SECOND HOCKEY TEST

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 152, 29 June 1935, Page 10

SECOND HOCKEY TEST

ALL-INDIA V. NEW ZEALAND

ANOTHER WIN FOR VISITORS For the second hockey Test match between the famous AllIndia touring team and the New Zealand representatives this afternoon, the ground at Athletic Park-was.on the heavy side, but nevertheless in a reasonably good slate considering the wintry conditions during the last few days. In other respects, however, ■ the park was an ideal setting for the match, and the thousands of spectators, many of whom had probably had the initial experience of first-class hockey when the Indians met Wellington on the same ground at the beginning of ihe month, were thrilled by the exhibition given by the international sides. Upwards of 10,000 people watched the match.

The importance of the match, especially alter the narrow margin by which the Indians won. the first Test at Christchurch last Saturday, was fully realised by. the visitors, and they fielded a very strong combination, which included the world-famous Dhyan Chand and his brother, Riip Singh, another remarkable goal-getter. The New Zealand team was exactly the .same as that fielded in the first Test, the selectors no doubt feeling justified in not making any alterations. This was not surprising in view of the outstanding showing made by the team last Saturday, and, a^so, the tribute paid by Mr. P. Gupta, co-manager of the Indian team, in describing the Dominion representatives as worthy of Olympic Games honours. No fewer than nine of the New Zealanders had previously played for the Dominion, and the captain, E. G. McLeod (Wellington) also led the New Zealand side to victory in the second Test against the Indian Army team in Auckland in 1926. Unlike the match with Wellington, when they played in sandshoes, the Indians wore sprigged- boots. " THE TEAMS. The teams were:— INDIA. / Goal, N. Mukerji; full-backs,-Rashid Ahmed,.M., Hussein; halves, M.- J. Gopalan, M. N. .Masud,' M. Naeem; forwards, Shahabuddin, F. C. Wells, Dhyan Chand (captain), Rup: Singh; P. P. Fernandez. . ■ NEW ZEALAND. Goal.'C. M. Moore (Wellington); fullbacks, T. A. Ewan-(Waikato), C. A. Rogers (Canterbury); halves, W. J. Bowden (Canterbury), E. G. McLeod (Wellington), captain, .L. E. Spiers (Waikato); forwards} O. B. Dey (Otago), M. J. Bay (Auckland), E. Watts (Auckland), T. T. Turbitt (Poverty Bay), F. M. Wellbourne (Auckland). \ DESCRIPTION OF FLAY? India dominated 'the first few minutes of the play, and a fine pass by Masud allowed Fernandez to reach the goal-line, where Bowden, relieved a dangerous. position momentarily. Shahabuddin centred, but the1 ball was well cleared and New Zealand went down, the field and gained a penalty corner, Spiers's shot at goal was turned aside • and India went away, but were checked by Rogers (left full-back) in the New Zealand twenty-five. A fine passing rush in which Dhyan Chand and Rup Singh were, prominent put India in the New Zealand circle,: but Ewan sent the ball out. A brilliant run: by ■■ Fernandez brought Moore out of goal and the pressure was relieved. New Zealand- attacked strongly. Bay (inside right) in.a great run reached the Indian circle, and several short corners followed, the shots being taken by Spiers, but being stopped in spectacular style. Fernandez beat Bowden in a speedy run which took play well into New Zealand territory, but McLeod intercepted and once again New Zealand were on the attack. Dey and Bay drew applause for a great run down the right, and when Fernandez gave sticks in a speculative clearance the Indians were again placed on the' attack. Chand was the mainstay of the Indian defence in stopping shots from the several corners which New Zealand gained in the next few minutes. The New Zealand backs were intercepting with remarkable success, but the deceptive back passing of the visitors had the New Zealand representatives in difficulties once or twice and it was only by dinj; of vigorous tackling that the Indians were kept at bay. Bay and Turbitt exchanged passes in a run which took play almost to the Indian circle, and Ahmed in .tackling accidentally kicked the ball and a penalty corner for New Zealand resulted. Again, the shot was checked, and with Rup Singh, Dhyan Chand' and Wells working in perfect harmony the ball travelled well into the. New Zealand area. Bowden was a tower of strength in the New Zealand attack, and with Bay he relieved _a dangerous, situation. Wells, the, big inside right, opened up play for India. Chand trap-, ped the ball and passed in a flash to Rup Singh, who gave sticks. A moment later Wells was. again in the-limelight, when, following brilliant passing ■by ■

Chand and his brother the ball went to the right and Wells connected cleanly to beat Moore by feet. India 1, New Zealand 0. From the bully New Zealand took play to the Indian half line where Masud once again set the forwards in motion. More good work by Bowden, with McLeod and - Spiers in support, gave New Zealand another breakaway, and Watts raced down the centre and drew Blake out of goal. Blake checked the ball in time for one of his backs to clear and play returned to the New Zealand twenty-five, where Ewan came across fast to rob Fernandez of possession. i Up to this stage the exchanges had been very even, and there was no' saying when New Zealand might break through and equalise. India were employing all their knowledge and science of the game to counter the vigorous New Zealand defence, and were finding their task a difficult one. Delightful back passing by Chand from the edge of the New Zealand circle made a score: for India . seem imminent. Rogers, howeverj found the line well past half-way. Play returned to the New Zealand twenty-five, where Shahabuddin, coming through solo lost control of the ball just outside the circle. McLeod. relieved and Spiers and Watts were together in a spirited run which beat -all except the Indian full-back. . Hussein sent the. ball to Naeem, who transferred, to. Fernandez, . and- the young winger made: a typical dash down the line, placing the; New Zealand goal in danger. Bowden-took the ball off. his stick at'a critical stage. A moment later Bowden received an injury which- held up -, play for some little time. : Just before half-time the ball went out to Watts and Wellbourne, and the pair penetrated the Indian defence until they reached Ahmed, whose clearance was effective and put the visitors on the attack once more. Half-time sounded without,alteration to the score. Bowden's injury might have proved a serious matter for the New.Zealand team, as, like the Indians, they do not .favour - replacements. . • Throughout the spell ;there was little between the teams', territorially, and the crowd was obviously delighted with the showing of the New Zealand players against such formidable opponents. Nevertheless it was- a ■ nonpartisan crowd, and individual or combined efforts by either side received, equal. applause. , THE SECOND SPELL. ' New Zealand was strongly on the attack when play was resumed, probably being helped by the fact that the sun was now at their backs. Wellbourne worked his way nearly to the Indian "circle. ' Two' successive penalty corners followed, the second one being for obstruction, this time by Ahmed. Amidst great- excitement McLeod drove past a bunch of Indian defenders and put New Zealand on terms with their opponents. India 1, New Zeiland 1. This served to place,.the..lndians on their mettfe,. and a scintillating attack followed, Masud passing to.. Wells, whose drive at .goal was smothered by Moore. The relief, however, was only temporary, for Dhyan Chand sained possession at the twenty-five yard line (> and,'.beating defender after defender with consummate stick-work, flicked the ball high into the net past Moore. India 2, New Zealand 1. Following the bully, New Zealand had a brief spell on attack, and from a free hit for obstruction McLeod sent the ball over the "back line when: a pass'might have brought better results. ' . Watts made a great solo r,un, but Hussein intercepted' safely. McLeod, kept play well up to the forwards, and an. equalising scpre.seemed likely when Turbitt drove from close in, but Mukerji stopped.at the expense of a painful knock. Following this the ball travelled rapidly to the New Zealand circle. Moore came out once and kicked clear, but he had no chance when . Rup v Singh, tapping the ball to Chand, gave the famous, centreforward a great scoring opportunity. . India ■3, New • Zealand 1. ■ The bully was followed 'by two penalty corners for New Zealand, but both shots were checked, although Wellbourne, standing close in, nearly got through with a Smashing drive. A brief period of'hard play in the

New Zealand territory followed, but Dey broke away and placed India on the defensive again. The New Zealand forward line, however, was losing control of the ball at critical moments, and an Indian breakaway once more brought Moore out of his net. His long clearing kick gave New Zealand a brief respite from defence, but with Rup Singh prominent most of the play was in New Zealand territory. Rup Singh drew a roar from the crowd when with a spurt he went through to the circle with the ball balanced on his stick. Ewan, with a high reverse stick shot, sent the New Zealand forwards away, but after all the backs had been beaten Mukerji ran out from goal and cleared with a remarkable kick. There was a certain amount of obstruction by New Zealand at this stage, and this gave India a big advantage. By dint of sound back play, however, .the New Zealp.nd net was not assailed. With only a few minutes to go, an Indian attack was suddenly turned into defence. Wellbourne, who had been showing up remarkably well in the second spell, passed near the Indian goal-line to Turbitt, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Mukerji. The ball came out to Watts, and there was no chance for Mukerji, who was still on the ground, to stop the shot. India 3, New Zealand 2. Sticks twice in quick succession robbed India of good opportunities, and New Zealand again attacked fiercely. Watts was knocked out for a few moments in a melee in the Indian twenty-five and in the same exchange Bay was obstructed by Mukerji. A penalty bully was ordered and amid great excitement Mukerji cleared over the twenty-five-yard line. Open play followed the bully and it was mainly in New Zealand's favour. Twice Turbitt drew the crowd to their feet, in brilliant solo runs with the ball balanced on his stick. Watts wasobi structed by Mukerji right on the goal line and a penalty bully was ordered. Twice it was ordered,to be retaken, and the third time Mukerji cleared' safely. The final score was:—.'. India 3 New Zealand .2 NOTES ON PLAY The New Zealand players made the heavier team, but weight counted for nothing in play, the Indians' skill putting the New Zealanders on the defensive at once. The." New Zealanders initiated an attack and promptly spoiled their chances' by ' overeagerness. The Indian forwards made most of their advances by clever passing work, but in' the early stages the New Zealand backs showed cort j siderable skill in intercepting. Their clearing did hot help the forwards to any extent, as the . ball was- usually driven too hard and the visitors were able to secure arid- initiate fresh attacks. After ten minutes' . play the New Zealanders attacked and put up a good exhibition inside .India's twenty-five. ■ From a' corner Spiers got in a good high shot, but. it went wide. It appeared clear that the Indians were not.playing their usual hard game,, but their defence • was very solid and"frequent attacks were staved off with little risk. Chand and Rup Singh were seen in some very fine passing rushes, but excellent inter-cepting-by the New Zealand backs left Moore' with jiothing to 'do.' Both sides were penalised fairly frequently, but the New Zealanders secured far more advantage than the Indians in that direction. Spectacular play was hot in evidence until well on in the first half.'when both teams speeded' up play.' The Indians quickly showed- superiority in. stickwork, , and 'the: first score came a few minutes after play' Opened up, Rup Singh and '-Chand"- '■'going through'the All Black defence with ease to give Wells ah.easy shot. The first good solo run came when Shahabuddin went down the right wing, but he lost control and • the New • Zealanders broke away to put the visitors on. the defensive. , . - Positional play was a strorig'point in the Indians, their "blind" passes being better placed than anything seen from the other side. They did not rely on interceptions in defence to' the same extent as the New Zealanders, . but were content to let the local men waste their energy, and take the ball back to the visitors' last line, where it was cleared. ' ■ ' l ' The second spell opened brightly, the local men giving a great exhibition of combined work which put the Indians on the Obstruction • lost ground for the Indians, and McLeod equalised from a penalty. Some beautiful play followed, the Indians showing true form for the first time, Chand's score from a solo effort following a passing rush being the first real glimpse of his sparkling play, v, However, the New Zealanders were by no means outclassed, and had their fair share of territorial advantage. ' . . ■ GOALS GALOUE