HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 149, 27 June 1938, Page 6

HOCKEY

INDIANS TOO GOOD

WELLINGTON ROUTED

Ideal conditions at the Basin Beserve on Saturday afternoon enabled the Manavadar Indian hockey team to Show true form, and the Wellington eleven' never had a chance against them. The Indians did not extend themselves at any stage, and the closing phases of the match developed into a practice for the visitors. The final score, 12-nil, although a very high one for hockey, could probably have been increased by 50 per cent, if the Indian forwards had extended themselves. The teams were: — Indians. —B. Abrahams; Gurnarain Singh, S. M. Hussain; Shafat Khan, Shahnoor Khan, Lajpat Rail Snahabuddin, Sultan Khan, Feroz Khan, Abdul Latif, P. Fernandez. Wellington.—J. Marshall; S. Andrews, K. O. Perrin; F. Newcombe, R. Harrison, W. Shaw; F. Chapman, C. Edwards, M. Dentice, M. Browne, R. Brown. The umpires were Professor Jagan Nath and Mr. W. E. Keys. Before the game commenced his Ex- ! cellency the Governor-General (Lord Galway), Visited the teams on the sideline, and each of the players, in turn, was presented to him. The game, which was watched by approximately 10,000 spectators, was exceedingly interesting, although very one-sided, because the team and stickwork of the visitors was as good as, if not better than, anything previously seen in Wellington. The Indian backs were not extended at any but when the bearded Gurnarain Singh was required to clear he did so with an accuracy that placed him in the first rank of hockey full-backs. The forward line was almost faultess, both wings • having great speed and precision, while Sultan Khan and Abdul Latif, in the inner positions, were remarkably accurate with their shooting. The honours in the half line probably went to the diminutive Lajpat Rai, who showed versatility in eluding opponents. Both ' Shahabuddin and Fernandez were called upon in turn to lead the midfield attack, and both showed ability in cross-goal shooting. Feroz Khan, the centre-forward, showed him to be a most unselfish player, for while he had frequent opportunities, he almost always sent the ball on to Sultan Khan or Abdul Latif. The positional play of the team was reminiscent of that of the All-India team which toured New Zealand in 1935, but the players were, if anything, a more complete unit than that combination. Each of the visitors could take the ball on his stick from any angle or at any speed and each also could give an exhibition of elusive tactics on the ground. The Indians also outwitted the local players on many occasions .by sending, the ball back when the Wellington men expected it to be driven towards their goal. On one occasion, a brisk Wellngton defence was nw by back passing from the circle to . bqyond half-way, where Gurnarain Singh': sent it to the other wing fpr a fresn attack. D. S. Wilson, who file,'been one of the outstanding backs in the Wellington district this season, was unable to play, and O. K. Perrin replaced Andrews, who took Wilson's, position. Both Perrin and Andrews played well, and were ably backed by Marshall, who saved many,difficult shots. The backs frequently got the ball away, and Newcombe, at right half, carried it well forward on many occasions. All of the forwards worked hard, but they rarely got into position to test Abrahams, Gurnarain Singh being the chief stumbling block to their progress. When there was a chance of a shot the ability shown by Browne and Dentice was negatived by the quick, work of the Indian backs. The \yellington players were willing at all stages of the game, and. worked much harder than the Indians, who relied more on quick, short passing than the movement of players.That the Indians' style of play makes for a cleaner, more scientific game was demonstrated by the lack of penalties inflicted, the match, besides being well within the rules, being played in the best of spirits throughout.