FINE HOCKEY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 210, 3 June 1935, Page 11

FINE HOCKEY

All-India’s Victory Over Wellington GREAT DHYAN CHAND Tourists Delight Crowd By Dazzling Goals

(By

Watihana.)

Outclassed but never disgraced, the Wellington hockey representatives were defeated at Athletic Park on Saturday by the AU-India touring team by 10 goals to 1. It was a great match and one which delighted the 22,000 spectators. The performance of the Indians confirmed all that had been said of them, their mastery of all departments of the game being remarkable. Wellington played a fine defensive match, and considering that they were up against the finest hockey combination in the world the Side emerged very creditably. Wellington gave the Indians a scare in the first half, when by bustling tactics and hard hitting they held the visitors to a score of 2-1. Thereafter India ran through the home side and gave the crowd thrill on thrill.

The teams were : — All India: T. J. Blake; M. Hussein, R. Ahmed; E. Nestor, M. Masud. M. Gopalan (vice-captain); F. Wells, Rup Singh, Shahbudin, Dhyan Chand (captain). I*. Fernandez. . Wellington; C. Moore; O. K. Perrin (vice-captain), P. Spiers; I. MacArthur, E. McLeod (captain), D. Chambers; O. Wheatley, M. Browne. R. Watchman, T. Ferguson, D. Larnach. From the bully-off Wellington launched a strong attack which carried play to the Indians’ twenty-five, but Masud cleared. Wellington came back and had the tourists in trouble, but Ahmed’s stick brought relief. Wellington’s forward line continued aggressively, a neat passing rush initiated by Watchman bringing them in front of India’s goal. The crowd rose to their feet in excitement as I). Larnach swiped the ball toward the net, but over eagerly, bo that it missed by a foot. Hussein sent the Indians going with, a pass forward to Nestor, who Bent it on to Fernandez. The fast left winger carried play to the twenty-five, where he in-passed to Rup Singh, who capped a brilliant movement right into the corner of the net. India 1, Wellington 0. Undismayed, Wellington from the bully

attacked strongly and had India defending hard, Blake was called upon to kick clear. Rup Singh and Dhyan Chand were together for a dazzling run, but MacArthur intercepted in the nick ot time. The Wellington half opened up play. A moment later Moore saved wonderfully from Chand, earning tremendous applause. Wellington invaded again, but Watchman’s well-timed centre was mulled by Wheatley through over-running. By hard hitting, Wellington gained ground. Ferguson was in possession, and tossed the bail to Larnach, who shot erratically. India turned the bah out, and the resulting long corner was safely emerged from by the Indians. Wellington’s big moment came when Ferguson found the net with a long shot, to the accompaniment of deafening applause. Wellington 1, India 1. India, not (iking the complexion of the game, rallied, and Fernandez set off on a spirited run, passing in to Rup bmgh, who drove a Himalayan shot high over the net- into the crowd behind it. ellington, very hopeful now, rose to the occasion with a spirit which pleased the gallery. Slogged hits from Spiers to MacArthur, to Larnach, enabled Wellington to get within shooting range, but again hot-headed stiekwork ruined a chance. Wheatley went off on a dribbling run, but lost the ball to Nestor, who returned it to Wellington’s circle. MacArthur and Perrin were there, but Rup Singh wriggled through them to net beautifully. India 2, Wellington 1. There was no further score at half-time, the board then reading:—lndia 2. Wellington 1.

Chand and Wells. In the first half just concluded the crowd had not seen Dhyan Chand to the advantage they had expected, tor the reason that the majority of India’s attacking movements had been from the wings, chiefly the left wing, so that the centreforward appeared not to begetting his due share of the ball. When the teams changed round the Indians altered tactics, making the thrust this time from the centre. Thus came Chand and Wells into prominence.

Wellington set off the start of the second half as they had begun the first. But India had the home forwards well marked. Masud and Nestor iu the halves being the lions in their path. The wily Dhyan Chand ate up the yards with a brilliant run, the ball seeming to play round his etick like St. Elmo’s fire. Unselfishly, the captain passed across to Shahbudin on the right wing, who in turn presented it back to Wells, whose finishing drive missed by inches. Within seconds Chand, with dazzling stickwork, edged the ball past Moore —a perfect goal. India 3, Wellington 1. Wheatley essayed a solo effort, but Blake ran out to meet him and drove well away. A left wing attack by India enabled Chaud to accept a magnificent pass from Fernandez right in Iront of the net, but 'before Chand could complete Moore jumped forward and cleared. India were getting things all their own way now, and but for strenuous defensive work by Wellington, with McLeod, Chambers and Perrin shining, goals could.not have been counted. Dhyan Chand, who earlier had been somewhat eclipsed by the spotlight being ou his broflier, made no mistake with an opportunity given him by Rup and poked the ball into the net *} delicious bit of wristwork which thrilled the crowd. India 4. Wellington 1.

The “Human Eel.” Chand continued to run through all opposition and the spectators saw’ the “human eel” of which they had read so much. With his amazing control ot the ball he appeared to steal yards at every stroke, mid again coming into the Wellington circle, shot a cunning ball into the net. India 5, Wellington 1. With a quarter of an hour to go, Rup Singh and Fernandez, revealing perfect understanding, with the additional advantage of progress with every turn ot their sticks, had Wellington defending hard. The inside left missed again, giving Wellington temporary relief. India s front line were dominating the game, the association of the forwards nud the halves being astonishing. Some fine back passing with reversed sticks caught the fancy of the crowd. Chand eeled through from midway and shot, but Moore returned the ball off his pads. Rup Singh picked up and let drive a characteristic high flyer, but was unlucky not to find the net. Chand snapped up one from Masud and, with that peerless stickwork of his, wriggled through the full-backs to . give Moore no show. India 6, Wellington 1. Straight from the bully Weils, who had done a lot of work, but who had not been in the limelight, added another with a line long-range cricket stroke. India i. Wellington 1. A brief onslaught by Wellington had Indi cornered, but Ahmed was quick on the ball as it came out and so went Wellington's last real chance. India were tiger-hunting with a vengeance, and still another came when Dhyan trapped a ball from Fernandez, to goal easily. India 8, Wellington 1. From a long corner WelD, with an effortless drive along the turf, beat Moore all the way. India 9, Wellington 1. lhe inside right was in the public eye again when Gopalan, left half, passed across to Shahbudin, who back-passed to Wells, who found the mark from an awkward angle well out. India 10, Wellington 1. No further score was added before time was called two minutes later. The game ended: India 10, Wellington 1. „ The umpires were Messrs. W . A. ocott and W. Keys. COMPLIMENTARY DINNER Indians Entertained Before their departure for the .South Island by steamer express on .Saturday evening the members of the Ali-India team were entertained at a dinner by the Wellington Hockey Association at the Empire Hotel, the chairman of the executive, Mr 11. F. Bollard, presiding. Iu addition to the touring side, the Wellington representative team, and representatives of the football codes were present, the guests numbering nearly 80.. Mr. M. F. Luckie, a vice-president ot

the W.H.A., in welcoming the Indians, said they had given an exhibition that day showing Wellington hockey players how much they had to learn about hockey. Wellington was flattered by the first half, but it seemed as though India was trying the home side out. for they ran through them later. Mr. Luckie expressed the thanks of the association to the Wellington Rugby Football Union and the Wellington Football Association for their kindness iu postponing matches wherever possible so that the followers of football might see the Indians in action. The manager of the Indian side, Mr. Behram Doctor, replying, declared that it was a veritable delight for the team to visit beautiful New Zealand. As for the game of the day. he could say that Wellington certainly did frighten India in the first spell, but he did not know what happened in the second. (Laughter.) The assistant manager, Mr. P. Gupta, said Wellington played an . extremely good game, and he was not being flattering when he made that remark. Wellington’s game was a revelation to him, and much above expectations. . Moore was the best goalkeeper he had seen in New Zealand, and had been backed up by a really good pair of backs, Perrjn and Spiers. FAST, KEEN GAME Wellington Women Beat Maoris The women’s hockey representative match played as a curtain-raiser to the All India-Wellington contest at Athletic Park on Saturday between a select Wellington senior A pakeha eleven and a combination chosen from the Maori Women’s Hockey Federation (Wellington and Horowhenua combined) was a fast, keen game, particularly in the second spell when the Maoris held the Wellington attack and peppered the defence, but lack of circle understanding and erratic shooting cost the team several scoring chances. Wellington dominated the opening spell, and with four goals in hand at half-time it looked like being a one-sided contest, but the Maoris turned the tables and kept the Wellington defence busy. There were no goals in the second half. The teams were:— Wellington (yellow and black) : Goal, Miss N. Webber: full-backs, Mrs. A. Smith and Miss K. Miller; half-backs, Misses M. Drew, J. Mack, B. Charles; forwards. Misses I. Pickering. 11. McLellan, E. Dunce. M. Wilkins (captain), M. Brownlie. Maoris (red and black) : Goal, Mrs. S. Ballard: full-backs, Misses L. Campbell and E. Te Hiko; half-backs, Misses F. Mitchell, O. Weihepiehann, K. Hakaraia; forwards. Misses T. Parata. R. Paipa, Mrs. L. Seal (captain). Misses C. Piper, E. Wi Neera. TO-DAY’S TOURNEY Annual Seven-a-side The annual seven-a-side tournament, conducted by the Wellington Women’s Hockey Association, will take place at Karori Park to-day. Section play will commence nt 10 o’clock this morning and it is hoped to be able to stage the finals at about 2.40 p.m. All umpires of women's games are asked to be at Karori Park before 10 o’clock. The tournament WHLonly be postponed if the weather is exceptionally bad, and in the event of a postponement players may communicate with Misses B. Charles, phone 14-703, N. Williams. 52-251. or Mr. G. Parkin, 25-433. NEW ZEALAND TEAM By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, June 1. The selectors of the New Zealand hockey team to meet the Indian tourists have a difficult task in choosing a Dominion side, for 61 nominations have been received from all parts of the country for eleven positions. It is anticipated that the team will be announced after the match between Canterbury and the Indians on Monday.