Women’s Hockey UNIVERSITY, CARLTON LEAD COMPETITION

Press, Volume C, Issue 29525, 29 May 1961, Page 17

Women’s Hockey UNIVERSITY, CARLTON LEAD COMPETITION

With two matches still to be played in the first round of the Canterbury Women’s Hockey Association competition this season. University and Carlton are on equal terms.

Each of these two top teams has scored three wins in the five games played; and each has had a draw. Both have to meet Hinemoa, the top senior reserve team last year promoted to A grade this season, and both should have no difficulty in winning. University will meet West OM Giris in the remaining game of the round and can be expected to run up a big winning score, but Carlton will meet Harewood. Harewood is this season’s freest scoring team and although in fifth place on the points table of the senior A competition (wtiich has eight teams competing) it is a slide that can always cause an upset. However, since Harewood was beaten 2-1 by University on Saturday and Carlton beat University 4-1 the previous week. Carlton must be favoured to win. The whole analysis adds up to a tie for a first place at the end of the first round in three weeks’ time (there being no inter-club play scheduled for Queen’s Birthday week-end). Only slightly behind the leaders is the Digby's side which has also won'three of its games but, having been beaten by Hinemoa could easily go under to either Aranui or Rawhiti. or both of them, in the remaining two games of the round. Aranui is fourth on the points table with two wins, a loss and two draws. Harewood lies next with two wins, two losses and a draw. This light, fast team plays attractive hockey and has a powerful scoring combination in the Turner sisters So far Harewood has scored 17 goals in five games, three more than the next most successful netters. Carlton. Aranui and Carlton share the distinction of having conceded only six goals each during the season so far. With one win, two losses and two draws. Rawhiti is sixth on the ladder. Hinemoa has taken time to find its feet and it seemed as if the corner had been turned with a fine 4-0 win over , Digby's nine days ago. but on Saturday Hinemoa could not even find one goal and lost 'decisively to Rawhiti—bringI ing the tally to one win, three ; losses and one draw. The West OM Girls’ team (has been the most unsueceMful this year and its only win was a narrow one over the inexperienced promotee. Hinemoa in the third match of the series. Twenty goals have been allowed from balls thudding into the West net at an average rate of four a match. Yet the players, to their credit, do not appear to be dismayed (on the surface ait any rate) and their unflagging efforts, although inadequate, are those of "good sports." Saturday’s matches were

played in fine, cool weather on a greasy paddock which introduced for the first time this year a different playing surface from that met in previous games. Results are:— Digby’s 2, West Old Girls Carlton 2, Aranui 0. Rawhiti 4, Hinemoa 0. University 2, Harewood 1. Carlton v. Aranui The result of the match between Carlton and Aranui was not a foregone conclusion by any means, but Carlton was favoured to win and did, by two goals to none. Aranui’s young side could find little answer to Carlton’s play but did well to hold the score down. Play was open but the pace was not maintained for there were a considerable number of infringements. By and large Carlton showed its experience in organised attack and quick grouping for defence. M. Mangles put Carlton ahead with a goal before half-time and A. ToureU scored the second shot in the next spell. Rawhiti v. Hinemoa Hinemoa should have won this game, even though Rawhiti can be solid going on occasions. Early probes at Rawhiti’s defence were unsuccessful and Hinemoa players, after their initial burst of pace and enthusiasm which took them to their opponents' circle, either relaxed or wilted when their efforts came to nothing. Rawhiti’s mettle was experience In senior play, its refusal to be bustled into mistakes and its determination to hold and wait for an opening. The tactics paid. By half-time Rawhiti was three goals ahead and Hinemoa did not look a winner. The second period was slightly different. A team talk during the Interval did Hinemoa good and the players got down to their work and spent most of their time from then on In Rawhiti country, but three goals is a lot to make up and with Rawhiti defending just as well as ever nothing could be done. Hinemoa's main trouble appears to be its slowness in the circle, with too much time being spent in the final trap and shot to the net. Goals for Rawhiti in the first haff were scored by A. Rouse (2) and D. Garlick: and E. Johnson scored in the second spell. University v. Harewood One up at half-time from a goal by F. Kelly, University finally won. 2-1. University’s second goal was scored by T. Minehan to put the side in from after an equalising Harewood goal by H. Turner. University, although on the pointe table being one of the two top teams this season, has not shown the form of a champion. Its object has been to play controlled hockey and when the machine gets into gear It will be formidable—if it does. In the meantime, teams which piay fast, open hockey rather than meeting the students on their chosen ground of sports science stand good chances of winning—as Carlton actually did, and decisively too. Digby’s v. West Ota Girls Two or three times in the closing stages of this match the West Old Girls’ side looked as if it might draw level. If not pull off a second win. There were some fine movements up to the Digby's goal but for even? West player tn position ready to shoot there were two Digby's girls tackling and pushing play back up the field. Digby's was ahead in the first haff with a goal from K. Coe and T. Tuhou scored in the second half. B Knudsen scored for West in the second spell.