Canterbury seeking first win over India

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33965, 4 October 1975, Page 4

Canterbury seeking first win over India

Canterbury has an enviable record against visiting international hockey sides with three wins and five draws in 15 matches. Tomorrow it will be seeking to extend that record to include a win against the Indian team. Canterbury’s past successes have not included an Indian side, although it drew l-all with the last team to tour the country, in 1961. It lost the other four matches against Indian teams.

The first Indian side in New Zealand was in 1926. It was an Indian Army side and beat Canterbury 2-1. It contained the great Dhyan Chand as a youthful 18-y ear-old.

The next toured New Zealand nine years later. That was the famous 1935 team which contained Chand, then at his peak. Canterbury lost. 2-5, to a side that averaged almost 11 goals a game on a 28-match tour of Australasia.

Canterbury’s loss was far from a disgrace when

it is considered the Indians had scores of 9-3 against Auckland (the champion provincial side that season), 22-2 against Manawatu, 12-0 against Wellington, and 17-0 against Otago.

The third side to come to New Zealand was the Prince of Manavadar’s' team in 1938. It was strengthened by several Olympic players and beat Canterbury, 4-0.

The last two Indian teams, were Indian Wanderers sides in 1955 and 1961. The former contained Babu Singh, a brilliant forward, and R. S. Gentle, who recently applied for the position of Rothmans national coach. It beat Canterbury, 2-0. Udham Singh led the last Indian side and it fought a l-all draw with Canterbury at Lancaster Park.

Canterbury hockey now has a fine new headquarters at Porritt Park and a win or draw against India tomorrow would be and admirable baptism for the ground.