SYDENHAM STILL LEADING

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 17

SYDENHAM STILL LEADING

HOCKEY

EASY win over SELWYN POLO GROUNDS IN POOR CONDITION The Polo Grounds were in poor condition for the seventh round of matches in the Canterbury Hockey Association’s competitions, the more skilful players being severely handicapped. If the standard of play is to be improved belter surfaces are necessary, and the players will need to show a more obvious desire to rely on basic technical skills than is so at present. Sydenham improved its position at the head of the competition with its victory over Selwyn and Woolston’s draw with University. Results oi matches were:— Sydenham 5, Selwyn 0. University 2, Woolston 2. High School Old Boys 6, Harewood 2. The competition points are.—Sydenham 6, Woolston 5, Old Boys 4J, Uni-' versity 3|, Harewood IL Selwyn L UNIVERSITY v. WOOLSTON Although Woolston had s'ightly the better of the game, the dogged University defence stood up to the pressure, and the match ended in a draw. Woolston was able to bustle University by superior speed, but this gain was offset by a corresponding lack of accuracy and care that enabled the defence to recover and seal the gaps. The match was an excellent example that speed, alone is not sufficient to overcome a team that has some understanding of defensive positional play. K. O’Ca)lahan was an effective and courageous goalkeeper for University, and the backs. E. Archer and E. Jackson, trapped well and presented a solid, determined front to the Woolston forwards Jackson sometimes tried to beat too many opponents. T. E. Eggleton was back in his old position at left-half and was a capable foil to Woo’ston’s right flank attack. J. F. Mann, at centre-half, had a bad day with his trapping, but by sound positional p’av and sheer diligence gave good service to his side. M. Salomone. at right-half, tends to over-dribble and tired badly towards the e P d -°f the game, but he shows ootential ability. E. D Bennett, on the right wing, was not moving into the gan as effectively as in previous matches, and was therefore cut out of the play for much of the time by the dose marking of J. Kiernan, the Woolston left-half, who showed some improvement. R. G. O'Connor plaved his best game of the season at centre forward. He was much more mobi’e, and covered a wide area of the field. A. Reid was a determined inside left, and should prove a real acquisition to University He must improve his stickwork and dribbling ability and give greater attention to the accuracy of his passing. He tends to keep the ball too much on his left side at present. N. Hobson was the spearhead of Woolston’s attack. His play is honest rather than subtle, and University had little difficulty In anticipating his moves. Nevertheless. he controlled the ball better than bis colleagues and this made him the greatest threat to the defence. D. James in the first half and R. Gillespie in the second were not effective on the right wing. Both were tried at inside left also, but neither possesses the dribbling ability for this position, although James scored a good opportunist goal when the defence faltered. R Cockroft was not as prominent as usual at centre forward, and G. Howard, on the left wing, was right out of form. J. Abrams was an effective centre half, although he tended to "telegraph" his passes. He covered much ground, but his play gives the impression of being hurried at times.

E. Packer and L. Hobson were capab'e backs, although both had trapping difficulties early in the game. They covered each other well and were, in turn ably supported by K. Mortimer, whose goalkeeping prevented University from achieving a surprise win against the run of play- Mann appeared to be unfortunate not to gain the decision in a late penalty bully when obstructed bv Mortimer. Umpires: Messrs L. Teague and B W. Rogers. SYDENHAM v. SELWYN In many respects the play of the Svdenham team resembled its efforts of the previous week against Harewood. It demonstrated a marked superiority in the first half and played constructive hockey at a speed commensurate with good control and accurate passing. Having established a winning lead, the team lapsed into errors in the second half, but was able to maintain some degree of dominance against ill-organised opposition. In the Sydenham de ence, M. Hall showed vast improvement in trapping and nassing. but bis partner. R. Rusbridge. is still over-hiting and shows an incorrect conception of trapping technique. Against a higher standard of forward play than Christchurch hockey can boast at the moment, this would cause his team much anxiety. W. Morris. M. Wall, and A. McAllister formed a competent half-line whose experience, control, and positional play were too much for the immature opnosing forwards. Basically. Morris is still Sydenham’s most constructive player in spite of his loss of soeed. P. Cotton was an effective right wing. He made the most of his opportunities, which were limited by M. McKinnon’s tendency at inside right to feed him with through passes that were impossible to overtake. McKinnon was not as prominent as in recent matches, but made several useful dribbles. At inside left. K. Cumberpatch is most effective when he relies upon ball control and the making openings, but his play deteriorates at times into fruitless attempts to bullock through a massed defence. His penalty corner tally for the season was increased by four such goals.

Selwyn battled gamely on defence, and R. Bay was again invaluable as goalkeeper. M. Clements covered much ground and broke up many attacks. The Selwyn halves and backs were given little respite because of the inability of their forwards to retain possession, only G. Kennington being able to make much headway. He was, however, opposed by Svdenham’s weaker defensive flank. The Selwyn team needs a thorough grounding in. accurate trapping, precise passing, stickwork, correct positional play, and the proper use of the gap before it is likely to threaten any of the senior teams. B. Blakely was missed at centrehalf, and the absence of a core of experienced players to assist the younger members is a severe handicap.' The marked lack of technique emphasises an impression that lower grade players are not being coached in the fundamental principles. Umpires: Messrs A. D. Holland and K. Hamilton. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS v. HAREWOOD Wild hitting and bustle were the order of the day in one of the poorest club matches seen for a long time. Although (he ground was heavy and bumpy, this was no excuse for the poor attempts at trapping by nearly all the players in both teams. This weakness, combined with passing which reat hed a new low level of inaccuracy, resulted in possession alternating from team to team with amazing rapidity Few constructive movements were seen, and most of the goals resulted from individual efforts of little sk 11 which penetrated weak defence. Old Boys enjoyed a considerable territorial advantage in the first half, but wasted their opportunities by hard hits downfield which either crossed the goalline or were collected by Harewood play> ers. Nevertheless, they were able to achieve a 3-0 lead by half-time. In the second half the Harewood forwards showed some signs of cohesion, and D. Plumb and G. Turner achieved by bustle and a faint resemblance of combined play two goals for their team. However. Old Bovs dominated the game durinc the final qua ter. D. M. Goldsmith, the Old Boys goalkeeper, made no mistakes, and his rush stopping and kicking were reminiscent of his form of previous years, when he showed real promise. W. Browne, at left back, lapsed into crude fly-hitting, and his tackling was badly judged. His partner. W. Boundy, though very inexperienced. tried to trap corre-tlv. E. Barnes, on the left, was the best of the halves. R. Cummins, in the centre, seems to have lost his former stickwork and passing ability. On the right wing N. Thomas wasted the ball with wild, indiscriminate centres, J. Kiddey was below senior standard in his fapping and passing. P. B’yth shared thes? general faults, but appeared to be the most effe tive forward in the line. The left flank, M. Graveston and I. D. Armstrong, was not a happy combination, though Armstrong exploited the weak defence by scoring four rather easy goals. The Harewood team seems obsessed with the need for speed and is persisting in sacrificing arts and skills oi

the game in favour of speed. Even B. Murray, its centre half and most skilled player, has become infected, and his play has declined in re-ent matches. This is a great pity, in view o' his good form earlier in the season. The two backs. B. Pauli and P. Greenwood, were badly bustled by Old Boys and their usual coolnes under pressure was not so much in evidence. Goals were scored for O'd Boys by I. D. Armstrong (4> and P. Blvth (2). and for Hai ewood by D. Plumb and G. Turner. Umpires: Messrs K. Mortimer and F. Iggo.