FAR TOO GOOD

Northern Advocate, 22 July 1935, Page 6

FAR TOO GOOD

INDIAN ELEVEN HOCKEY TEST TRIUMPH THIRD AND FINAL SEVEN GOALS TO ONE f BAY SCORES FOR N.Z. fSpecial to "Northern Advocatef i AUCKLAND, This Day. • India overwhelmed New Zealand in the i final test match of their tour at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon by 7 goals to 1. After the first 15’ minutes of play the visitors had the game well under control, although in the closing stages. New Zealand livened up with some likely scoring chances, which did not materialise. New Zealand opened the scoring account, but the Indians, playing a different type of game from that of the previous Saturday, soon took the lead, and after the spell the issue was never in doubt. „ Between 10,000 and 12,000 spectators were thrilled by the superb artistry of the Indians’ stickwork, which completely eclipsed that of the’ New Zealand players. ■ , The teams were: — India (Light Blue). Goal: T.' J. Blake. I, Full-backs; P. Das, Mohammad, Husain. __ ’ Half-backs: M. J. Gopalan, M. N. Masud, Harbail Singh. ■ Forwards: Shahabuddin, F. C. Wells, Dhyan Chand, Rup Singh, P. P. Fernandez. New Zealand (All Black).

Goal: C. M. Moore. Full-backs: T. A. Ewan, C. A. Rogers. Half-backs; W. J. Bowden, E. G. McLeod, L. E. Spiers. Forwards: N. Bowden, M. J. Bay, S. Watts, T. T. Turbitt, E, de M. Wellborne. Umpires: W. H. Downs (Christchurch) and A. G. Williams (Auckland)-

I New Zealand defended the eastern goal and had the sun in their eyes. From the opening bully Dhyan Chand broke away and passed out to Fernandez, who carried play downfield until Ewan hit out. Turbitt received the ball at the twenty-five and put in a solo run, then combined with E. Watts. Play was taken to the. Indian quarter. New Zealand combined to press, and a melee in the goalmouth saw the Indians concede a penalty corner. The ball went to McLeod, who passed to Bay, who sent in a clinking shot four minutes after the start. i New Zealand 1 w India 0 McLeod stopped a forward rush and sept the ball out to Bowden, but the pass went too fast for him to connect. New Zealand forwards moved down the line, Turbitt and Wellborne being ' prominent, but were temporarily repulsed. Blake came out to clear with a hefty kick. - New Zealand continued "o press, and forced Blake to concede a long corner. In taking these corners the Indians were beating the hit and were penalised repeatedly. : Dhyan Chand gained possession from a clearing hit and started, a likely movement, but lacked support and ' New Zealand were again pressing. McLeod sent his forwards away again, Bay .taking a reverse pass in the circle edge, but his shot went wide. ' Fernandez put in a dazzling run down the line, but Ewan saved and Shahabuddin raced,for the goal, but his centre was too far back for the inside men to accept. .The New Zealand forwards, raced down the line, and Bay had another shot, which went wide. From the corner Chand wriggled his way through the opposition, but an infringement held up play. Lightning thrusts and. counter-thrusts were the order now; and Fernandez once more put in a brilliant run, only to finish with a spectacular tumble, which brought both him and Ewan to the ground. One All. From the half-way line Shahabuddin took the ball-down to centre to Wells, who baffled two backs and got a clear shot at the goalie. He found the net with a flick shot after twelve minutes’ play. New Zealand .1 ‘ Jndia ..: 1 • India maintained the pressure, Chand; and Singh taking the ball to the circle, where a shot by Chand trickled to the goalie, who speculated and missed, The ball rolled into the net. India -2 New Zealand 1 . From the bully Hup Singh and Chand were again seen in a brilliant attacking movement, beating the opposition to the circle, and Chand again found the net. ■ India • • 3 New Zealand 1 India were now pressing hard and some brilliant- stick work was witnessed. McLeod again set his forwards on the attack, Turbitt being sent in a solo run, carrying the ball on his stick, only to be obstructed by one of the backs. Masud cleared and Shahabuddin again got away, but Rogers proved a stumbling block. From a roll in Wellborne got away and raced goalwards, but perfect understanding by the full-backs stopped his progress. Wellborne was next seen in a pretty run. down the line, and centred for Bay to shoot, but the ball went wide. India again pressed hard, Fernandez sending the ball to Chand. The pace beat him, a twenty-five bully resulting. Returning to the attack Chand had another shot, which Moore took on his -pads, McLeod clearing with a hefty hit. Some pretty play was witnessed when Rup Singh back-passed from the goal line, for Wells to have a shot, which went wide. Excitement ran high when Bay got away, but an infringement again stopped play. Rup Singh and Chand wriggled their way through, Bowden clearing temporarily. After a melee in the goal mouth Rup Singh sent in a stinging shot, but the goal was disallowed. Home Side’s Attacks. New Zealand had the spectators on their toes when Bowden and Bay tcok play down the line, an infringement forcing a penalty corner. India cleared, Wells sending to Dhyan Chand, who initiated another attack, but Fernandez was caught offside. Wells gained possession and back passed to Chand. who sent on to Rup Singh, Moore being called upon to stop with his pads. A long corner resulted. New Zealand now set up a determined attack, but Harbail Singh was instrumental in relieving the pressure. Fernandez raced for the line, but Ewan held him up and cleared with a hefty hit. New "Zealand made’ another on-

slaught which was promising, but the half-time whistle sounded with New Zealand in India’s circle.

India New Zealand 1 The Upper Hand. After the change-over New Zealand broke away. Bay sent across to Wellborne, who juggled with the ball and centred. India cleared. Fernandez raced to the New Zealand line and sent in a beautiful centre for Rup Singh to flick the ball past two defenders into the net.

India ' .; * New Zealand 1 New Zealand then moved to India s territory, where play was held up owing to an accident to E. Watts. Resuming with a bully at half-way, the New Zealand forwards moved goalwards, but- Das cleared with a reverse hit. From a roll in the -ball came across to Rup Singh, who drew the ball back and served up a beautiful reverse shot which Moore had little chance of stopping.

India ® New Zealand 1 India’continued to press, and from a free hit Fernandez sent straight across the field. Shahabuddin accepted and carried the ball to the circle, but Rogers saved at the expense of a corner. A moment later E. Watts was seen in a dazzling run to beat three of •the Indians. However, the shot went outside the post. Exciting Moments. India renewed the attack, and only the stubborn defence sayed the tally from being increased. Singh, gaining possession in midfield, passed to Rup Singh, who made for the circle with a brilliant run. Moore was equal to the occasion, and clearing, set his forwards on the attack. New Zealand set up a determined onslaught on India’s goal, causing exciting moments for the Indians’ defence. N. Bowden sent a spectacular centre from near the corner flag, the ball finding the net but being hit from outside the circle no score resulted. A wonderful movement, in which all the New Zealand forwards took part, roused enthusiasm, when India were forced to defend ‘stubbornly. A lightning thrust through the agency of Fernandez was spoilt by sticks. Returning to the attack Wells put in a dazzling run, carrying the ball on his stick to beat three men and find the net. India' 6 New Zealand 1 * From a roll in Bowden gained possession, but his centre was deflected over the'line. A period of midfield play ensued until Fernandez beat Rogers, in a race for the ball. His centre was taken by Singh, who shot high but missed the net. New Zealand had some hectic moments until Ewan cleared with a lofty hit. Returning to the attack, India gained the circle, Fernandez having a shot, but the whistle blew for offside. Following a twenty-five bully. Singh gained the circle and his shot was well stopped by Moore at the expense of a corner. From the hit Chand secured and sent in a stinging shot which had Moore baffled. India ” New Zealand 1

Away swept the (New Zealand forwards with a pretty passihg run, and two shots in quick succession proved unsuccessful. India returned to the attack, Shahabuddin being prominent in some clever stick work and brilliant centres. McLeod .eased the pressure, but the Indian forwards dominated play and New Zealand had a busy time in their quarter. The ball shot out to Fernandez, who back passed to Wells, but his shot went wide. New Zealand livened up at this stage, but over-eagerness spoilt their chances. A central sortie saw Blake forced to come out and clear at the expense of a corner. With New Zealand in India’s twenty-five, time was called. India / 7 New Zealand 1 PAST MASTERS THE PLAY REVIEWED The Indians, playing an entirely different type of game, demonstrated their capabilities of adapting their tactics to the heavier grounds. Whereas last week spectators were treated to a super-exhibition of wristy stickwork, today’s match showed that they could indulge in the sharp, crisp hitting. Again they proved past masters in the art of positional play, and this phase was a marked contrast to that adopted by the New Zealanders. Their control of the ball enabled them to baffle the defence on numerous, occasions, whilst their forward and back passing was' a revelation to the specta-. tors of the perfect understanding that exists in the team.

An unusual feature of the Indians’ play was their method of placing the ball squarely across the field from a free hit, and these tactics frequently had the- New Zealanders, guessing.

The ' showing. of the (New Zealand team as a whole was somewhat disappointing, compared with their displays in the tests played at Christchurch and Wellington. There was a total absence Of team understanding, the forwards lacking cohesion and the backs not clearing, cleanly. Masud,. the vice-captain of the Indian team, again proved the master mind of the team, and he was responsible for initiating most of the attacking movements. Harbail Singh, playing in the left half position, indulged in spoiling tactics and completely upset the attacking movements of the New Zealand right wing. Dhyan Chand and his equally dazzling brother, Rup Singh, were responsible for some very pretty movements and their combination constantly had the defence baffled. The latter demonstrated his ability to send in stinging shots from any angle and in all positions.

Wells was always prominent in attacks and was little inferior, if any, in his scientific stick work and uncanny anticipation. Fernandez and Shahabuddin again proved a pair of very pacy wings, some of their lightning runs thrilling the crowd.

New Zealand’s captain, E. G. McLeod, was sound in his play, constantly upsetting the attacks in their initiation. The full-backs, Ewan and Rogers, lacked mobility on defence, whilst their hitting was not clean and sharp. The forwards were more conspicuous in individual efforts than in combined work, and Wellborne. Turbitt and Eay shone in this direction. E. Watts lacked opportunities, but was always dangerous when in possession. Moore, in goal, did not come up to expectations. bodyTlay BOTH SIDES GUILTY. MR GUPTA SPEAKS OUT. ISpecial to “Northern Advocate.”'] AUCKLAND, This Day. Though good fellowship prevailed at the complimentary dinner given to the visiting hockey team on Saturday night, there were voiced definite differences between the visitors and the

officials of the New Zealand Hockey Association. Mr P. Gupta, representing the Indian Hockfey Federation, even hinted that at one stage there had been a distinct possibility that the third test would not be played. Mr Gupta said that body play had been present in the second test, but that the Indians had been guilty, too. He, however, complimented New Zealand on its hockey. “I yield to no one in my knowledge of hockey,” he said. “You take it from one who has seen hockey played in every country in the world. I say your officials are dodging if you do not play in the 1937 Olympic Games.” New .Zealand would come second.of third, he said. While officials had been most kind, he continued, they had been unreasonable in looking to their own hockey interests. The itinerary could have been differently arranged without injuring anyone. He also criticised the New Zealand system of appointing referees.

Referring to differences that had arisen, Mr Gupta said that a “little spark” might so have grown that the third test might not have been played. There were murmers of “No” from the official fable.

Mr Gupta said that he believed in calling a spade a spade. There never had been anything said at the executive meetings to which exception could be taken, said Mr P. N. Quartermain, Auckland delegate to the New Zealand Association. Little differences might have cropped up on the tour, he conceded, but eulogies only had been made at the meetings, and if anything else had appeared in the newspapers it was wrong. He referred to the drinking of milk by the Indians. No exception had been taken to that, either in thought or in word. Mr Gupta had criticised the New Zealand method of appointing umpires. That was a matter which might well be left to the New Zealand Association.