HOCKEY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 257, 14 July 1926, Page 7

HOCKEY

(By

“Right Half.”)

OLD MEMORIES REVIVED THE LURE OF A GREAT COUNTRY The advent of the Indian Army hookey team to these shores brings back memories of that larger invasion of a quarter of a century ago when some 200 picked Indian troops visited the Dominion. Those soldiers from Bangalore —from Poona —from fe’ecunderbad —from Rawal Pindi and from many other cantonments in India won golden opinions in our country by their dignified comportment and exemplary behaviour throughout the tour. The smaller hand of soldier-sportsmen now among us are building up a similar reputation, both on the field and off (writes "AVarepa/ in the "New Zealand Herald.") "Beautifully Fine Hookey.” What brought a record crowd (for a hockey match) of 15,000 to the Basin. Reserve, Wellington, on the kings Birthday, not to mention an almost similar attendance at Christchurch for the first Test match, and the recent record attendance at Auckland? solely the fact that it was a beautifully fine holiday and perhaps the awakening of . a keener interest in hockey and ‘2, fae f such clever exponents of the presume to doubt it. These Eng - , cers and Indians came with a deservediv high reputation for true sportsmanship, as well as for prowess m the field and thousands of spectators at the £ matches were present to pay [’ibiite “ that sportsmanship whatevei the result of the game might be. And what a a_ they will have to untold about this farflung outpost of the lOng-Emperor s dominions when they return Doni . the ° black water. Hockey is nn doubtedlv one of the most popular mmfo in the Indian Army and the intelligent Indian soldier very quickly pro its by the grounding and coaching T- n „ii s h available from so many expei t Lnjisn tidier players. While attached to, he Indian Army I was surprised nt U —I saw little. It appeared that hockO, soccer, cricket, and tennis ardinn soldiers' favourite games not for getting polo for those commissioned officers who can afford it. Reputation for Sportsmasnhip. It may be said that the many an ex-Anglo-Indian in - „,.;iv.beland y has quickened when the turbaned luc iau , ’ t h military marched on to Lll€ V. ? . precision and invariably sharp cu time. No roncloleneo of the bazua « Lilian Chand and his mates, fellows these, without lz \ unto the thousands ot othei „ 00 <‘ *• lows and good soldiers that the ex-Anglo-Indian has met and fraternised with n favoured hill station. Of reveille with Of slew and buflalo milk, and b.'» of i-X d ‘7. k : Jtu, "iriuy ST! while deftly wan.mg ml me never slackening onslaught of h ,s ™P“' clous kite-hawk with his foaLll ‘ Yes. ho conies near enough to - that Of the incessant caw-caw of t SA “• Si...? 1 * ~ yon while you are '} ardl > f, .? lul0S (. inLum“ r rab“'“tribe W of wallahs covering avorv conceivable calling even to a ‘‘bed-picking wallah" who will lease the fibre in your charpoy palliase lor two annas. Of the afternoon siesta when in the torpid beat of the Indian sun almost the whole white population of the cantonment is invisible. Of “char-up” at 4 p.m. which repiesents the last army meal of the day. Of supper in the canteen, where, in the favoured cantonments, a whole chicken may he bought for eight annas, and pint of Mureo alo for three annas. Ot “Buckshea” Friday, so called because that day is practically a holiday for soldiets. Of ‘Tights out” and » great quietness following, except for tbe straglers, and then in the far distance the haunting hungry cry of the prowling jackal and the prefatory hyena. And of the wonderful Indian dawn that ushers in another cloudless, peerless day. Some Conclusions. While New Zealand’s total population does not greatly exceed that of Calcutta or of Bombay, tho war effort ot the Dominion is well and favourably known in civil and military circles in India. Furthermore some 200 soldiers comprising the New Zealand Wireloss Signal Corps, op route for Mesopotamia, wore temporarily attached to the Indian Expeditionary Force and were in India for varying periods, while '>ratts were being assembled for the ‘ Glut. Many of these wireless mon were invalided to India from Mesopotamia and spent furlough there which was made highly enjoyable by the granting oi travelling privileges by the army authorities and the hospitality extended by Europeans and Indians. Good work as avant couriers was done by many New Zealand soldiers in India and the Dominion was extolled as an excellent place in which to spend furlough or rethe Indian Army hockey team has perforce visited New Zealand in the winter season it is certainly n<> colder here at present than in parts oi the Punjab and Bengal during the coki season and not on that account, may it bo expected that the team will take back with them unpleasant recollections of the tour. On the contrary assuming that their oral expressions of appreciation are sincere—and as worthy representatives of the. honourable Indian limy I canot believe them to bp gm'O of insincerity—wo may be assured oi two tangible results of the tour that this will not bo the last visit ot an Indian Army boekev and. secondly that the “boost” that tho Dominion'will get may lead in duo ennrse to an increase in tho colony of ex-Anglo-Indians who have taken up their permanent residence with us. The Indian Army Team’s Record. The following is a resume of the matches played by the Trnhan Arny hockey team to date, together with the remaining fixtures:— May 13—Beat Waipa. 114). tion, 8-0. , „ May 20—Bent Taranaki. 7-„ May 22—Beat Hawke s Bay W. May 26—Beat Dannovnke, 20-0. May 2D—Beat Wanganin, VJ. .Tune 3-Beat Wellington. 8-3. June 5-Beat Ne son. 9-0. June 9—Beat Buller. 9-0. Tune 12—Beat Canterbury, 2-1. June 17-Beat Gerald’ne, 15-0. Tune ID—Bent Otago, lw. June 2-J-Beaf South Canterbury, 14-2. June 26-Ben.t New Zealand 5-2. June 30—Drew with Mana wall’, 3-3. July 3—Beat Auckland. .11-1. July 8-Beat Whangarei 9-1 T to—Lost to New Zealand. 3-4. Goals for 177. against 22. Tulv 11 —v. Franklin. July 17—v. New Zealand, at Auckland. Position of the Teams. The following table shows the positions of the teams:— SENIOR A GRADE.

“It is the desire of all members of the parent body to see overseas tours continue.” said llr. P. N. Quartermain, of the New Zealand Hockey Association, at a dinner given by tho Auckland Association in honour of the visit of the Indian Army team, before mentioning the possibility of a visit from England in 1928. '"I’lio triumphant tour of your team has been watched by the people of New Zealand with great interest.” said Mr. L. 11. Norton, vice-patron of,the Auckland Association, in proposing the toast of “Our Guests,” at a dinner in honour of (he Indian Army team. “We in New Zealand thought we knew quite a lot about hockey.” he added. “By the play of the visitors, however, we are convinced we have much to learn.” At a recent meeting of (lie Management Committee of the Canterbury Association, the secretary was instructed to reply to Mr. W. S. Butcher, Greymouth, giving him the necessary information regarding the formation of a hoclicv ascoeinl ion.

• o a “J 2 r. £22 4r* §“ !5 <S It':;;: | j : : : : dun i : H i i sssss's p,a y ed Won. ¥O V> 4- CTJ -J Drawn. O »“* ro ro — to - ~ , Lost. _ Champ. tt». -i o o co Ea Points

SENIOR B GRADE. Karori 11 10 1 0 21 TTntt 11 7 2 2 16 Y.M.C.A 11 6 0 5 12 Petone 11 6 o 12 Ruia 11 6 0 A 12 Training College . 11 5 0 6 10 Wellington 11 1 0 10 2 Wesley 11 0 1 10 i General Notes.