HOCKEY MATCH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 124, 11 May 1935, Page 3

HOCKEY MATCH

; India v. Hawke’s Bay 1 NEXT WEEK’S ATTRACTION s Hockey of a standard never before 3 seen in New Zealand is the bill of fare on Thursday next ior all sporting enthusiasts throughout Hawke’s Bay. On 1 that afternoon a team representative 3 of all-lndia will take the field against 1 Hawke’s Bay at McLean Park, Napier, i in tho second game of their New Zea--1 land tour. International hockey of tho standard 3 displayed by the Indians is a rarity f in any country, and New Zealand is fortunate indeed in securing the ’ world’s best international side to visit J these shores. In India hockey is the national game, as is Rugby in New Zealand, and they i have developed a class of hockey that is nothing short of marvellous. Dhyan Chand (centre-forward) who visited New Zealand with the Indian Army , side in 1926, is captaining this all-lndia team, and those who saw his play then ’ will appreciate why to-day ho is ac--1 knowlcdgcd by all leading authorities • as the world’s greatest player of all ' times. Only a youth then his play i to-day—though to us who saw him is i seems impossible—is far and away j superior to the standard he displayed on that tour. A wizard of the crooked stick he in--1 deed is, and in combination with his ’ brother Rup Singh (inside) they bid I fair to earn the right to be classed as > the greatest pair of inside forwards ■ of all times. On the field the play of the Army ■ side was amazing, a revelation, an , education, but this team’s standard is ' higher again, being selected as it is from all-lndia. Having played together in Australia > last week hgainst West and South AusI tralia, Victoria and New South Wales I their combination is assured and their i wonderful victories in these four i matches is a sufficient guarantee that . all that is being said of this all-ludia team is worthily earned. McLean Park, Napier, has been secured for this red letter occasion for all sports enthusiasts. Every consid- ■ eration is being shown the Hawke’s Bay hockey authorities in their effort , to give the ground a special preparation so that our visitors can give local , hockey enthusiasts the education they ! crave. It would be too much to expect the Magpies to defeat such a wonderful side, but if keenness, enthusiasm and physical fitness counts for anything, then the Hawke’s Bay players are going to make these Indians earn their honours. A further incentive to the Hawke’s Bay players to give of their best is the fact that Mr R. L. 'Thompson (Wanganui), one of the tl|iree New Zealand selectors, will be viewing the game. A curtain-raiser, Napier (ladies) v. Tamatea (ladies) commencing at 1.30 p.m., will precede the India v. Hawke’s Bay match, set down for 3 p.m.