COMPETITION MATCHES

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28347, 5 August 1957, Page 7

COMPETITION MATCHES

University Beats

Woolston

Grounds were the driest for some weeks when the twelfth round matches in the senior hockey competition were played on Saturday. Most teams were understrength with players in the Canterbury representative team. University improved its position in the competition still further with a close win over Woolston at Burwood Park. In a scrappy game at the Polo Grounds, Technical Old Boys beat Harewood, 3-2. Sydenham and High School were matched iiL-a very even game, but more accurate passing gave Sydenham a 1-0 win. Results were:

University 3, Woolston 2. Technical Old Boys 3, Harewood 2. Sydenham 1, High School Old Boys 0. Competition points are: Sydenham 18, University 15, Woolston 13, High School Old Boys 12, Technical 9, Harewood 5. UNIVERSITY v. WOOLSTON On a dry, but very bumpy ground at Burwood Park University narrowly won by 3 goals to 2 in an even struggle against Woolston. Woolston missed N. Hobson, J. Abrams, R. Gillespie and G. Mortimer who were playing for Canterbury, but the reserves played with great vitality and the team almost succeeded in holding University which was at full strength apart from the absence of T. Crossen. University’s, win was caused by better positional play and more accurate passing, but the Woolston defence was very stubborn.

R. G. O’Connor was again in fine form and led the University forwards with skill. He would be even more effective on attack if his colleagues in the forward line could feed him with the same accuracy as his passing. E. Sansom back tackled splendidly throughout the match and scored two goals by . sheer quickness and opportunism in the circle. W. Haskell also contributed valuable defensive work and controlled the ball well but his fondness for over dribbling was again evident.

The University half-line combined well with the forwards, with E. Archer producing his usual share of good work on defence in covering. his backs. His consistently sdund play at left-half has been of great value to University throughout the season. B. Boyce was a safe and steady right back whose passing was accurate and well placed. For Woolston T. Carter played very well in goal, making a number of powerful clearing kicks. E. Packer was everywhere in defence and played one of his best games of the season. He broke up numerous attacks and his passing was most effective in setting his cfwn forwards on counter-attacks. J. Gillespie played a fine game at right-half on both defence and attack and showed a quick sense of opportunism in seizing a chance to penetrate a gap in the University defence when he scored Woolston’s second goal with an excellent shot. B. Davie also played well at centre-half. L. Hobson covered a vast amount of ground at inside-left and showed good ball control. His usual place has been at left-back, and his intelligent play suggests that he could be of great value to his province if used in this position D. James made a number of fast dribbles at inside-right, but his passing was almost completely limited to through passes, although the positioning of the University defence was partly responsible for this. J. Kiernan was as usual fast and tricky on the left-wing. He caused University a great deal of trouble, but indulged in too much solo play, and should have passed earlier The University goals were scored by E. Sansom (2) and A. Read. L. Hobson and J. Gillespie scored for Woolston. Umpires: Messrs P. Beere and J. Calder. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS V. HAREWOOD Technical beat Harewod by 3 goals to 2 on a heavy, bumpy surface at the Polo Grounds. The game was characterised by the lack of any definite pattern of play by either team. There was much aimless hitting. and the hit-and-run tactics in general use were moderately successful because of the difficulty experienced by the defensive players in trapping the ball on such a rough ground. The first half was fairly even, but the Technical forwards showed a little more cohesion than their opponents in the second half, and their team enjoyed a decided advantage in the closing stages. The Technical goalkeeper I. Emmerson, , defended his goal soundly, and 1 his backs. N Gardner and Len Lloyd, combined well and played very steadily Gardner’s passing was good, but Lloyd was not up to his usual standard in this respect. G. Harper, at centre-half, wag reasonably effective, and scored a good goal from a penalty corner, but his positioning on defence was often faulty. The forwards played with great dash and determination oh attack, and backed each oth6r up consistently. Although J. Burrowes on the right wing was not as conspicuous as

usual, the three inside forwards. C. Woods, L. Taylor, and J. Parsons, all proved hard to stop, and were a consttant threat to the Harewood defence.

For Harewood, B. Densem maintained his very good form in goal. He has developed well this season, and has been one of the most successful players In his team. L. Innes, at right back, tended to dribble too much, and his clearing hits were not always well directed. His partner, B. Pauli, was back in fly-hitting mood, and even connected with a proportion of them. G. Baldwin was a steady right-half, whose cover defence was noticeable. B. Murray in the centre has improved his positional . play in recent matches, but is still too hurried in his methods. P. Greenwood was a steady lefthalf, whose passing showed some improvement on recent form.

The forwards were still hitting the ball upfield instead of passing to each other, and their effectiveness is limited to solo dribbling and the hope of errors by their opponents. R. Clements made some dashing runs early in the game, but his forin fell away later through poor trapping. R. Wear played a useful game at inside-right apart from immature passing errors. At inside-left W. Davidson showed some dash and scored a fine individual goal. The Technical goals were scored by Parsons (2) and Harper, while Murray and Davidson scored for Harewood. Umpires: Messrs R. Bay and S. Swift. SYDENHAM V. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS With four players representing Canterbury, Sydenham called upon the services of a number of veterans, and succeeded in winning the match by 1-0. Old Boys were without I. D. Armstrong and R. Rogers, and their younger team failed to make any impression upon a sound defence, although they compelled J. Pauling, the Sydenham goalkeeper, to produce a number of good saves. The match was evenly contested, and if the Old Boys’ team possessed greater speed and dash the Sydenham players were able to offset this by more accurate passing, which gave them a greater amount of possession of the ball. In the second half Old Boys made strenuous efforts, and for a period were in the ascendancy, but the steady defence nullified their efforts.

The Sydenham forwards also found difficulty in penetrating the Old Boys’ defence, and there was a great deal of luck in the scoring of the only goal of the match, which resulted from the ball being accidentally knocked into the net by an Old Boys’ defender.

M. Hall played a fine game at right back for Sydenham, and made a major contribution towards his team’s victory He received good support from the wing halves, B. Mairs and A. McAllister, and these three effectively covered the veterans, R. Peacock and B Hall, both of whom were capable reserves. W. Morris played at inside right, and although fairly immobile himself, he was successful in initiating many attacks by making openings for others by intelligent passing. P. Cotton used his speed well on the right wing, and R. Randle was noticeable for some well-judged passes at inside left.

In the Old Boys’ defence, W. Boundy was very steady and cooperated well with his half-backs, of whom E. Barnes and P. Hanna deserved credit for good play on cover defence in addition to the assistance which they gave to their forwards on attack The forward line did not combine well, and the main thrust came from P. Blyth and J. Kiddey. The form of these two has been very consistent during the season, but their efforts against Sydenham were reduced in effectiveness because of lack of skill on the part of the supporting forwards.

Umpires: Messrs M. Good and B. Rogers.

LOWER GRADES

Second Division.—New Brighton 3, Sumner 2; Selwyn 8, Harewood 2; West Old Boys 2, Sydenham 2. Senior Reserve.—University 3, Technical 2; Woolston 4, Selwyn 0: West Old Boys 4, Trinity d Second A Grade.—West Old Boys 8, Technical 0; Boys’ High School 2, Woolston 0: University 4, New Brighton 1; Mairehau 2, Teachers’ College 0. Second B Grade.—Woolston 3, Technical Old Boys 3. Third Grade.—Selwyn 4, University 3; Teachers’ College 5, Linwood 3; Emulous 2, Sumner 1; Sydenham 2, Boys’ High School 1; Linwood High School 3, Rangiora 2. Fourth B, Selwyn 4; Christ’s College 4, Papanui 2. Fifth Grade.—Beckenham 4, Boys’ High School 0; High School Old Boys 11, Sydenham 1; Haneiora 4, Woolston 2; Technical 2, Christ’s College 0; Redcliffs 6, Kaiapoi 3. Under 16 Years.—Sydenham 7, West Old Boys 0; Boys’ High School 1, Woolston B 0; West Old Boys 3. Papanui 2. Under 14 Years.—Selwyn C 3. Sydenham A 2; Linwood 6. New Brighton 1; Papanui 6, B.R.A. 0; Boys’ High School beat Selwyn A by default.