TARANAKI versus INDIA

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1935, Page 10

TARANAKI versus INDIA

HOCKEY OF THE FIRST GRADE EXPECTED •! ' ' PERSONALITIES AMONG THE VISITORS X JfRESH from a victory over the All Blacks at Christchurch, the Indian touring hockey team will meet a representative Taranakieleven at Eltham on Thursday. So far the indications are that ths weather will be definitely partisan for the province and the Indians will find the ground slow and heavy. Nevertheless this is what they have experienced throughout the Dominion, and from no centre have reports of a poor performance been received. The Taranaki team, although the men have not played together in a match this season, is made up of experienced, reliable players with a dash'of new material as leaven. The meeting should provide bright scientific hockey of real class; not only enthusiasts but all who like to see a game raised to the level of an art, and perfectly mastered, will gather at Eltham to watch the Indians in action.

There is nd doubt India is producing the cream of the world’s players to-day. In 1928 its representatives walked through the Olympic Games at Amsterdam without a score against them. In 1932 the first goal on the debit side came when the skilful little Japanese scurried down the field , and shot accurately from a melee. India won the match 11—1 but Japan won the ovation for the one sparkle of effort.

Several of the Olympic Indian representatives are members of the present touring team. Notable among them is Dhyan Chand, captain, who visited New Zealand with the Indian Army team in 1926. Acknowledged everywhere as the world’s best pldyer, Chand has wonderful stick skill making his shots with a mere flick of the wrist. . . His timing is perfect and in almost every tour his tally of goals amounts to more than 100.

A close to Dhyan Chand in Torward play is his brother, Rup Singh, another Olympic figure. To see the two men combine is unforgettable. Vice-captain of the team is M. N. Masud, half-back, who started playing hockey when he was 15. In business life he is private secretary to the Nawab of Manavadar, having graduated at Delhi University. Shahabuddin is regarded as the outstanding winger in India, as brilliant a specialist in his line as Dhyan Chand ahd Rup Singh are in their*. F. C. Wells has been kept out of the centre-forward

position in the Indian team by Dhyan Chand, but he is a fest, clever player. P. P. Fernandes, the' baby of the team, is only 20 years old and has exceptional speed, . ' The personnel of the Tadian team to meet Taranaki has, not,yet been an- '■ nounced, but it is certain a strong side will be chosen. Everyone in it will fee trained to the finest degree of fitness and be capable of displaying that astonishing accuracy for which the Indians are famous. It is stated that most members can hit a small jam tin with a hockey ball five times out of six at a distance of 30 yards. Naturally much of the advantage of this accuracy and of the extremely seien-, tific stick-play is nullified by wet and sticky grounds; therefore Taranaki will meet them on more even terms than might have been expected. On the smooth billiard-table fields of India accuracy is the alpha and omega of hockey. There people play with unguarded shins and hands because the style is entirely different. If a player swings his stick dangerously in the'opinion of the referee he is asked to leave the field. There is no w&iitag until a man is hurt. 7 On Thursday spectators will see the one style of hockey—the push stroke, the short pass and controlled play—pitted against another utterly at variance—‘the • hit stroke in the old' English style, l founded on the stiff arm action and the long swing of golf.