DAZZLING HOCKEY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12951, 16 May 1935, Page 5

DAZZLING HOCKEY.

INDIANS AT DANNEVIRKE.

VICTORY BY 21 GOALS TO NIL. Electric Telegraph—Press Association DANNEVIRKE, Last Night. Playing superb hockey the allIndia team auspiciously opened its New Zealand tour by defeating Dannevirke by 21 goals to nil. There was a big attendance. The perfect sunny weather and fast ground were to the liking of the Indians who played ineomiDarable hockey and the reports of the play in Australia were not exaggerated. _ Dhyan Chand is as marvellous as ever and his brother, Rup Singh, is little ’nferior. Dhyan scored the first goal of the New Zealand tour after a few minutes’ play and found the net seven more times, while Rup netted six goals, all in the first half, four being scored successively in about five minutes. Wells, the oldest member of the team, played a great game and was responsible for four goals. Fernandes and Shahabuddin are very fleet wingers. The former is the youngest member of the team and he scored once, while Shahabuddin netted twice.

The half-time score was 12—nil. Dannevirke played a good game, improving in the second half. The goalkeeper, Chapman, saved repeatedly, but many of the shots by the Indians were impossible to save. The scores came mostly from head-high shots to the corner of the net. The three inside forwards. Rup Singh, Dhyan Cliand and Wells, were very tricky in the circle, the former two being especially clever in getting the goalie out of position. Dannevirke reached the Indian circle several times and though several corners were conceded they were unable to score The visitors have wonderful combination and their ball control is a revelation. The winners were always perfectly calm and never lost a chance through over-eagerness or excitement. They showed beautiful stick work though the Indian Army team’s tactics of taking the ball clown the field on the stick were little used, while back passing and the scoop shot were largely exploited. All are able to play reverse stick shots accurately and with force. Hard and clean hitting was a feature of the game. The Indians hit more judiciously .than the losers, using less force for passing. The wingers are very speedy. It is a highly-ski lied combination with perfect understanding among all the units who showed a variety of movements. There were many corners, but few goals therefrom. Dhyan Chand and Rup Singh are pastmasters in dribbling, their cunning being irresistible. In fairness to the Dannevirke side it can be stated that this was their first game of the season and in the circumstances they did very well.