COMPETITIONS AT ASHBURTON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 265, 22 August 1949, Page 5

COMPETITIONS AT ASHBURTON

HOCKEY

T. 0.8. HOLD LEAD Saturday’s clash between Ashburton’s leading hockey teams, T. 0.8. and Ashburton A, did not yield such a high standard of hockey as was expected. This was due partly to both teams being over-eager to pass the ball without, first ascertaining their team-mate’s position. Play was fairly even for the first 1C mins, and then better combined play by T. 0.8. brought the ball up to the Ashburton circle and Harper, from a most difficult angle, scored a sizzling goal. Ashburton rallied from this stage and T. 0.8. defended strongly. A free hit in the T. 0.8. 25 once again set the forward line moving, Thompson pushing a neat, pass through to A. Mayson, who made no mistake with .a lovely shot which rattled in the goal netting. Half-time came with the score—T.O.B. 2, Ashburton 0.

Ashburton wore away on the bullyoff and swept downfield to the T. 0.8. circle. Here the ball was hacked from one played to the other and eventually a general melee prevailed. During this period R. Drummond saw an opening and the ball went into the goal. The pace of the game was now becoming fast, but the standard of hockey was below that played usually by these teams. T. 0.8., in a combined rush, brought the ball up to the Ashburton circle and unfortunately as the goalkeeper came out to defend I. Drummond the Ashburton left half interposed himself between the T. 0.8. centre-forward, the ball and the ’keeper thereby obstructing him. Mr Fowke immediately blew for a penalty bully, in which H. Thompson represented T. 0.8. against the defending player. From this a penalty goal was awarded. Play was still kept up at a fast pace by Ashburton, who pressed hard for goals, but the T. 0.8. defence withstood the attacks and with good clearing shots were constantly setting their forwards moving. During the last 10 minutes A. Mayson again scored for T. 0.8., and the final whistle blew with T. 0.8. being good winners by 4 goals to 1. This win gives T. 0.8. the Ashburton hockey championship and cup for the second year in succession.

Lowcliffe v. Ashburton B

An overwhelming defeat was suf-. fered by the young Ashburton B team, but the play was not all one-sided. Frequently Ashburton B, with good combined movements, penetrated the Lowcliit'e 25, hut strong defensive play broke up these attacKs. The Lowcliffe's forward line combined well and E. Barnes scored four, P. Harris four, A. Harris 1 and J. Barnes 1. The Final result was: Lowcliff 10, Ashburton B 0.

Wakanui A v. Wakanui B

This game yielded an unexpected result and was due in the main to extremely good goalkeeping by J. McCosker, of Wakanui B, and strong defensive play by the backs. Wakanui A were strong favourites to win, and for the majority of the game had most of the play. A. Anderson scored two good goals and K. Butterick replied with one in the second half. All was set for a certain win by Wakanui A. The umpires were glancing at their watches when from a rush upheld a melee developed in Wakanui A’s circle and K. Butterick again rattled in a goal, the whistle going for full time as the ball came to rest in the back of the goal. The final result was Wakanui A 2, Wakanui B 2.

Baring Square v. Barrliill The first half saw some quite good hockey, and -play was fairly even. Baring Square combined better and D. Oliver soon opened the score for Square. This seemed to inspire the Barrhill players to greater efforts, and Crpzier, from a good pass from the right wing scored with a wellplaced flick shot. Baring square now pushed in the pressure and Barrhill, although defending well, could not keep out the persistently attacking Square forwards, A through-pass to F. Simpson saw him steady himself and shoot a good goal. The second half opened with Square on the attack, and D. Oliver again scored. A further up-field rush from the bully found Barrhill unprepared, and F. Simpson made no mistake with a hard hit, the ball hitting the inside top netting of the goal. Barrhill settled down for a while after this goal and a well combined movement saw Limbrick bustle well into the Square circle and finally found the net with a good following-up shot. From this period Baring Square took charge and the pressure was on the. Barrhill defence. They defended desperately, but a good run-in by D. Oliver saw him net a third goal. Full time came with the score: Baring Square 5, Barrhill 1.

Play of Improved Standard These matches now conclude the inter-club games until the next season, and on the whole there has been a marked improvement in the standard of hockey played. Stickwork and team combination has progressed, and the younger players have benefited from the numerous representative matches that have been played. Next year’s inter-club matches should see the high standard of hockey maintained and improved. ASHBURTON SUCCESSES "" * TWO TEAMS WIN In the women’s representative hockey matches played at the Domain on Saturday, Ashburton won both tlie senior and junior grades. The Ashburton senior team won by 3 goals to 2 and the juniors by 3 goals to 1.