Hockey FIRST ROUND MATCHES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28263, 29 April 1957, Page 13

Hockey FIRST ROUND MATCHES

Woolston Wins By Big Margin The Canterbury Hockey Association’s senior competition began on Saturday in fine, sunny weather on grounds that were reasonably firm, although they tended to slow down the pace of the ball as a result of recent rain. The two matches at Williamson Park, where Woolston, Sydenham, High School Old Boys and Technical Old Boys played, were seriously affected by the length of the grass. There was little evidence on the part of any of the teams to improve upon the rather crude tactical approach to their tasks which was characteristic of last season’s play. The results of the matches were as follows: Woolston 7. High School Old Boys 1. Sydenham 3, Technical Old Boys 1. _ University 1, Harewood 1. WOOLSTON v. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS Of the six senior teams Woolston was easily the most convincing, and took full advantage of the pathetic defence of the Old Boys’ team to build up a rather flattering winning margin. The teams were:— Woolston.—K. Mortimer; E. Packer, L. Hobson; R. Cockroft, J. Abrams, R. Gillespie; G. Cockroft, N. Hobson, D. James, B. Davie, J. Kiernan. Old Boys.—D. Tilley; W. Brandy, D. Shepherd; R. Cummins, E. Barnes, J. Kiddey; N. Thomas, P. Hanna, P* Blyth, I. D. Armstrong, T. Thomas. For Woolston N. Hobson led a lively forward line capably and the Woolston halves gave close support against a defence which was unorganised, which lacked any form of depth and which depended upon sporadic individual efforts. The Woolston team was able to maintain sustained attacks for long periods because of the ill-direct?d passing of the Old Boys’ team, in which the forwz rds received few good passes and were unable to retain possession when they did obtain the ball for the same elementary fault. J. Abrams played effectively at centre-half for Woolston, breaking up opposing attacks and feeding his own forwards with some element of efficiency. However, his method of marking an opposing centre-forward by tackling him upon receipt of the ball instead of cutting him out would be singularly ineffective against a competent player. The two fallbacks, E. Packer and L. Hobson, were as reliable as ever, and K. Mortimer was his usual cool and capable self in goal. The two wing forwards. G. Cockroft and J. Kiernan, did a number of constructive things, particularly in the careful placing of their centre passes. It was a bad day for Old Bovs. In whose ranks chaos reigned. At times J. Kiddey, the left half. and E. Barnes, the centre-half, covered their backs well, but there was a serious gap in the left-back position. D. Shepherd was right out of his depth and his casual attitude belied any justification for rapid promotion to senior ranks. He also appeared to be carrying too much weight, and he will do well to give some attention to the need for coming back into the play after being passed by the opposing forwards. The Old Boys’ forwards i created many of their Iby dribbling into tackles oefore at- | tempting to pass, a fault which the | Woolston forwards were more suci cessful in avoiding. i The Woolston goals were scored by I N. Robson (2), B. Davie (2), D. ■ James (2), and G. Cockroft. P. Blyth netted for Old Boys. Umpires: Messrs J. Reece and W. Morris.

SYDENHAM V. TECHNICAL OLD

This match was more even than the final score indicated. Technical used its right flank attack well, but failed to capitalise on several such movements through the inability of its inside forwards to trap some well placed centres. Sydenham showed few glimpses of the form which made it the leading team of last season, and much of its play lacked direction. The game was evenly contested, but the accent was on speed and bustling tactics rather than on skilful, controlled hockey. The teams were:—

Sydenham.—J. Pauling; M. Hall. R. Rusbridge; B. Mairs, M. Wall, A. Me- ; Allister; P. Cotton, M. McKinnon, R Cattermole, K. Cumberpatch, P. Snelling. Technical Old Boys.—l. Emmerson; ' L. Lester, M. Gardner; L. Taylor, G. Harper, L. Lloyd; J. Burrows, C. Wood, K. Collins, J. Parsons, P. Chant. For Sydenham J. Pauling made many fine saves in goal and kicked 1 well, while M. Hall was a steady right back. R. Rusbridge was often in trouble at left back through running to his left with the ball, while M. Wall’s weakness in passing was again evident, although he was adequate in most other aspects. The Sydenham forwards also passed badly, with the exception of P. Snelling on the left wing, who did not attempt to play beyond his . capacity and was, therefore, the most effective of them. There was a great deal of rushing about by individuals, most of it quite fruitless, although P. Cotton on the right wing scored a very fine goal. I. Emmerson, the Technical goalkeeper, was in good form and was given firm support by N. Gardner at left back. L. Lloyd, the left half, played soundly and initiated many attacking moves with accurate passes to his forwards. The right wing, J. Burrows, showed speed and some ability to control the ball and combined well at times with the inside right, C. Wood. K. Collins, at centreforward, made some determined bursts, but his trapping let him down in a number of favourable scoring situations. He was injured late in the game and was replaced by P. For Sydenham goals were scored bv K. Cumberpatch from a penalty corner, P. Snelling and P. Cotton, and K. Collins was responsible for the Technical goal. The umpires were: Messrs C. A. Rogers and D. Sloane. UNIVERSITY v. HAREWOOD Although University held the advantage for most of the game its lack of penetration in the circle cost it goals and the match ended in a draw Harewood was both the faster and fitter team, but frittered these advantages away through reliance upon speed _alone. The game was marreo by frequent penalties for techmcabreaches and might have been the better for a greater application of the advantage rule. The teams were: University.—K. O'Calla £■ Jackson, B. Boyce; J Palmer, G. Powell, B. Archer; A. Reid, W. Haskell, G. Honey, A. Sansom, G. Rod- '' llarewood.—B. Densem; L. Innes, B. Pauli' B. Turner, D. Plumo, r. Greenwood; R. Clements B Murray, G. Turner, G. Baldwin, G. attempted to Play J ts usual short-passing g&me and several bright movements resulted, but they usually broke down through fautty trapping and the inability of most of the players to bring the ball under control quickly and to give accurate passes. By contrast Harewood s speed was of some value in its bustling effect, but it was also the major factor in contributing to a vast number of elementary errors B. Densem was a sound goalkeeper and L. Innes who had been transferred from the left half position to tbat of right back, was in good form. At left back B, Pauli fulfilled the first requirement of the good hockey player by Sapping well, but then proceeded to waste the ball with wild hitting. E) plumb worked hard at centrehalf and intercepted well, but was guilty of frequent obstruction. The best of the forwards were B. Murray at inside-right and G. Turner at centre-forward. Murray must give more attention to the direction of his passes, while Turner, who showed gome ability to control the ball and

pass it effectively, still indulges in too much barging. The University goalkeeper, K. O’Callaghan, made no mistakes, but the same could not be said for the rest of the defence. The ball was not cleared quickly enough and the stickwork was not of sufficient standard to justify holding it. B. Boyce, at right back, trapped reasonably well and E. Archer, at left half, was more prominent on defence than on Two young players, G. Powell and J. Palmer, centre and right half respectively, worked hard, but must give more than a little thought to positional play and the technique of crisp, accurate passing. On the right wing, A. Reid made several good runs and passed with some discretion. W. Haskell at inside right showed good control and stickwork, but was stereotyped in his methods, neglecting opportunities for individual breaks. Some small degree of promise was shown by E. Sansom at inside left. G. Turner scored for Harewood and E. Sansom for UniverS *The umpires were Messrs S. Swift and N. Hocking. LOWER GRADES Lower grade hockey matches resulted: — , Senior Second Grade.—Sumner 1, Sydenham 0; Selwyn 0, New Bngh--1 Reserve.— University 5, West ; Old Boys 2; Woolston 3, Burnham 1. Second A Grade.—Teachers’ College 4, Woolston 0; High School Old Boys 5, B.R.A. 4; Boys’ High School 3, Mairehau 0; West Old Boys 5, New Brighton 0. Second B Grade. —N.A.C. 1, Lincoln College 0. . Third Grade.—Sydenham 7, University 1; Rangiora 2, Burnham 1; ' Emulous 6, Teachers’ College 4; Boys’ High School 10, Selwyn 5; Sumner 4, Linwood 3; Linwood High 3, Becken- ’ ham 1; West Old Boys 4, Harewood . 0. Fourth Grade.—Sydenham 8, High School Old Boys B 0; Christ’s College 1 1, Woolston 0; Technical Old Boys 7, C.U.C. 3; Kaiapoi 2, B.R.A. 1; Boys’ ’ High School 2, Papanui High School * 1. ! Fifth Grade.—Christ’s College 8, ! Rangiora High 1; Beckenham 6, ‘ Kaiapoi 2; Redcliffs 11, Sydenham 0. ’ Under 16.—Sydenham 3, West Old Boys 0; West Old Boys B 7, >Boys’ 1 High School B 0; Boys’ High School ’ A 3, Technical 0; Papanui High ’ School 3, Selwyn 1. • Under 14.—Sydenham A 10, Syden- • ham B 0; Selwyn A 5, Selwyn B 0; ' Boys’ High School B 3, Linwood 0; ’ B.R.A. 6, New Brighton 0. 5 Results In Other ; Centres J Auckland.— University 8, Mt. Albert f Ramblers 2; Sommerville 3, Owai 1 Rovers 1; Albertians 2, Grammar 2; 1 Southern Districts 3, St. Luke’s 2.