HOCKEY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 209, 17 June 1935, Page 2

HOCKEY.

INDIAN TEAMS BEATS SOUTHLAND STERN DEFENCE OVERCOME. . INVERCARGILL, June 15^ The victory of the Indian hockey team over Southland by 13 goals to 1 tms afternoon was achieved more by macnine-nise precision tnan by mdiviauai .brilliance. An attendance of OUOO watcned exciting hockey played in fine, cold weather on a heavilyturted ground.. Upnoiding their reputation for amazing ball control and perfect eo-crdina-tion, the visitors pierced the plucky defence time and again after they had become acclimatised to the ground conditions that deadened their brilliance. There was wild excitement among the crowd when Southland attacked and Hughes scored in the first three minutes. After a melee in the goaL mouth Wells evened the scores, but it was solid straggling for 20 minutes before the Indians began to show real form. The score was 6-1 at half-time. Hughes electrified the crowd by a. brilliant solo rush early in the second half, and Southland made a hot attack. Shahabuddin then played a prominent part in Indian attacks, and scored. Rup Singh and Dhyan Chand were the principal scorers in the second half. The scorers for India were: Wells (3), Rup Singh (4), Chand (3), Shahabuddin (2) and Fernandes. ■ Outstanding Indians were Rup Singly Shahabuddin and Wells, Chand showing his best form in keen play in the last part of the game. Southland played well, Taylor being solid in goal. Hughes was excellent in the forwards and Dakin at centre. IN OTHER CENTRES. Christchurch.—Trinity 4, University , 1; Sydenham 0, Technical 0; Selwyn 2, Redcliffs 1. Wellington.—Huia 2, Karori B 1; Hutt 4, Technical 0; Karori A 9, Wesley 2. '.J-.', M. J. GOP A LAN. A VERSATILE PLAYER. There are several very good allround sportsmen in the Indian jhockey team" which is touring New ZealandOne of them is M. J. Gopalan, a haltback, who has .represented India ! in cricket. Gopalan, a medium-paced bowler and a useful batsman, played for an Indian eleven against the M.C.C. team which, under the captaincy of D. R. Jardine, toured India in the 1933-1934 season. In that match he took four wickets for 67 runs and one for 32. This performance caused him to be included in India's team for the second Test, but in the latter match the Indian captain relied largely on the bowling of Amar Singh and Mohammed Nissar, although the Englishmen were running up a score or 406; Copalan bowled 19 overs for 39 runs and one wicket. As a hockey player Gopalan usually plays as centrehalf, but he can play also as wing-half. He is 26 years old.