WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28921, 15 June 1959, Page 6

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

University Draws With West As a result of a drawn match between University and Christchurch West, and by reason of its victory over Rawhiti, Harewood established a clear lead In the Canterbury Women’s Hockey. Association's senior competition on Saturdav - * u The former game was a torrid encounter which University deserved to win because of superior skill and a marked territorial advantage in the second half, .but the complete disregard of the rules relating to body play, barging, illegal tackling and stick obstruction by certain Christchurch West players succeeded to a great extent in nullifving their opponents’ technique. Overhead conditions were excellent and the grounds were reasonably firm and level. Results were:— Carlton 4, Digbys 2. Aran til 6, Teachers* College 1. Harewood 3. Rawhiti 1. University 1, Christchurch West 1. Points to date are: Harewood 12. University 9. Digbys 8. Christchurch West 8. Rawhiti 6. Aranui 6. Carlton 5. Teachers’ College 0. UNIVERSITY v. CHRISTCHURCH WEST The rule of law was not always discernible in an encounter whose fury reached a crescendo at times as University launched desperate attacks in the late stages in its efforts to snatch a last-minute victory. Christchurch West presented a grim defence, but the match was marred as a spectacle by the amount of body play, barging from the left, stick obstruction and use of the foot in stopping and propelling the ball. The University right flank was particularly affected because the natural advantage which the rules afford this medium of attack was nullified to a considerable extent by the repeated breaches of these rules. From the Christchurch West team two players emerged with particular credit for their reliance upon skill and concentration upon playing the ball. J. Hall at right back, maintained her position well trapped carefully and passed intelligently, and M. Thomson at insideright dribbled skilfully and made a number of fast breaks which sorely troubled the University defence. For University, B. Dawson, at leftback, showed greatly improved form, and K. McKerrow played her best game of the season at leftwing as did A. Gainsford at righthalf. The University attack might have been more penetrative if the centre passes had not been so flat. One pleasing feature of the match was the quick admission by University defenders that a goal had been scored against their team w.hen some doubt existed as to whether the ball had entered the net or not. HAREWOOD V. RAWHITI The improved Rawhiti team provided Harewood with stern opposition, and the scores were even for most of 1 the match. Towards the end of the game the Rawhiti goalkeeper. L. Bayliss, who had been playing very well, sustained a knock which slowed her movements, otherwise Harewood’s two late goals might have been stopped. For the winners Y. Turner at left-back trapped and passed well, but must improve her stickwork in close play. V Watson was prominent at rignt-ha’f. tackling well and feeding her right Hank forwards, E. Tullett and M. Devine, with well placed passes. M. Devine covered a lot of ground and is proving an acquisition to the Harewood forward line, whose passing in this match was not as accurate as usual. G. Merrin produced another good game on the left wing. The return of N. Lennie to the left-back position has greatly strengthened Rawhiti’s defence, and she was ably assisted by D. Innes at right-half and C. Herrett at centrehalf. The determined raids of the right flank pair, L Todd and A. Schimanski, must have proved more fruitful had better support been available from the left, although N. Comers played a useful game at centre-forward Rawhiti has shown great improvement during the season In its positional play, and ■appears to be adopting a sound strategic pattern of attack. CARLTON V. DIGBYS Carlton held the initiative throughout this match against a team which was frequently caught out of position and whose members were slow to the loose ball. Carlton has been greatly handicapped in recent matches by the absence of a number of leading players, but is now at, full strength and may easily cause, upsets in the competition. G. Falloon: (s showing sound development at left-back, but her partner. H. I

Jones, is still endeavouring to play In too many positions simultaneously. M. Donnelly and N. Gordon were a formidable left flank pair, the former proving difficult to check and dribbling well. A Carinf infused some dash in the centre attacks In a rather bullocking style which contrasted with the neat' and calm effectiveness of K. Cole at Inside-right. Digbys form has been erratic during the season and this was one of the less convincing days D Conley, on the ri«ht-wing. and T Tuhau at inside-left, were the only forwards to maintain their best form, while D. Quinn at centre-half broke up many opposing attacks and was the best of a rather disorganised defence. The speed of the Carlton forwards presented a problem which a slow defence found difficult to solve.

ARANUI V. TEACHERS* COLLEGE Although the long through pass is the easiest form of attack to counter it proved entirely satisfactory to Aranui against a Teachers’ College defence in which the trapping was execrable and the covering almost non-exirtent. The three Aranui inside forwards, S. McCaw, G. Mayer and M. Cawood, cut through almost at will, their speed and dribbling ability being of a quality with which the opposing backs and halves could not cope. They received solid support from their halves and backs among whom A. Fleete at Centrehalf and T. Prestige at left-half were always prominent. For Teachers’ College, J. Thomson. M. Healey and H. Lord did their best in the forwards, but lack of support behind them forced them into a degree of back-tackling that their attacking play inevitably suffered.

LOWER GRADES Senior Reserve.—Aranui 4, Christchurch West 1. Carlton 3, Pacific 2. Hinemoa 1. Nurses 1. Second Grade.—Hornby 2. Teachers' College 1. West 3, Digbys 2. Third Grade.—Aranui 7. Harewood 6. Rangiora High 7, Belfast 0. Digbys 1, Carlton 0. Fourth Grade.—Dental Nurses 11. Christchurch West 0. Harewood 3. Avonside 2. Hornby 1, Hinemoa 1. Fifth Grade.—Diebys 3. Avonside 2. Burnside 5, Technical 0. Sixth Grade.—Shirley 1, Carlton 0.