HOCKEY ANOTHER BIG SCORE BY HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29193, 2 May 1960, Page 13

HOCKEY ANOTHER BIG SCORE BY HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS

The most remarkable feature of the second round of matches in the Canterbury Hockey Association’s senior competition was the overwhelming score by which High School Ola Boys defeated Sydenham. It certainly reflected the superiority of the winning team, but it rather exaggerated the margin of difference. As a contrast to this crushing victory, Woolston was obliged to struggle to the game's end to gain a competition point at Technical's expense. Williamson Park was in good order for two of the matches, but the Polo Grounds were exceedingly bumpy for the other four teams, although the grass had been cut The general standard of play was such as to suggest that hockey as a game of skill and control has been almost completely superseded by hockey as a game of brute strength, bashing, and puerile, tearaway tactics of a negative, dull and boring character. Body play and crash tackling are very much in evidence, and the civilising effect of the rules is being nullified by the scant regard which too many players pay to them. Results were:— High School Old Boys 9, Sydenham 2. Woolston 2, Technical 1. West Old Boys 3, Harewood 1. University 2, Selwyn 0. Competition points to date:— High School Old Boys 2, Woolston 2, University ij, West Old Boys 1, Harewood J, Sydenham j. Technical i, Selwyn 0.

HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS V. „ SYDENHAM The difference between the teams lay mainly in the better combined play of the Winnert, especially in their forward line where their superior passing and greater drive contrasted with the spasmodic, solo efforts of the Sydenham forwards. Both teams used the right flank as the basis of their attacks, and in tffis regard Old Boys enjoyed a considerable advantage in the constructive plav of P. Blythe at inaideT? IO ». WM the Player on the field. He was the architect of their victory, an unselfish player whose trapping, dribbling and subtle passing provided his inside forwards with numerous scoring chances of which they took full advantage. Consequently J. Kiddey and I. Armstrong enjoyed a field day. and many of their shots gave J. Pauling in the Sydenham goal no chance at all. These three forwards received adequate support from R. Rogers and N. Thomas on the wings, although the former at times took the ball too far before passing. E. Barnes was a tireless centrehalf who gave his forwards good support, while A. Patterson showed promise on the right. W. Browne and W. Boundy were too solid in the backs for the Sydenham forwards. Boundy was always constructive, and his covering was good. I. Palmer was an adequate goalkeeper, although somewhat unsure under extreme pressure. Old Boys appear to be by far the strongest team in the competition, and their superiority emphasises the present low standard of play in the province.

It was to the credit of the less experienced Sydenham team that it continued to attempt controlled hockey in spite of the mounting score. The trapping was quite good, but too many passes arrived behind the feet of the receiver. Len Lloyd, although not yet fit, was the best player on defence, and his passing was generally well directed. The halves were overrun by the Old Boys forwards and allowed the opposing wings too much latitude. Once again M. McKinnon stood out as the best forward, and. lacking much support, could be forgiven for a certain amount of solo dribbling in an effort to break the tight defence. D. Lloyd showed some promise at times on the right-wing and revealed some stickwork. Goals for Old Boys were scored by J. Kiddey (4), I. Armstrong (2). P. Blythe, R. Rogers and E. Barnes, while L. Lloyd scored twice for Sydenham. Umpires: Messrs W. Morris and A. Holland. WEST OLD BOYS v. HAREWOOD West Old Boys won because of better control and more purpose in the passing, although Harewood showed some Improvement on its display of the previous round. Both teams sacrificed control for speed, and the trapping throughout the match was most erratic. Frequently the ball was glided to an opponent, and on too many occasions when control was at last established there was such a frantic haste to be rid of the ball that its possession was immediately restored to the opposition.

Both goalkeepers. N. Little and B. Densem, showed the need for greater concentration upon more determined and accurate kicking. Of the backs, D. Shepherd of Harewood exhibited his usual appreciation of the need for sound trapping and constructive passing, and he was clearly superior to D. Hamilton and R. Elliot of West who were rather prone to permit the ball to reach them on their left side with embarrassing consequences. The best of the halves were Peter Clark of West and B. Murray of Harewood. The latter was always well down over the ball, and he gave his forwards a good service. The main difference between - the teams was in the respective forward lines, where West snowed the greater cohesion. R. Thomson trapped well and devoted care to his passing, while Paul Clark hunted the ball to advantage at centre-forward and forced the Harewood defence into hurried clearances on many occasions. M. Duffield was the best of the Harewood forwards, using his stickwork for functional purposes and trying to create combined attacks by means of lateral passing. There was not a vast amount of reciprocity, with the result that too many Harewood attacks were solo efforts, the simple art of passing being observed in scant array. Goals were scored for West Old Boys by A. Scott (2) and Paul Clark. M. Duffield scored for Harewood.

Umpires: Messrs B. Lloyd and A Holland. WOOLSTON v. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS

Woolston started at a frantic speed and rapidly passed through the barrier beyond which control becomes extremely difficult. In this way Technical was aided and abetted in making its rather rugged defensive methods more effective than should have been the case. Before the arrival of half-time Technical gained a goal from one of its lightning raids, with the result that Woolston's second half efforts to save the game became even more frantic than before. At the same time there were occasions when Woolston forwards were unceremoniously bundled off the ball when in threatening positions, and they might easily have received a few penalty bullies. The pace of the game was too great for any player to produce much skill, and there were few who showed any desire to rectify the position. At times B. Hamilton and N. Hobson made ground on Woolston’s right dank with determined dribbling, but they received little support from the other forwards. of whom B. Aldridge and G. Aldridge missed several scoring chances through wild shooting. J. Abrams at centre-half was bustled into oblivion in the general hurlyburly, while R. Gillespie on the right foundered between the Scylla of hurried passing and the Charybdis of undue dribbling. At left-half L. Hobson was one of the few cool heads, and K. Mortimer was a reliable ultimate source of defence. The Technical halves and backs

covered each other closely on defence. with P. KUsell. P. Chant and C. Smart contributing much effecttive spoiling play and determined tackling. Their clearances were not of the same embarrassing nature to the opposition. G. Prangnell made a number of useful runs on the wing, while K. Collins, in trapping the ball carefully and placing a number of delicate short passes to the advantage of his fellow forwards, appeared to be quite out of character in relation to the general impression of wear, tear and strife. Nevertheless Technical showed some small amount of improvement on its previous match, and with Woolston s assistance very nearly caused a major upset. The Woolston goals were scored by J. Abrams and B. Jundge. K. Collins scored for Technical Old Boys. Umpires: Messrs B. W. Rogers and S. Swift.

UNIVERSITY ▼. SELWYN The University team was not recognisable as the side which had drawn with Sydenham in the first round. The trapping was appalling and the passing was weak, inaccurate. hurried, and often indulged in with marked reluctance by certain players who appesred to prefer to be robbed of possession or to lose the ball over the sideline than to direct it to a colieage. That a team should play so badly and yet win was a fair commentary upon the standard of the game and the quality of the opposition. The Selwyn forwards lacked any semblance of combination or penetrative ability, and it was well for University that this was to. Any chance Selwyn may have had of saving the game was greately reduced in the later stages by the attempts of the backs to hit the ball right out of Hagley Park. University must have been grateful for the time gained and the respite granted. The only players who emerged with any credit in the University team were B. Maunsell at centreforward, who scored a fine goal but also missed an easy one, and K. Thomson at centre-half, who handled some rugged tackling with skill and determination. The backs, P. Morris and R. G. O'Connor, spoiled effectively and paeaed with some accuracy at times, but their trapping was not as good as usual, ana it was just a* well that they covered each other so ably. R. Harris made some good clearances for Selwyn but gave away a goal through lifting his head and body. M. Berkeley played well at centre-half. He brought off many interceptions, and was easily the best of the Selwyn players in the use of stickwork and the feeding of his forwards. The Selwyn team was likely enough, but too much of this energy was directed towards thwarting University and not enough to constructive „ attack, a weakness which spread to the forward line whose members tended to take the ball too far before attempting to peas. Both teams will need to show urgent improvement if they are to justify their status as senior club sides. A little less body play would have helped in Improving the illusion that a hockey match was being attempted. The University goals were scored by B. Maunsell and A. Read. . _ Umpires: Messrs K. Wright and P. Beere.

LOWER GRADES

Lower grade men’s hockey games played on Saturday resulted:— Senior Second Division.—Woolston 3. Technical 2; Brighton 4. Harewood Senior Reserve.—B.R A. 1, Technicall: High School Old Boys 2. NA.C. 2; Sydenham S. Selwyn 3. Second Grade.—Woolston 2. Varsity A 0; Selwyn 3, Emulous 1: Sydenham A 7, HarewOod 1: Vanity B 3, Rangiora Old Boys 1; Redclifis Third* (Trade.—Sei wyn 8, Bumham 0; Varsity 2. NA.C. 2; Technical College 4. Kalapoi 2: Kalapoi 4. Sydenham 3: Ist N.Z. Battalion 8. Boys’ High School 2; Technical 5, RedcUffs ‘Fourth Grade.—Christ's CoUege 7, Teachers’ College 2; B RA. B. Harewood 4: West 8. Woolston 8. Under 18.—West Old Boys 10, Selwyn 0: Boys’ High School 2, Technical 1: Sydenham 3. Boys’ High S< CoHege Grade.—Christ’s College 3. Lincoln College 2: y*” l **- 1 -®® s ? High School 1; Technical 2. Teachers 1 College 2.

Matches In Other Centres

Auckland—Southern Districts 2. BJ: Albertlan* 2; Grammar 0.8. 2, Somerville 1. _ _ _ , , Wanganui.—Hinemoa 3, Technical Kiri 0; Inglewood 8, Stratford 1; New Plymouth 3. Eltham 2. Nelson.—Old Boys 8. Walmsf 1; Stoke 1. Federal 0. Wellington.—University 4. Petone 4; R.C.0.8. 5. T.C.OJ. 1; W.C.0.8. 4. Hutt 2.