Schoolgirls’ Tournament

Press, Volume C, Issue 29599, 23 August 1961, Page 22

Schoolgirls’ Tournament

Grounds were firm and fast for the first day of the South Island secondary schoolgirls hockey tournament at Hagley Park yesterday. A small crowd attended, and a cold easterly blew down the field.

The tournament is being played in two sections, with five teams in tach section. The final will be contested by the Section winners on Thursday afternoon. If two teams tie for first place in their respective sections, the team scoring most goals will be declared the winner. Unbeaten teams to date are Gore High School and Christ, church Girls’ High in section one, and Papanui High and Otago Girls’ High, with Barfield High having one drawn game, in section two. The hockey was of a reasonable standard, but the quality of play varied. Surprises were the performances of Gore and Papanui. Gore, last year’s winning team, gave a poor performance to beat Linwood by one goal, but then played very well to beat West Christchurch.

Papanui, on the other hand, played extremely well against Taieri in the morning, and then found itself hard-pressed to beat the little-fancied Riccarton team in the afternoon game. It could well be that the final may be contested between these two teams. Results were:— Section I.—Gore 1, Linwood 0; Christchurch Girls’ High 3, Cashmere High 0; Gore 4, West Christchurch 1; Christchurch Girls’ High 1, Linwood 0. Section H.—Otago 5, Riccarton 0; Papanui 5, Taieri 0; Taieri 0, Darfield 0; Papanui 2, Riccarton 1. , Gore v. Linwood Gore High beat Linwood 1-0 after holding a territorial advantage for the greater part of the game. Playing a bustling game. Gore had Linwood on the defensive for long stretches, and only lack of cohesion in the forwards prevented more goals being scored. Linwood looked a more likely combination on attack, but many of its moves were stopped by the Gore halves, who played well. J. Falconer, playing a solid game at inside-right for Gore, scored after 10 minutes in the second half, to give her team a well-deserved win. Papanui v. Riccarton Riccarton held Papanui to nil-all at half-time. Papanui scored twice in quick succession midway through the second spell, and Riccarton scored a nice goal after a break down the right flank. Play fluctuated early, with Papanui having slightly the better of the exchanges. The Riccarton inside forwards were fast to the loose ball, and made a lot of play for themselves. However, the opposing centre-half played a fine game and stemmed many attacks to swing the play back into Riccarton territory. Riccarton did not play the right wing enough, and lost opportunities through this.

Papanui v. Taieri Papanui won a hard-hitting open game by 5 goals to 9. and the score could have been higher had the Taieri goal-keeper not made many fine saves.

J. Paget, the Papanui centre-half, stopped many Taieri attacks and sent her forwards away nicely. Most of the goals came through orthodox movements, trapping and passing well. The Papanui team came into its own in the circle. Decisive stick-work had the score mounting steadily. Papanui kept the presstire on throughout the game. Taieri v. Darfield

Taieri and Darfield fought out a nil-all draw, with Darfield throwing any opportunities of scoring by getting offside at the crucial moment. The two teams were evenly matched, and although the hockey was brisk, it was not particularly constructive. Gere v. West Christchurch Playing with more precision than in its first game,

Gore beat West Christchurch by 4 goals to 1. Three of the goals were scored in the first half, and it was thought at that stage that Gore would romp away fof a big win. West retaliated - half-way through, the second spell, but the Gore defence held. Outstanding players for Gore were the centre-forward, J. Hurley, and inside-right, J. Falconer. C.G.H.S. v. Linwood

Christchurch Girls’ High and Linwood were evenly matched teams, with Linwood wininng by 1 goal to 0. Many promising' movements broke down on both sides, although G.H.S. held a slight ascendency in the circle. Play was ragged generally, but the defence was of a reasonable standard.

Otago v. Riccarton In a very ragged game, Otago beat Riccarton, 5-0. The score was flattering to Otago, and there was not much between the teams. Trapping and general stick-work were not of a high standard, and although Riccarton retaliated in the second spell, it did not have the polish to score. C.G.H.S. v. Cashmere

Christchurch never looked likely to lose against Cashmere. and won by 3 goals to 0. The Christchurch halves and forwards combined well, with W. McNabb, at centreforward, and N. Claridge, on the right wing, outstanding.