H. C. Ford (Canterbury), L. B. Deney (Victoria). The team will sail by the Niagara on August 20 and will play live matches in Fiji.