HOCKEY

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25834, 20 June 1949, Page 2

HOCKEY

GROUNDS IMPROVED BETTER STANDARD OF PLAY With improved playing surfaces, the standard of hockey in two of the selnor games in Christchurch on Saturday a decided improvement. In the third game there was too much rough ! that should have been stopped and the game fell far below the standard of the others. Sydenham had no difficulty in defeating University by 5 goals to 0, but in a hard game Trinity just managed to beat Selwyn by a one-goal margin and Woolston and Technical drew 2-all. Results of senior games were:— Sydenham 5, University 0. Trinity 2, Selwyn 1. Technical 2, Woolston 2. Championship points hre:—Sydenham 7J, Trinity 5, Woolston 3J, Selwyn 3, University 2i. Technical 2J. WOOLSTON (2), TECHNICAL (2) With doth teams playing good, clean hockey the match between Woolston and Technical was an exhibition of clever stick play and passing. Technical’s weakness was in the forwards, where the Dale brothers were inclined to hang on and play too much solo instead of opening the game by passing. R. Leney, on the wing, and A. Smith, were not given the opportunities they deserved. The half line was sound and gave the forwards plenty of the ball. Both Elliott and Roberts were sound in the backs. On his play, Roberts is unlucky if he misses representative honours this season. In the Woolston side L. Jones in goal played an outstanding game. M. Abrams has improved wonderfully since the beginning of the season, but Fairbrother is uncanny in his fly hitting, and his speed off the mark makes him a valuable back. R Moir, M. Templeton, and W. Marquet make up a well-balanced half line, Templeton settling down into the centre position in good style. J. Deakin imparted a punch into the front line and M. Robinson did a good job on the left. Ayson got few opportunities, but his solo effort that led to a goal was brilliant. The game was very even throughout and the score is a fair indication of its trend. Goals were scored for Woolston by Robinson and Ayson, and for Technical by Leney and D. Dale. The umpires were Messrs L. G. Taylor and W. H. Down.

SYDENHAM (5), UNIVERSITY (0) In a game that was spoiled by too much barging and hard hitting and, it seemed at times, apparent ill-feeling, Sydenham had the better defence ahd better combination to beat University by five goals, In the early stages University had slightly the better of the field play, but Sydenham's back trio, L. Smith, B. Hall, and H. Rhind, set up a stonewall defence. Sydenham’s halves were, not up to the usual standard, with the exception of R. Randle, who played a steady game all through. N. Brownlie replaced R. Calvert in the front line and Brownlie's place was filled by L. Rollinson. Brownlie put plenty of punch into the attack and his solo effort that led to a goal was a brilliant piece of ball control and stick play. Taking the ball at halfway he weaved his way through the halves, tricked the backs and goalkeeper, and scored with a clinking shot. Neither Smith nor Cummins was up to standard, there being too much hard hitting and back slashing in their play. University’s play lacked cohesion and there was little snap in the forward movements. Hurst was the best of the back division, and he saved his side repeatedly Froome, in goal, was very fait in the early stages, but after he had received a knock, his play deteriorated. Goals were scored for Sydenham by Brownlie (2), Cummins, Smith, and Cumberpatch. The umpires were Messrs L. G. Taylor and E. H. Rogers.

I TRINITY (2), SELWYN (1) In a good exhibition of hockey, Trinity i just headed Selwyn by the odd goal in three. The game was interesting for the fine showing made by some of the younger ■ members of each team. J. Newburn, D. Bellamy, and N. Herron, for Selwyn, and ' M. Haywood, N. Robinson, and M. Parratt for Trinity, showed distinct promise and at times they reached the high standard set by the mor? experienced men 14ore will be heard of these youngsters. The game was a tight one, and neither set of forwards could penetrate effectively, ' though much of their work waa well designed and well executed. They kept the defence fully extended and with a little luck either way the final score could have been very different. Selwyn, which > had the better of the early stages, scored first when G. Billcliff whipped across a centre and L. Irvine scored a good first-line goal. Trinity, after a long spell on defence, broke away, and E. Thomas received from E. McCormick to place a grand goal as he fell. The second half was even, and Thomas added one from a penalty bully. Selwyn threw in everything in the last five minutes, but was just unlucky. The umpires were Messrs N. F. Cutler and C. Gutry. LOWER GRADES Senior Reserve.—Trinity 5, Harewood 3; Sydenham 4, University 2; H. 5.0.8. 4. Selwyn 1. Second A Grade.—Technical 3, Training College 2; West Old Boys 1, Riccarton 0; Sydenham 8, Army 1; Woolston 2, Selwyn Second B Grade.—Redcliffs 2, Trinity 1; West Old Boys 3, Kaiapoi 1; Harewood 4. Technical 2; Baptist 2. Sydenham 2. Third A Grade.—BH.S. 6, ’Varsity 2; New Brighton 2. Matchless 0. Third B Grade.—Technical 3, West Old Boys 3; Sydenham 3, Trinity 1; Selwyn 8, Harewood 0. Fourth A Grade.—Trinity 8, ’Varsity 0. Riccarton 8, New Brighton 2; Emulous 6. Technical 0; West Christchurch 1, Sydenham 1. Fourth B Grade.—Hollywood 6, Training College 1; Navy 4, Woolston 0: H. 5.0.8. 3, Leydon 2; Avon 4, Matchless 2. Fifth A Grade.—Papanui Technical 4, Matchless 1: Avon 2, Redcliffs 0; Papanui Technical 0.8. 5, H. 5.0.8. 0; Sydenham 6, Selwyn 1. Fifth B Grade.—Woolston 2, Selwyn 2; Sydenham 7. West Old Boys 0; Baptist 4, Emulous 4. Under 16.—Technical 6 t Rangiora 0: West Old Boys 4, Avon 2; B.H.S. 7, New Brighton 3. Under 15.—8.H.5. 7, Selwyn A 0; Selwyn B 4, Sumner 1; Sydenham 12. Woolston 0; Technical A 7. West Old Boys 0. WOMEN’S HOCKEY Senior A Grade.—Selwyn 4, Hornby 0: Technical 3, Digby’s 3; Carlton 4, Rawhiti 1; Christchurch West 3. Aranui 1. Senior Reserve.—Technical 5, Rangiora B 2; Belfast 1, Sumner 1; ’Varsity 5, Selwyn B 0; Selwyn A 7. Digby’s 1. Senior B Grade.—Technical 1, Training College 1; Carlton 5, Selwyn 2; Aranui B 2, West Christchurch A 1; Avonside 1, Hinemoa 0; Beckenham 1, Sydenham 0. Junior A Grade.—Lyttelton 2, Avonside 1; West Christchurch A 6, Weslev 1; Kiwi I, Training College B 1; Digby’s A 1, Training College A 1. Junior B Grade.—West Christchurch 1, Selwyn 0; Lyttelton 1, Beckenham 1; Harewood 2, Avonside 1. PRIMARY SCHOOLS HOCKEY A Grade.—School for Deaf 4. Phillipstown 3; Woolston 3, Opawa 0; Christchurch East 4. Lyttelton Main 1. B Grade.—Harewood 2. Shirley Intermediate 0; Wharenui 1, Lyttelton West 0; St. Michael’s 2, Hornby 1; Redcliffs 3. Heaton Street 0. C Grade.—St. Mark’s 4, Kaiapoi 0; Cashmere 0, Shirley Intermediate 0: Wharenui 3, Linwood Avenue 1; Woolston 6, Phillipstowfi 2. D Grade. —Addington A 5, Victory 0; School for Deaf 5, St. Albans 0; Addington B 2, Kaiapoi 0; Lyttelton Main 1. Mount Pleasant 1; Redcliffs 2, Linwood avenue 0.