HOCKEY WOOLSTON BEATS OLD BOYS AFTER DETERMINED RALLY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28927, 22 June 1959, Page 13

HOCKEY WOOLSTON BEATS OLD BOYS AFTER DETERMINED RALLY

The results of the ninth round 1 of tiie Canterbury Hockey Association's senior competition , have left three teams within ntl'ik-|

mg di dance of each other in the struggle for the premiership, The di feat of High School Old Boys by Woolston and Sydenham’s narrow and rather fortunate win against Harewood give each of these teams a chance of recuring the final honours, and the present situation adds considerable interest to the competition. Although barging and illegal tackling were not as prevalent as iin certain previous games, there were still too many instances of these breaches to permit of any feeling of complacency, and the application of the advantage rule i continued to defeat the more important objective of the obstruction rule, with results that were I unsatisfactory in checking rough I play and promoting more skilful hockey. All matches were played on grounds which were firm enough 'i to give a secure foothold and to i permit of fast passing, although II their bumpiness made trapping j and control more difficult. Over- ’ i head conditions were Very 11 pleasant.

; Results were:— Woolston 4, High Schoo! Old Hoys 3. Sydenham 1, Harewood 0. Technical Old Boys 2, West Old Boys 1. j Competition points to date an [High School Old Boys 6A, Woo ston 6. Sydenham SJ. Harewood Technical Old Boys 3. West O 1 , I Boys 2. WOOLSTON V. OLD BOYS >1 In the mam game at Wimamsi "Park. Woolston came from behind -’ defeat an Old boys team, whit " slumped baaiy in the second ha ’ Although rather bumpy the grout was fast and in better condition tin ’ most surfaces have been this se son. The first half produced son of the best hockey of the year. Bo teams were feeding and attack)! through their respective insi< rights, P. Blyth for Old Boys ai N. Hobson for Woolston, and mai 1 attractive moves were seen as ar *; suit of this consistent policy. T I speed and effectiveness of the qur • transfer of play from leit to rig , .as a means of counter-attack we ,' indicative of the real capabilities ’lihoeo if all members are n

bued with the determination to pi sue a constructive policy. Ho., ever, as has so often been the case.) the character of the game changed completely after the interval. Wooiston made a determined rally tn which the right flank attack was supported bv some short passing ano the long through pass, but the execution of these moves was marred by failure to pass soon enough and overhitting. Nevertheless, the usually lound Old Boys defence crumbled lompletely, mainly because of the ailure to provide adequate cover quickly enough, with the result hat the Woolston forwards enjoyed .00 much lattitude in the circle. For Woolston, K. Mortimer played another sound game in goal, and J. Abrams was as cool as ever at rightback, giving nothing away, and always seeking to set his forwards on attack. His partner, L. Hobson, although caught out of position at times by the speedy Old Boys forwards, saved his side on many occasion. The half-line was not impressive, being content with a defensive role B. Davie in the centre was virtually a third back, thereby denying his forwards some necessary support, and R. Gillespie on the left rarely moved into an attacking area. The 'holding of the opposition in check appeared to be the limit ol his ambition. On the right wing B. Judge received more of the ball than usual, and he and N. Hobson combined well at times to harry the . opposing defence, especially in the first half. Hobson showed much Improved form, but he tired towards the end of the game because of the efforts which he devoted to constructing attacks which should have been initiated by the centre-halft Passing the ball up to his forwards and catching up with the line himself imposed a severe strain upon him. At centre-forward, D. James distributed the ball more effectively than previously, but was still tending to dribble too far and to pass too late. B. Aldridge at inside-left scored all four goals for his team as a result of clean shooting and fast follow up, but he must check a tendency to pursue the ball across the field, and his weak reverse stick pass seldom reached its destination. The Old Boys goalkeeper, R. Eves, was quite out of touch, and W. Browne at left-back faded badly after an impressive first half in which he combined well with his left-half. R. Cummins, in some very good triangular and back passing movements. Cummins was sound enough, but slow in recovery and retreat when passed by the opposing attack. At right-back W. Boundy was cool under pressure and more stable than his partner. Like many of his colleagues. E. Barnes at centre-half started well, but lost contact with the game in the later stages. C. Francis lacked technique and was rather clmsy in the right-half position. Of the forwards. P. Blyth and J. Kiddey were the obvious leaders, their dribbling and passing giving the main thrust 4o the attack. In the second half the Old Boys forwards, finding themselves in a losing position, became rattled and resorted to wild hit-and-run tactics, and their positioning became extremely faulty The Old Boys goals were scored by J. Kiddey. Umpires:—Messrs J. Reece and A D. Holland. SYDENHAM V. HAREWOOD

Most of the attacking in this match was provided by Ha re wood, and Sydenham won against the run of play. A liberal coating of leaves at one end of the ground disconcerted players and umpires, but there was too much poor trapping, lack of ball control and unsatisfactory passing. Both teams vied with each other in their efforts to give the ball away.

In the absence because of injury of K. Cumberpatch. Sydenham moved M. McKinnon to inside-right, and R. Rusbridge played on the left-wing However, it was obvious that Sydenham lacked a really constructive forward on whom it could base its attack. Both teams tried to attack by means of solo breaks or through passes, methods which were acts of charity rather than sustained pos- i session of the ball. Play swept from end to end with great rapidity and I the mode of procedure was both a I tribute to the fitness of the players, and a condemnation of their policy and lack of skill. They cannot hope to improve until they realise that the speed at which they can play I constructively is entirely conditioned by their level of skill in trapping, stickwork and passing. For Sydenham J. Pauling kept his goal intact, and his backs, J. Bate and L. Lloyd, were a mixture of good anticipation, quick recovery, and poor passing. R. Fergus was occasionally prominent at right-half, and M. Wall trapped well and used his stickwork effectively in the centre. The forwards failed to combine, did not use D. Lloyd on the right-wing enough, but made a few commendj able individual moves. ! B. Densem was an effective goalkeeper tor Harewood, and was un- ! fortunately unsighted when Sydenham's only goal was scored. G Burrows and D. Shepherd were solid backs, and the halves were of more i value on defence than on attack. P I Greenwood, on the left, was very i rclialilc. The forwards showed penetration at times and deserved tr score, but there was too much hard hitting and faulty footwork. There were no outstanding efforts, but R Wear. L. Innes and C. Broadhurst worried the opposition constantly and back tackled well For Sydenham, K. de la Hunt

scored the only goal of the match Vmptres: Messrs B. W. Rogers ano M. Good. TECHNICAL OLD BOVS V. W ESI I> HOtS

! In view of the relegation rule, this was an important match lor both teams, and Technical owed its victoi t to a stronger defence and to some improvement in combination in the forward line. West Old Boys plat eu the more constructively tn the mid- : i field area, but lost chances tnroug.i lack of finish in the forwards and ineffective passing. Technical count cred with a greater degree of determination, and while its vigorous opI portunism was theoretically inlerioi ; to the methods of West Old Boys , the latter's mastery of such methods . was not sufficient to prevail To be more successful the short-passing methods of West Old Boys require a greater degree of ball control on the part of each team member than has been so lai acquired. For Technical L. Lloyd and C. - Smart were prominent on defence, ; and L. Taylor and S. Crotty were 1 the pick of the forwards. In the , I West Old Boys team some degree of control was noticeable from D. Hamilton, Peter and Paul Clark, and P. 1 Oakes. S. Crotty scored twice for , Technical, and Paul Clark scored lor West Old Boys. ■’ i Umpires: Messrs W. D. Sloan and 3 J. Calder.

>• LOWER GRADES

Senior Second Divison.—Woolston 0, New Brighton 0; Technical 2. liarewood 1; University 1. Selwyn 0 Senior Reserve.—Sydenham 1. University 0: High School Old Boys 7. Technical Old Boys 0; Redcliffs 3: Mairehau 0; Burnnant 2. West Old Boy s (1. j; . Second A Grade.—Linwood High i I School 3, Boys' High I); West Old . I Boys 8, University 0; Teachers' Col- *• lege 1. Woolston 0; Sydenham 3. cl 1 New Brighton 0; B.R.A. 2. Teclil nival 2. I Second B Grade.—Christ's College 5. Selwyn 3: Harewood 3. Syden- ; ham 1; Rangiora 6, Technical 2. I Third Grade.—High Schoo! Old ■"Bovs 4. School for Deaf 1; Boys' if- High 3. Woolston 1; Selwyn !». 'd I Christ's College 3; Redcliffs 2. Uni--111 versity 1; Hornby 10. B.R.A. 1. i >_ Fourth Grade. -Sydenham 5. Unile versity 2; Woolston 2. Boys’ High 111 1; N.A.C. 2. Teachers' College 0. ig Fifth Grade.—Woolston 6. Papanm le High School 3; Kaiapoi 3, Technical id 1; Sydenham 2. Harewood 2. ty Under 16 Years.—School for Deal e- I. Technical Old Boys 1; Selwyn 1, ae Bovs' High 0: New Brighton 4. West Old Boys A 1. hi Under 14 Years.—A Section: Boys’ re High 10. Papantti High School 0; oi B.R.A. 2, Woolston 1; Redcliffs 6, n- Sydenham 1. B Section: Sydenham r- 4, Beckenham 4.

Matches In Other Centres

Auckland.— Southern Districts 3. Somerville 1: Grammar 2. Nortn Shore 41 Albertlans 1. Western 1; St. Luke's 0, University 0. Manawatu.—High School Old Boys 13. Broadway 3. Varsity 1. Wanganui.—Rangers 4, Castlecliff 3; Hinemoa 5. Technical Old Boys 4. Wellington.—W.C.O.B. 5. University 3; Rongotai 3. Technical 2: Karon 3. Hutt 1. „ , Nelson.—Stoke 0. Waimai 0; Old Boys 2. Federal 1. Timaru.—Cave 5, Cambridge 1; High School 5, Technical Old Boys 1; Excelsior 2, Cambridge Blues Z