Hockey FIRST SHIELD CHALLENGE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29536, 10 June 1961, Page 14

Hockey FIRST SHIELD CHALLENGE

Canterbury-Otago Game Today Canterbury will meet Otago this afternoon at Williamson Park in the first game of the season for the New Zealand Challenge Shield. Last year Otago made a very determined effort to win the shield for the first time in its history, but had to be content with a draw. For today's game Canterbury appears to be the more experienced and better balanced team. Its backs and halves should be capable of a collective defence which should be too strong for the Otago forwards. The Canterbury attack is of more doubtful quality. It is quite capable of tearing a weak defence to shreds, but against more resolute opposition it will need to move with more fluency and cohesion than it has shown on occasions. However, if the Canterbury right flank operates with the degree of penetration of which it has shown itself capable at times, and if its efforts are complemented by skilful and determined efforts by the inside forwards, especially near and inside the Otago circle, the shield will still be in Christchurch tonight. An Otago victory would be a surprise: a modest Canterbury win is much more probable. Any lack of resolution by Otago should leave Canterbury comfortably in command. The Canterbury team is:— K. Mortimer; J. Abrams. I. Prangnell; E. Barnes. K. Thomson. R. Gillespie; M. McKinnon. A. Read, I. D. Armstrong. N. H. Hobson, B Judge.