GISBORNE HOCKEY GROUND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19700, 4 August 1938, Page 11

GISBORNE HOCKEY GROUND

INSPECTION TO-DAY FIRM SECTION CHOSEN An inspection of the Childers Road Reserve this afternoon revealed that the turf on the ground for the match between the Manavadar Indian State hockey team and Poverty Bay is surprisingly firm in view of the long wet spell just experienced. The usual placing area in front of the grandstand is very wet at the eastern end, but this has been avoided by placing the ground about 20yds. to the westward. About 10yds. out from the grandstand fence a few soft patches have been included, but these have been covered with sand. The ground will not be as even as the Hpckey Association had hoped, but it has!been impossible so far to put a roller on the ground. The occasional rough places, no doubt, will affect play somewhat, but the firmness of the turf should enable the Indians to adopt their usual style of play. Reg. Watchman, Poverty Bay’s representative in the first and second test teams against the Indians, returned home yesterday afternoon in readiness for to-morrow’s game. He will not be available for the third tgst. Giving his views on the test games, Watchman said that the Christchurch match was played on a heavy ground and the standard of hockey suffered as a result. Last Saturday in Wellington the ground was in excellent order and some sparkling hockey was seen, that match being considered the best witnessed in Welington. The standard of New Zealand's play improved by about 100 per cent on the first test' exhibition and territorially the game was very even, but New Zealand lacked the necessary finish. The present Indian team, Watchman continued, was considered to be the best to visit New Zealand. The side was not so strong in bright individual players, their strength being in team work. Providing the ground tomorrow was suited to their play, the match should be a spectacular one. The Indians used hard-hitting tactics when in the opposing circle, their style of play in this respect differing from that of the 1935 team, which retied mainly upon the flick stroke for scoring.