Women’s Hockey TENTH-ROUND SURPRISE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28939, 6 July 1959, Page 17

Women’s Hockey TENTH-ROUND SURPRISE

i Carlton Beats West

In the tenth round of the Canterbury Women's Hockey Association’s senior competition Carlton snowed much improved lonn in beating Christchurch West by a convincing margin, ano tne competition leader. Harewood, continued its winning way. Because of the postponement of a third-round match earlier in the season. University played Teachers’ College in the morning and again in the afternoon, and by winning both games moved into second place in the caamplonsiiip. Overhead conditions were gbod, but the grounds were

ratner heavy without greatly interfering with the movement of tne ball.

Results were:— Carlton 4, Christchurch West 1. Harewood 3, Digby’s 1. Aranui 2, Raw hit! 1. University 3, Teachers’ College 2. University 3, Teachers’ College 1. Competition points to date are:— Hare-wood 18, university id, Christenured West 12, Aranui 9, Digby s 8. Rawhiti 8, Carlton 8. Teachers' College 2. CARLTON V. CHRISTCHURCH WEST Carlton sprang tne surprise of the day oy its oetcat of tne consistent west team. Tne West deienee who too slow to cope with tne penetrating runs of M. Donnelly at inside left, and found the bustling piay of A. Karine at centre forward dnueult to counter. In the second ha.f some well-judged passes by the Carlton ngha wing, J. Davidson, gavel her insiae forwards many opportuni-1 ties, and N. Gordon, on the left wing, snowed a welcome return to her best form. At left half, L. Drummond made many clever interceptions which frustrated West's attempts to break through the insideright lane. H. Jones, at right half and later at inside right, played with great dash, and made a useful contribution to her team's victory. On defence G. Falloon was very sound, her trapping being most reliable. For West, the goalkeeper, A. Ferguson, made some good saves, especially from hard shots at the circle eage, and N. Powell and L. Cadigan in the halves were often prominent ion defence. The West attack lacked combination, but the tnree inside forwards. M. Thomson, J. Fifield, and A. Donaldson, made some solo attacks that failed, partly because ol their solo nature, and partly because of a much-improved Carlton defence.

HAREWOOD V. DIGBY’S The main feature of another Harewood victory was the constructive play of the inside forwards, and the good use which was made of this by the wings. G. Merrin, on the left, dribbled and passed well, and M. Devine, at inside right, made breaches in the defence by effective use of the short through pass. H. Turner and B. Turner played their usual sound games, with the result that the forward line moved smoothly. possessing more combination and penetrative ability than any other group of forwards in the competition. The right half, V. Watson, and the centre half, L. Watson, were quick to check the opposing attacks, although the latter showed a tendency to veer too much to the left. At left back Y. Turner tackled well, but often wasted the ball through excessive use of the sideline.

Digby’s showed much greater speed to the ball than in its last few games. The backs, R. Turner and S. Mcßryde, held their positions reasonably well and covered each other adequately, but their tackling was rather clumsy. D. Quinn covered a lot of ground at centre half, and A. Power, at left half, continued to show improvement. A. Gilmore played well on the right wing and made some good runs, but her inside forwards on many occasions failed to trap the ball. They glided it so far forward that possession was lost to the defence. ARANUI v. RAWHITI

In a very even game Aranui broke through in the second half to win by the odd goal. Had Rawhiti maintained Its improved form of recent weeks the result might easily have been reversed, buf on this occasion Rawhiti failed to make as effective use of its right flank pair as it has done in latter games. The Aranui right back, L. Farrant, was very sound, but her partner, G. Hall, was inclined to be erratic. The best feature of the Aranui defence was the good covering and backing-up of the two wing halves, A. Fleete and T. Prestage. Some long cross-field passes by the Aranui forwards tested the Rawhiti defence at times, and S. McCaw and G. Mayers were fast in following any loose balls in the circle. L. Bayliss kept goal well for Rawhiti, and her backs, N. Lennie and J. Rouse, tackled well, but did not make sufficient use of their right flank when clearing. The halves were not impressive, being frequently cut out of the play by quick switches by the Aranui forwards. G. Harkness and N. Cowan dribbled well in the Rawhiti forward line, but their shooting was not strong. UNIVERSITY v. TEACHERS' COLLEGE

A rather scrappy game in the morning by these two teams was followed by a much more lively encounter in the afternoon. Teachers' College showed very great improvement upon previous efforts, the defence being better organised, although rather flattered by some very loose passing amongst the University forwards.

J. Lynch played very well in the Teachers’ College goal, and the three halves. M. Newberry. S. Woods and D. Crow, played with determination and made many good interceptions. J. Thomson was a very lively inside right who broke through the University defence several times, although inclined to overdo the solo dribbling. She received useful support from H. Lord on the right wing and M. Healey at centre forward, but the University defence was generally too solid for a forward line which neglected short inter-passing. For University the most prominent players were Y. Richardson, A Gainsford. and S. Comer on defence, and A. MacDonald and H. Laugeson made many fine runs on the right flank. Atfer a seasons absence because ■of injury the former is returning to her best form, and her speed was in evidence on many occasions. The shooting of the University forwards was as erratic as their passing, with the result that the team had to play hard for its two wins.

LOWER GRADES

Senior Reserve.—Christchurch West 3. Nurses 1: Aranui 2, Pacific 0: Carlton 1, Rangiora 0; Hinemoa 0. Cranmer 0. Second Grade— Hornby fl. Rawhiti ’■ Teachers' College 5. Selwyn 2; Digbv’s 4. University 3. Third Grade —Carlton 3. Shirley 2; Harewood 1. Digby’s 0. Fourth Grade— Avonside 1, Rawhiti 0. . Fifth Grade.—Aranui 9. Christchurch West 0: Shirley 10. Technical 0 Sixth Grade.—Carlton 5, Burnside O’ Digby's 5, Rawhiti 0; Shirley 13. Belfast 0.