HOCKEY Woolston’s Formidable Lead In Competition

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28619, 23 June 1958, Page 6

HOCKEY Woolston’s Formidable Lead In Competition

The conclusion of the eighth round of the Canterbury Hockey Association's senior competition left Woolston with a three-point lead. With only seven rounds remaining, it should be very difficult for any team to overhaul Woolston which has still failed to reveal its full potentialities, despite its present position on the championship ladder.

In the match between University K and Technical Old Boys, the umpires were at pains to penalise the illegal life-side tackle, and their efforts produced an encounter which was played in an excellent spirit and characterised by a number ol clearly defined and constructive moves.

Local hockey is already showing signs of improvement as a result of the conscious determina tion on the part of some umpires to enforce this rule, and it is to be hoped that their example will be emulated by all others. This desirable state of affairs is not yet general, but its incep tion is the outstanding feature of the current season and the most significant move in raising standards in the last eight years

Results were as follows: Sydenham 4, Harewood 1. Woolston 2, H. 5.0.8. 1. University 1, Technical 0.8. 1. Competition points to date:— Woolston 7|, Technical Old Boys 4|, Sydenham 4£, Harewood 4, High School Old Boys 3, University i. WOOLSTON v. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS Early in the game. Old Boys attacked strongly and looked the better team, their forwards showing some neat short-passing movements which iully extended the Woolston defence. They were unlucky not to score from some well-executed penalty corners, but as the game progressed Woolston gradually gained the ascendancy. For Woolston, *K. Mortimer was sound without being outstanding in goal, and J. C. Abrams and L. Hobson were in good form in the backs. Hobson is now playing in his best form. B. Davie was the best of the halves, of whom R. Gillespie has slipped, and was mediocre when subjected to pressure. J. Kiernan played neatly on the right wing, but most of the attack was confined to the centre, where D. James and N Hobson combined well in short passing. These centre movements broke down usually through being too hurried. Woolston has not used its wings adequately, and. although unbeaten in the competition, its potential is far from being realised. For this reason some of its young and promising players are deteriorating instead of developing.

For Old Boys, D. Tilley played with more assurance in goal, and made several good saves, but W. Boundy showed a tendency to run with the ball. C. Francis and E. Barnes were sound half-backs, the latter being particularly good. In the forward line, G. Judge varied his play nicely, and .combined well with P. Blyth, the inside right. R. Rogers’s position play was unsound, but he distributed the ball reasonably well, while J. Kiddey was more of the opportunist than the creative maestro.

The Woolston goals were scored by D. James and B. Aldridge, while R. Rogers scored for Old Boys. Umpires: Messrs W. Morris and M. Good.

SYDENHAM V. HAREWOOD Sydenham was not greatly troubled .o beat Harewood by three goals at Williamson Park. The winners held i decided advantage throughout the :ame, and showed better combinaion and more purposeful play, using he short-passing game to some effect md being more accurate in the massing amongst the forwards. J. Pauling, Sydenham's goalkeeper -roduced another sound game, and nade no mistakes. The backs, M fall and R. Rusbridge, were not as ;ound as usual Hall indulged in some fly-hits, an unusual fault for lim, and Rusbridge s fondness for iribbling led him into complicated ituations. B. Mairs was very steady •t right half, and M. Wall was con.picuous for good interceptions in he centre. A. McAlister was equally •seful to his team on attack and deence in one of his best games of he season. On the right wing, P Totton was more deliberate than 'sual with beneficial results, combinng well with J. Bate at inside right and making some good centre passes Bate trapped well and passed with discretion at times, although there were occasions when he sent the ball to a colleague who could be tackled immediately. At centreforward, K. Delahunt showed good anticipation, while K. Cumberpatch was in better form, making a number of constructive moves. M. McKinnon was quite adequate on the left wing, although he had few npportunities. B. Densem was rather erratic in the goal, making some good saves and being rather indecisive at times. At left back. D. Shepherd trapped, intercepted, and nassed well, being the mainstay of the defence. In the half line. G. Baldwin played steadily and supported his forwards well on attacks, while B. Murray, played one of his best games, being particularly effective On cover defence. M. Hayward showed some ball control at inside right, and was the best of the Harewood forwards. He tended to overdribble at times, but his goal resulted from a well-controlled push shot. G. Turner had few opportunities at centre-forward, usually receiving the ball in an unfavourable position. Harewood made too much play down the . left flank, with the usual negative results. The Sydenham goals were scored by K. Cumberpatch (2). P. Cotton and K. Delahunt, and M. Hayward scored for Harewood.

Umpires: Messrs P. Beere and W. Eastlake. UNIVERSITY’ v. TECHNICAL OLD

This match was very evenly contested and both teams made positive efforts to play constructive hockey. Many mbves broke down through failure to trap passes, a failure attributable partly to poor technique, and partly to the fact that the present state of the Polo Grounds would impose a rock 'n roll effect on the passage of the heaviest traction engine. University had the better of the first half, but Technical made up the leeway later when it concentrated upon its right flank much more purposefully. In scoring its first competition unit of the season. University showed more determination and precision in its play, and the shifting of A. Read to inside left greatly improved the attacking ability of the forwards. K. O’Callahan, the University goalkeeper. played his best game for two seasons, his blocking and kicking being determined and powerful. The backs, B. Boyce and E. Jackson, were very safe, their positional play and covering being sound, and they used their halves to considerable advantage. R. Gwatkin at right half showed further improvement, although his trapping is not yet out nf the unreliable stage. R. Hambly made some good runs on the rieht wing in the first half, but in the second spell his trapping deteriorated as was the case with his inside right. G. Valpy. Nevertheless, the latter back-tackled well and showed a pleasing liveliness although not yet fit enough for a complete game. At inside left, A. Read was valuable for

his'defensive work, some good dribbling, and ability to control his passes. E. Sansom on the left wing revealed some degree of improvement, although a certain number of passes eluded him through poor trapP I.” Emmerson was safe enough in the Technical goal, and the two backs, Len Lloyd and P. Kissel, were the backbone of the defence. Their positional play was good, and their clearing hits firm and well placed. Les Lloyd was the best of the halves although his passing was not up to his usual standard. G. Harper and L Taylor were often useful on defence. The play of the forwards lacked combination, and was characterised by too much solo dribbling and hit-and-rush methods which relied for results upon the bustling of the opposing defenders. A. Read scored for University and K. Collins for Techcnical. Umpires: Messrs B. Lloyd and A. Holland. LOWER GRADES Senior Second Division.—New Brignton 2, Sydenham 1; Seiwyn 4, Woolston 0; West Old Boys 4, Harewood 1. „ „ Senior Reserve.—West Old Boys 2, Redcliffs 2; Mairehau 6, N.A.C. 1; H. 5.0.8. 4, Burnham 1; Technical 3, University 2. Second A Grade.—Teachers’ College 3, Harewood 2; Woolston 3, Seiwyn 2; West 0.8. 9, B.R.A. 0; Linwood U.S. 4. University 2. Second B Grade.—Sydenham 5, Beckenham 1; Woolston 3, Christ’s College 2; Rangiora 0.8. 3, Technical 2; Emulous 3. .H. 5.0.8. 2. Third Grade. —Sydenham 4, Teachers’ College 1; Technical 3, Woolston 1: Boys’ High 3. Burnham 2; Seiwyn 6. Redcliffs 3; Christ's College 2, University 1. Fourth Grade.—Sydenham 4, Harewood 2; Papanui H.S. 8, Seiwyn 1; Rangiora H.S. 6, B.R.A. 1; B.H.S. 3, University 2; School of Deaf 10, Technical 0; University 1, Boys’ High 0. Fifth Grade.—Sydenham 5, N.A.C. 2. Under 15 Years.—West B 3, Papanui H.S. 0; Woolston 18, Beckenham 0; Shirley H.S. 17, Technical 1. Under 14 Years.—Papanui H.S. 1, Sydenham B 0; New Brighton B 1, Seiwyn B 0; Shirley H.S. 4, Sydenham A 2; B.R.A. 7, Seiwyn A 1. Matches In Other Centres Auckland.—Somerville 2, Western Districts 1; Grammar Old Boys 4, St. Luke’s 2; Albertians 2, Southern Districts 1: University 4, Roskill Ramblers 1. Wellington.—Karori 6, Technical Old Boys 1: Wellington College Old Boys 4, Hutt 1; University 3, Rongotai 0. South Canterbury.—Cave 2, Technical 1: Cambridge 4, Excelsior 3. Dunedin.—High School Old Boys 3, Albany 2; University A 6, United 0.