[2] He attained the University of Otago and qualified as a barrister, coached at Kaikorai Cricket Club and in 1948 was appointed to the staff of John McGlashan College where he taught.
The paper was of the opinion that "it should not be long before he is in among the runs"[9] and later in the season praised his driving ability and his use of his feet.
[10] The following season The Evening Star again praised Holden's defence as well as his "array of strokes" and considered that he had a "very sound grounding in the name" and tipped him for representative cricket if he continued to develop,[11] and he played for Otago in the annual match against Southland in February 1935.
[13] Later in the same month the paper praised his "clean and hard" off drives,[14] and just before Christmas his "fine form" and "polished" batting.
[12] He dropped out of the side for Otago's final match of the season, acting as twelfth man for the match against Wellington with Cecil Toomey taking his place, the Otago Daily Times suggesting that this was "the right occasion to give a promising player his opportunity".