HOCKEY University, Sydenham In Close Struggle

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30177, 8 July 1963, Page 9

HOCKEY University, Sydenham In Close Struggle

For the second successive week the four teams occupying the major positions in the senior championship met more modestly placed opponents, when the eleventh round of the Canterbury Hockey Association’s competition was played on Saturday. Conditions were cold and cheerless, and the tufty turf at Burwood Park demanded care and concentration from the players in three of the matches. The two most evenly matched teams were University and Sydenham, whose game at Ham was an intense disputation from beginning to end.

Results were:— University 1, Sydenham •. High School Old Boys 5, Selwyn 2. Woolston 5, Technical Old Boys 1. Harewood *2, West Old Boys 0.

Competition points are:— Woolston 1047 High School Oto Boys 9, University 81. Harewood 7, Sydenham 3J. West Old Boys 3, Selwyn 2J. Technical Oto Boys 0.

UNIVERSITY V. SYDENHAM Plagued with error and devoid of strategy University struggled till half-time against the liveliness of Sydenham, and the failure of both teams to score in this period was due partly to serious errors in the goalmouth and partly to the superiority of defences over forward lines whose passing was weak.

After the interval University paid heed to the potency of the right flank attack and gave priority to passing instead of unproductive dribbling. The improvement in its play was so marked that it succeeded slowly but surely in imprisoning Sydenham in a vice which would assuredly have bestowed a greater winning margin but for some most resolute defence, which received additional support through lack of finish by the University forwards. In University’s defence the short passes of D. Wilshere at right-back were much more accurate than the longer clearances of his partner, W. Brehaut, and his covering was often invaluable. At centre-half K. Thomson's stickwork was quite outstanding, and his persistent direction of University’s attack gained a decisive initiative for his team, which often had cause for gratitude to E. Jackson on the right, whose elusive ball control and sensible oassing gave many opportunities for progress to his immediate colleagues. On the left M. Mikhelson made many valuable interceptions, and his occasional co-operation with his centrehalf was sufficiently effective to suggest its greater exploitation. On the right-wing J. Troughton was the best forward on the field. There was certainty in his trapping, and his fast, determined dribbling was not lacking in skill. He also made many dangerous centre passes. A. Read gave him good support in a display marked by greater certainty and accuracy in his passing, especially in the second half. By inhibiting his drib, bling and increasing his distribution R. Best restored combination to his forward line, and thereby enhanced a contribution marked by much valuable back-tackling and foraging. Sydenham’s defence was strongly underwritten by the firm of L. Lloyd and R. Rusbridge, whose tackling, intercepting and clearing seldom wavered, even when the pressure increased. They received useful reinforcement from a willing half-line, of whom R. Fergus was probably the strongest bar to University’s progress. The forwards, however, did not play as well as the defence. They lacked combination and rarely succeeded in circumventing the good positioning of Mikhelson with the result that

the potentially penetrative D. Petheridge received few opportunities C. Woods dribbled well at times, but progress was largely confined to seizing swiftly upon University errors Such opportunism did produce a few breaches which were nullified either by lack of finish or quick covering. The only goal of the match was scored for University when M. Read sent an excellent pass across the Sydenham circle to J. Troughton. whose accurate transfer to R. Best enabled the latter to place the ball in the net from close range. Umpires: Messrs B. Lloyd and W. Eastlake. HAREWOOD V. WEST OLD BOYS

Both teams took the bumpy surface into account in their application of extreme care in trapping the ball, and they executed this skill most creditably throughout the game. In many respects West played its best game of the season, especially in the first half when it succeeded in exerting considerable pressure for lengthy periods. That it was not able to capitalise upon the meritorious manner in which it developed its attacks was due to the failure of the forwards to combine as a unit, and this proved to be the decisive difference between the teams. After half-time Harewood made much valuable use of its right flank, thereby stealing the initiative, and its defence operated most efficiently. In the latter regard J. Bate at right-back and R. Cockroft at right-half were particularly effective. The former produced his finest form of the season, and overshadowed his partner, L. Innes, whose clearances were often somewhat haphazard. Cockroft was the best half on the field, and in the late stages injected himself into the attack with considerable skill. His effort in weaving through the opposition to its circle and making a goal possible from a short centre-pass was one of the match-winning factors.

D. Shepherd at centre-half was in pleasing .form and assisted his team decisively in an attacking role. G. Baldwin showed improved form at inside-right, and the striking power of the whole vanguard was sharpened by D. Lloyd’s recovery of form on the rightwing. where he moved with the fluency and ability which he showed last season. L. Smith was rather uncertain at insideleft, and C. Broadhurst’s speed did not in this match take him through or past the defence. For West N. Little in goal cast hesitancy aside to produce his best game of the season. The backs were in reasonable form, but D. Hamilton was often drawn too far to the left, thereby allowing too much scope for the Harewood inside forwards At left-half, G. Smith played especially well on defence, and the certainty of. P. Clark’s trapping at centre-half halted many opposing attacks peremptorily He evaded many tackles and gave his forwards a most adequate service. On the right-wing a somewhat leisurely R. Thomson too often notified his marker in advance of his intention to place the ball past him, and A. Scott at inside-right proved to be the most thrustful of the forwards bn attack. P. Oakes seemed rather lost in the centre, and once again the inability of the line to use W. Thomson in the

conclusive phase of attacking play limited him to defensive duties which he discharged with his usual competence. The Harewood goals were scoied by G. Baldwin and D. Lloyd Umpires: Messrs J. Messervy and E. Thomas. WOOLSTON v. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS Although weakened by the absence of three players on test match duty. Woolston was obviously the superior team. Technical did, however, try at all times to play constructively, but frequently used the insideleft lane as an attacking medium too early. Good displays by the Woolston backs. B Winks and L. Hobson, kept the Technical forwards at bay, and the latter also found the strength and determination of K. Millard and P. Sutherland In the halves a difficult obstacle to progress. In the vanguard the bulldozing of B. Monk and K. Kiernan kept the Technical defence on tenterhooks, but the main source of embarrassment to the latter was the stickwork and pace of B Judge at inside right. These qualities enabled him to make deep inroads at times, and his circle play was certain and decisive N. Millington was below form in Technical's goal, and the heavy pressure to which S. Hall at right-back was subjected could not prevent him’ demonstrating that he was his team's best player on the day. There were times when S. Crotty. I. Parker and G. Shirley combined well, and their efforts to maintain a constructive approach against strong opposition at times deserved a better fate. Goals were scored for Woolston by B. Judge (31, K. Kiernan and G. GourlaV, and S. Crotty scored for Technical Old Boys. Umpires: Messrs A. D. Holland and W Perry. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS V. SELWYN Although Old Boys sorely missed A Patterson their greater strength and drive triumphed over a Selwyn team which contested every inch of Burwood’s tundra country and which has shown more resolution this year than for many seasons. Selwyn was in the game to a greater extent than the score indicated, but its defence lacked the experience and quick reaction necessary to offset the lively opportunism of the Old Boys’ forwards. In Old Boys ranks W. Boundy was a solid defender whose clearances created counter-at-tacks. and W. Browne kept his forwards moving with his sharp passing. The latter were always willing to give chase to the most remote of chances, and in this respect I. Armstrong and J Kiddey were well to the fore.

For S»lwyn there was resolution in the defence <of R. Harris in goal and M. Berkeley and A. Abernethy in the backs. K. Cherry and W. Burtt were often bustled in the halves, but did well to provide attacking chances for the forwards on many occasions, and of the vanguard R. Allen and A. Waters appeared to be the best equipped for controlling the ball and eluding opponents.

Goals were scored for High School Old Boys by I. D. Armstrong (3). J. Kiddey, and D. Anthony, and B. Abernethy and J. Paterson scored for Selwyn Umpires: Messrs W. D. Sloane