The Northern Advocate Daily MONDAY, JULY 22, 1935. A HOCKEY INSPIRATION

Northern Advocate, 22 July 1935, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily

MONDAY, JULY 22, 1935. A HOCKEY INSPIRATION

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper,

World annals of field sports would probably be searched in vain for a parallel to the performances of the India hockey players during their itinerary of New Zealand which is now drawing to a close. Except for two further listed matches, against Thames today and New Zealand Maori representatives on Wednesday (which may be regarded as foregone conclusions in the light of the visitors’ calibre), the curtain has been rung down on a tour of unprecedented merit. With an exceptionally arduous programme of 28 fixtures confronting them when they ar-j rived in the Dominion, the Indians have fulfilled 25 of their appointments (the Gore game being abandoned on account of the snow-covered playing area), and have had neither defeat nor draw registered against them in any instance. The closest runs which opposing sides gave them were in • the second test (3 —2), the third test (4 —2), Taranaki (3—o) and Waipa (5 —2), though in none of these cases did the ultimate result appear to ho in jeopardy. Apart from these contests, the disparity of scoring in the visitors’ favour has been very pronounced. Thirteen rival

sides failed to notch a goal against them, six others achieved a single netting each, six secured two goals each, while the one occasion of the highest reverse register of three goals stands credited to Auckland. On the other hand, the team from India has mn up to the maximum of 22 goals in a single encounter, and other double figures ranging from 10 to 21 have been the common order. As the game, of hockey (like Association football, on whose rules it is based) is generally, marked by small scores and slight resultant differences, the figures just quoted are remarkable in themselves, but become actually amazing when placed in aggregate for the 25 games, showing 297 goals for and 21 against, giving an average per match of slightly over 14 to 1! Unstinted admiration, as well might be, has been bestowed upon the perfected play of the visitors, who have demonstrated by their clockwork combination and superb stickwork how this pastime —as, indeed, any other —can be lifted to the realms of real art in sport. It may be justly claimed a New Zealand privilege to have entertained hockey exponents of such brilliant capacity, and the tour should provide an inspiration for higher attainra'ent to all this country’s participants in the game. Crying over spilt milk is such a fritility that expression of regret at the non-inelnsion of Whangarei in the Indians’ itinerary is of no avail. However, it may again be said, we hope for the last time, that Whangarei and Northland have been denied a hockey feast such as is not likely to be offered again for a number of years.