HOCKEY Four Leading Teams Hold Their Positions

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30129, 13 May 1963, Page 8

HOCKEY Four Leading Teams Hold Their Positions

Results in the third round of the Canterbury Hockey Association's senior competition were consistent with current form, and there were no changes in the piacings on the championship ladder.

The four leading teams from last season appear to be establishing themselves in the forefront once again, and some stern encounters should result shortly when they meet each other. All matches were favoured by firm grounds, and there was much lively play. Results were:— University 3, West Old Boys 1. High School Old Boys 5, Technical Old Boys 0. Woolston 2, Sydenham 1. Harewood 3, Selwyn 1. Competition points are:— University 3, Woolston 21, High School Old Boys 2, Harewood 2, West Old Boys 1. Sydenham 1, Selwyn j. Technical Old Boys 0. UNIVERSITY v. WEST OLD BOYS For most of the game University maintained firm control because of better positioning and greater ability to execute a policy which always appeared to be more comprehensively planned than that of its opponents. For a period in the second spell. West threatened a serious challenge to University’s dominance, but this threat was effectively countered by the tactic of holding the ball which denied West the opportunity of increasing the pressure which it sought so earnestly to exploit. In the University defence the backs, R. O’Connor and W. Brehaut, covered each other well and created counter-at-tacks with intelligent passing, although the latter tended to play through the left overmuch. At centre-half, K. Thomson contained the opposing inside forwards with well judged tackling, quick interception and elusive stickwork, and the improvement in his passing made him one of the few outstanding players on the field. Another who shared such distinction with him was A. Read at inside-right because of his penetrating dribbling,

weaving and swerving, and good support was rendered at times by G. Rothwell on the rightwing, who made a number of successful breaks. In the centre. J. Troughton was much more lively than in earlier matches and hunted the ball to good purpose, and major contributions were rendered by R. Best and M. Read on the left flank. Their back-tackling was determined and invaluable, they switched the direction of the attack well, and they were always on hand to probe the defence when opportunity knocked on the door. The forward line as a whole moved with a crispness and speed which were lacking in the previous match. For West N. Little made some good saves in goal, and the backs, D. Hamilton and R. Elliott, proved a pair of stubborn defenders. G. Smith showed some improvement in positioning at centre-half, and D. Robertson on the left foiled some University attacks with spoiling play of a defensive nature. By playing A. Scott at righthalf. West deprived its attack of his drive, and although P. Oakes at inside-right controlled the ball well at times he lacked support from R. Thomson on the wing, who was below his best form, especially in trapping his passes. The best of the West forwards was W. Thomson, who produced a most determined game at inside-left. His defensive play was very good and he made the most of limited chances on attack in addition to most unselfish passing. Goals were scored for University by M. Read, J. Troughton and G. Rothwell, and W. Thomson scored for West Old Boys. Umpires: Messrs K. Wright and A. D. Holland. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS v. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS Playing with more deliberation than usual Old Boys took control of this match from the outset, and quickly served notice on an untidy defence that the final issue would not be in doubt. Ragged trapping in the early stages delayed the scoring. but the continual pressure took the eventual toll. Technical’s spasmodic attacks were always lively, but the Old Boys’ backs, W. Boundy and W. Browne, were sound enough to repel them in a manner sufficiently constructive to return the ball to their own forwards, who profited more from this source of supply than from a half-line which was seldom above an average standard. At inside-right A. Patterson was both leader and organiser

of the attack by reason of his superior stickwork and controlled passing. He supplied the imagination which inspired the opportunism of his colleagues, of whom L Armstorog and J. Kiddey were prominent in quick breaks into the Technical circle. On the right-wing, R. Rogers capably coped with the calls made upon him by a team which would be well advised to avail itself of his presence more frequently. In Technical's defence, N. Millington blocked well in goal, but his kicking lacked power, and S. Hall was prominent at times. The covering was reasonably adequate, but the clearing was tentative and slow. I. Parker and G. Harper toiled hard in the vanguard, whose backtackling was often effective although insufficiently sustained. Goals were scored for High School Old Boys by I. D. Armstrong (2) A. Patterson, J. Kiddey and T. Thomas. Umpires: Messrs A. D. Holland and K. Wright. HARE WOOD V. SELWYN In the first half Harewood did enough to capture a competition point from this game, but its forward line in the second spell indulged itself overmuch in individual improvisation which tended to neglect the question of passing the ball from one to another. Hence there was no further change in the score, nor any threat of such from Selwyn because of the lack of passing ability in its ranks. The Harewood backs. J. Bate and L. Innes, were too strong for the Selwyn vanguard, and D. Shepherd at centre-half controlled his area with lime to spare, being one of the few who attempted to prod Harewood into greater effort in the later stages. On the right wing D. Lloyd improved greatly upon his form of the previous game, taking his passes with greater certainty and making ground with some authority. R. Cockroft and L. Smith were prominent, but thereafter solo dashes expended themselves in vain against a rather scrambling defence. For Selwyn R. Harris played a fine game in goal, his kicking being especially creditable. There was improvement in the efforts of R. Thomas at rightback, and he used his halves intelligently at times. At centrehalf. A. Waters showed himself to be more at home than in the forward line, but K. Cherry’s attacking ability was wasted because of a similar change, the vanguard was not impressive. Goals were scored for Harewood bv D. Stanton. L. Smith and R. Cockroft, and A. Waters scored for Selwyn. Umpires: Messrs W. Morris and K. Mortimer. WOOLSTON v. SYDENHAM

In the first half Woolston dominated the play, seeking to impose control by close cooperation between forwards and halves, with back-passing in considerable evidence. After the interval Sydenham infused greater dash into its play and achieved some success in bustling Woolston into errors. Hence there was a loss of cohesion in the Woolston attack and a reduction in the pressure on the Sydenham defence. For Woolston, J. Abrams played coolly at right-back, and always appeared to enjoy ample leisure in placing his passes, but his partner B. Winks, had to cope with Sydenham’s stronger flank, often m isolation because of lack of half-back support. Hence much of his play had to be of a spoiling nature. Tire Woolston halves maintained close proximity to their forwards and were obviously concentrating upon an offensive game. In these circumstances and because of the back-pass-ing from the forwards, R. Gillespie played a prominent role, but his stickwork was not as close as usual. Nevertheless, he kept his’ forwards well supplied with the ball. On the left K. Millard continued to reveal great improvement in his trapping and passing. The stickwork and dribbling ability of B. Judge on the rightwing were invaluable to Woolston and without him there would not have been much penetration. He received a reasonable service from N. Hobson at inside-right whose steadiness materially assisted the attack. In the centre B. Monk harassed the Sydenham defence to some effect, but K. Kiernan was not quite as impressive as in the previous game. G. Gourlay showed great speed on the leftwing. S. Jessop made some very good saves in the Sydenham goal, and the backs, L. Lloyd and R. Rusbridge, covered much ground in checking attacks, but seldom appeared to have time to place constructive clearances. The halves gave the opposing forwards too much room for manoeuvre in the first half, but Improved in this respect later. C. Woods at inside-right was easily the most skilful of the forward line and achieved some success with the infield break. The speed of D. Petheridge on the right-wing troubled Woolston, though he tended to push the ball too far ahead when dribbling. Of the remaining forwards J. Goddard was the most impressive. Goals were scored for Woolston by B. Judge and R. Gillespie, and L. Lloyd scored for Sydenham. Umpires: Messrs P. Beere and N. Dailey.