HOCKEY Convincing 5-0 Win For High School Old Boys

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28921, 15 June 1959, Page 15

HOCKEY Convincing 5-0 Win For High School Old Boys

There was a close parallel between the results in the eighth round of the Canterbury Hockey Association’s senior competition last Saturday and those of the preceding week. Two matches were drawn and High School Old Boys won again, so ,that the latter team has further increased its lead on the championship ladder.

Overhead conditions were warm and pleasant and the grounds were reasonably dry. Because of a slight degree of bumpiness the trapping of the ball required care and concentration, but it was possible to move the ball freely for stickwork and close dribbling.

In general High School Old Boys owes its leading position to the fact that the general level of ball control in its team is superior to that of the other sides.

Results were:— High School Old Boys 5, West Old Boys 0. Woolston 1, Sydenham, 1. Harewood 1, Technical Old Boys 1. Competition points to date: — High School Old Boys 6J, Woolston, 5, Sydenham 4s, Harewood 4, West Old Boys 2, Technical Old Boys 2. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS V. . WEST OLD BOYS Throughout this match it was obvious that the final winning margin of five goals fairly reflected the discrepancy between the teams in general skill. The passing in the West team was truly deplorable, hence Old Boys were not presented with any major problems in regaining possession of the ball. Moreover the Old Boys forwards were able to penetrate the opposing defence with a deceptive ease because of the tardiness of the West halves and backs to organise resistance, and because of a lacx of any apparent defensive plan. The stickwork of the West defenders when subjected to pressure in their own circle was inadequate, and the Old Boys forwards showed plenty of determination and initiative in exploiting this weakness. Old Boys defended its goal and attacked the opposing goal with a much greater degree of totality than West could muster.

Although R. Eves was far from convincing in the Old Boys goal, he was well covered by W. Browne and W. Bundy in the back positions. Their tackling and trapping were always sound, but Browne’s passing was not reliable enough. R. Cummins was very steady at left-half, and E. Barnes played a most effective defensive game in the centre. C. Francis on the right showed a tendency to panic at times and many of his passes were wild, lack of stickwork being the cause. P. Bly th and J. Kiddey were the best of the forwards, all of whom moved quickly with the ball and to the loose ball and gave full support to their halves and backs when the latter were defending. Kiddey played his best game of the season, his anticipation and opportunism in the circle being especially good. Few players in the West team emerged with credit. D. Page showed some improvement on the right-wing and P. Oakes revealed (lashes of the stickwork which he possesses but lacks confidence in using. His passing was better than the general level of his team. A. Scott took the x ball to his left far too much and' the left flank pair seldom threatened the opposing goal. The Clark brothers snowed some ability in midfield play, but their cover defence was not persistent enough to hold a determined forward line for the whole of the match. Their crossfield passing was blind, hurried and easy to intercept.

West Old Boys can do better than this, but there was an air of complacency in the manner of their initial approach to the match which proved fatal to a young team in its first year in the senior grade. The High School Old Boys goals were scored by J. Kiddey (3) and R. Rogers (2).

Umpires:—Messrs W. Morris and D. Holland.

SYDENHAM v. WOOLSTON

In this game Sydenham had the better of the first half, but spent much of the second spell on defence. The match resolved itself in to a dour struggle for possession in which there was too much obstruction and stick interference. The advantage rule was too liberally applied and tempers became frayed at times. The former Canterbury goalkeeper, K. Mortimer,, made a reappearance and proved that he had lost none of his skill in the Woolston defence, where J. Abrams at right-back saved his team repeatedly. He was the best player on the field and always constructive in turning defence into attack. L. Hobson, his partner, was not as fast as usual to the ball, and was bustled out of his usual combination with his left half, R. Gillespie. The latter experienced difficulty in containing the Sydenham right flank pair, but maintained some control over the situation although his passing again lacked direction.

B, Davie gave another solid display at centre-half, particularly on defence, but lost contact with his forwards at times. On the right-wing, G. Judge made the best of his few opportunities. While N. Hobson at inside-right had a torrid day through close marking. He showed much better form and his back-tackling was invaluable. B. Aldridge lacked the control necessary for the centreforward position, while D. James at inside-left was not successful in switching play back to the right. Being tardy in passing, he was frequently caught in possession. For Sydenham, J. Pauling had an anxious time in goal, but acquitted himself well. His backs. L. Lloyd and J. Bate, were frequently bustled did not always cover each other adequately, and made too many wild clearances. M. Wall was the best of the halves, and although he

found it difficult to escape the attentions of B. Aldridge and N. Hobson, he showed ability in regaining possess.on irom the scrambles. R. Fergus was more impressive at righthalf than he has been in tile forward line. D. Lloyd on the rightwing lacks stickwork, and must strive harder to seek the unmarkeu position, but he used his speed well, and his following-in was of value in the opposing circle. K. Cumberpatch was closely marked, and was the victim of much illegal tackling from the left, with the result that he found difficulty in combining with his inside forwards, whose contributions were mainly of the hit-and-run variety. D. James scored for Woolston and D. Libya lor Sydenham. Umpires: Messrs R. Campbell and J. Reece. HAREWOOD v. TECHNICAL OLD

BOYS This match began brightly with botn teams indulging in short, crisp passing movements, and for a time the standard of play was very pleasing. However, the tempo gradually increased until.skill and control became obliterated by speed and enthusiasm. Enough was seen to suggest that senior players are capable of improving their skills considerably. but they have difficulty in adhering to planned strategy and advice because of ingrained habits. As the speed increased the passing deteriorated, and there was much over-running of the ball and frequent breaches of the rules. In the Harewood team tnere was solid defence from B. Densem in goal, and the backs, G. Burrows and D. Sheppard, although the passing of both backs was erratic. The same weakness was apparent in the play of the halves, G. Baldwin, B. Murray and P. Greenwood* with the result that their, play was of a spoiling nature. Murray was again wandering too far towards his wing halves. R. Wear was the mainstay of the forward line, but he was much obsessed with the use of the overrated scoop shot. M. Hayward showed some stickwork in the centre but was disinclined to follow shots at goal. L. Intoes received little help from his colleagues, but varied his play well and back-tackled effectively. The Technical players showed similar virtues and deiects to those of their opponents. 1. Emmerson was a sound goalkeeper, and P. Kissell was again in good form in the backs. The halves, N. Gardiner, C Smart and J. Burrowes. bustled the opposing forwards into errors, but did not feed their own forwards accurately. On the right-wing B. Bedwell could not escape from the opposing left-half, so that his insideright, L. Taylor, was not able to feed him often. Taylor was the most constructive of the forwards, of whom K. Collins and S. Crotty were less effective than usual in midfield play, although they were always a source of trouble to Harewood in the circle area.. The Harewood goal was scored by R. Wear, and K. Collins scored for Technical. ~ Umpires: Messrs P. Beere and K. Wright.

HOLDERS RETAIN MAADI cup

3 Wins, No Losses By Marlborough A

(New Zealand Press Association) BLENHEIM, June 14.

Marlborough on Saturday again won the Maadi Cup. competed tor annually between hockey teams representing Marlborough-West CoastNelson and Buller, which did not compete this year. Results at the final games were.— Marlborough A 1. West Coast 0, Nelson 3. Marlborough B 0. Tournament results were: —Mai iborough. 3 wins and no losses; Nelson, 2 wins and 1 loss; West c ° a ~' 1 win and 2 losses; Marlborough B. 3 losses.

Maadi Cup Team For

Australia

(New Zealand Press Association) BLENHEIM, June 14. The Maadi Cup hockey districts (Marlborough, Nelson, Buller, and West Coast) team to tour Queensland and New South Wales next B. Newton {West Coast); full-backs, G. Cooper (West Coast), Q. Taylor (Marlborough), L. Worthington (West Coast); halves, H. Aynsley (West Coast), F. Mant (Nelson), K. McEwan (West Coast), L. Miller (Marlborough), vice-cap-tain; forwards, R. Bennett (Nelson), R. Best (West Coast), (West Coast), captain, M. Caldwell (Buller). "R. Frost (Nelson), and P. Strawbridge (Nelson). The manager will be Mr B. cox, of Nelson.

LOWER GRADES

Senior Second Division. —Selwyn 2, Woolston 1, Varsity 10, Technical 0.8. 1, Harewood 1, New Brighton 1. Senior Reserve.—Mairehau 3, Technical 1. Varsity 2, Western 1. Sydenham 1, Lincoln College 0. H. 5.0.8. 9. N.A.C. 1. Second A Grade.—Teachers College 5, Linwood H.S. 5. Boys High 2, B.R.A. 1. West Old Boys 4. Technical 0.8. 1. Second B Grade.—Ha re wood 5, Selwyn 2. Sydenham 7. Technical 1. Third Grade.—Redcliffs 2, Christs College 0. Fourth Grade.—West 0.8. 3, Teachers’ College 1. Varsity 2, School for Deaf 2. Shirley H.S. 1, Woolston 0. H. 5.0.8. 9, N.A.C. 0. Sydenham 5, Boys’ High 3. Fifth Grade.—Woolston 4. SydenUnder 16 years.—Papanui 6. School for Deaf 0. New Brighton 5, West 0.8. 3. Selwyn 2. Technical 1. Boys’ High 7, West 0.8. A 0. Under 14 Years—A Section: Sydenham 4, Shirley H.S. 1. Redcliffs 5. Woolston 0. Boys’ High A 4, B.R.A. A 0. Selwyn A 6, Papanui High School 1. B Section: Woolston 3. Beckenham 1. Selwyn 8. Sydenham 1.

Results In Other Centres

Wellington.—Karori 5. Rongotai College Old Boys 1: Wellington College Old Boys 5, Technical Old Boys 1; Varsity 2. Hutt 1.

Auckland.—University 3, Grammar Old Boys 2; Western 2. North Shore 2; Albertians 4, Somerville 1; St. Luke’s 4. Southern 1.

Manawatu. —Technical Old Boys 5. University 0; High School Old Boys 8, High School 0.