Challenge Shield Hockey

Press, Volume C, Issue 29626, 23 September 1961, Page 9

Challenge Shield Hockey

"POR the fifth time this season Canterbury will defend the New Zealand Challenge Shield when it meets Whangarei at Williamson Park. This is the first occasion on which Whangarei has visited Christchurch for a major inter-provincial match, and its first attempt to win the premier hockey trophy of New Zealand. Whangarei voluntarily relinquished its tenure of the Nordon Cup, which is the emblem of supremacy among the minor associations, in order to test its strength at the highest level. For a small centre it has done well dur-

ing the present season. It was defeated by the Indian Wanderers by 4-2, and it has beaten Auckland province twice, the second time a fortnight ago by four clear goals.

In view of this record it is obvious that Canterbury must take this match seriously. Canterbury’s form has been inconsistent. It has done well enough against the Indian Wanderers, the Queenslanders and Wellington, but it seldom shifted out of low gear against Otago, Manawatu and Auckland. A similar performance today, accompanied by the breaks of fortune favouring the chal-

lengers, would give Whangarei every chance of winning. Whangarei comes to Christchurch with a reputation for great speed, liveliness. physical fitness and unusual determination. These qualities suggest that it will play a bustling type of game, probably similar to that of the Aucklanders last week, but lively to be more energetic. Canterbury’s efforts to match the quickness of Auckland with spasms of controlled play were rather ponderous, and it owed much to the defence of K. Mortimer, J. Abrams and W. Browne. Two Assets Canterbury possesses two assets which should assist it materially today. It is much more experienced and sophisticated in the sphere of shield hockey, and it has proved itself capable of producing a degree of determination equal to the task of holding all challengers so far. Although shield hockey at the present time is more vigorous than skilful, it is likely that Canterbury will be superior ,to Whangarei in stick-work. A comparison of the assets of the two teams suggests that Canterbury should hold the shield. If Whangarei proves as lively as its reputation has implied, the fate of the shield is likely to depend on Canterbury’s reaction and the nature of the performance which it produces as a result. This is the last shield match of the season which will conclude next Saturday when the South Island plays the North Island in Christchurch.

A member of a wellknown Otago sporting family, R. Sonntag, has been to the fore in interprovincial table tennis matches this season. A left-handed player who has for several years been near the top in Dunedin, Sonntag this year has taken the fourth position in the Otago representative side in major matches. His attacking play has brought him victories against some highly-rated opponents.