HOCKEY Top Clubs Draw, Share Senior Championship

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30219, 26 August 1963, Page 8

HOCKEY Top Clubs Draw, Share Senior Championship

The Canterbury senior hockey championship concluded on Saturday on a note of frenzy when Woolston and High School Old Boys met in the seventeenth and final round. The match was drawn with both teams holding equal competition points, and they will share the honours for 1963.

Absentees in Australia, walking wounded from the winter tournament in Dunedin, and the August vacation so depleted University that it was obliged to forfeit its match against Harewood, thereby enabling the latter to join it in third place.

The Taylor Trophy for the lower group of senior teams was deservedly won by Sydenham which drew with West Old Boys, the only team which was in a position to make a challenge.

Results were:— Woolston 1, High School Old Boys 1. Sydenham 1, West Old Boys 1. Selwyn 1, Technical Old Boys 0.

Final competition points, with goals tor and against in parenthesis, are: Woolston 14 (57-18); High School Old Boys 14 (66-18); University 10 (34-31); Harewood 10 (3331); Sydenham 8 (34-40); West Old Boys 7 (32-40); Selwyn 5 (20-53); Technical Old Boys 0 (16-61). WOOLSTON V. H. 5.0.8.

The first half of this game produced little skill but much hard play, which gradually increased to a frenzy of ferocity reflecting little credit on the particular players responsible tor such lack of self-control There were many threatening gestures and intimidating swipes which were an affront to the dignity of any game, and several players appeared to merit some period of suspension. This fate ultimately befell A. Patterson, of Old Boys, but be should not have been alone in ala period of contemplation and reflection. Woolston was the lesser offender, and seemed to be the most desirous of concentrating upon the ball. However, it was so affected by the bustling of its opponents that It did not reproduce its good form of the earlier part of the season. At its best it has played the most constructive and skilful hockey, but the result of this match was a fair reflection of the run of the game and of the territorial exchanges. As a championship final the encounter did little to engender much enthusiasm; the proceedings were very scrappy and usually indecisive, with both teams exchanging possession at great speed because of the haste to part with the ball. The chief weakness was the poverty of half-backs, nearly all of whom lacked the stick-work to counter the harassing and backtackling of the respective forward lines.

Neither side could establish any definite pattern of play nor move with any degree of' fluency or rhythm. Trie forwards were little better; at times there was some useful dribbling, but seldom was it followed by constructive passing, and the inadequate attempts at combination made the task of interception relatively easy. The uneven surface made trapping rather hazardous, and the curious technique of many players must have produced a considerable number of bruised feet Right Wing Starved Woolston’s chance of success was greatly diminished by the fact that the ball persisted in remaining for too long in the area of its left flank. Old Boys certainly contributed to this, but Woolston must share some of the responsibility. N. Hobson and B. Judge on the right flank saw too little of the play. The latter’s form was Inconsistent; he made some skilful, penetrative dribbles, but his trapping was erratic, and at times he lost possession through allowing the ball to drift too far from his stick. He attempted to accelerate without gaining complete control, and this fault was also apparent In many other players. The former backtackled well, but frequently found that his dribbling ability was offset by much over-vigor-ous marking. However, his goal from a penalty corner was very skilfully executed. R. Gillespie was easily the best half on the field, but the bustling upset his tactical intentions, and there were times when he was strangely indecisive. J. Abrams tackled and Intercepted well, but his passing was inaccurate. B. Winks Save him good support, and if ;. Mortimer permitted one rebound with fatal results he made amends with an excellent save from a penalty push W. Boundy. at right-back, was the most constructive member of the Old Boys’ ranks, and the opportunism of I. Armstrong, at centre-forward, demanded eternal vigilance from the Woolston defence. If their coolness had been emulated by A. Patterson, at inside-right. Old Boys might have won. for the tempo of his play greatly reduced the quality of his stickwork which was not often apparent. On the left flank the wielding of sticks like tridents brought a touch of the Roman circus to the scene. W Browne's fondness for altitude in his hitting earned many Justifiable penalties. N. Hobson scored for Woolston, and I. Armstrong for High School Old Bovs. Umpires: Messsis A. D. Holland and B. Lloyd.

SYDENHAM V. WEST OLD BOYS

Lacking finish in the circle West had to be content with a draw after exhibiting the greater degree of control for most of the match. It made a number of reasonably well executed moves in its approach play, but ill-timed passing near the circle afforded relief to Sydenham’s defence, In which the efforts of the backs were supplemented by willing halves who provided some element of covering, although too easily eluded In midfield.

The Sydenham attack was ably led by D. Petheridge and M. Bhana. both of whom contributed a number of useful breaks, and it was from an accurate placement from the former that R. Erickson scored Sydenham's only goal. West's most prominent contributor was P. Clark, at centrehalf, who roamed over much territory with enthusiasm and skill, terminating opposing attacks abruptly and providing his forwards with a generous service. At inside-right A. Scott showed some return to form, and R. Thomson was ever the lively intruder upon Sydenham's serenity. West Old Boys’ equalising goal was scored by A. Scott. Umpires: Messrs E. Thomas and M. Good. SELWYN V. TECHNICAL 0.8. This was a scrappy affair conducted on a bumpy surface, and although its tempo was placid the players omitted to utilise their unusual leisure in the interests of placing accurate passes. Hence there was little combination, and the solitary score was the product of a hit-and-run effort whose effectiveness depended upon a temporary disorganisation in the opposing defence. For Selwyn, R. Harris was a successfully stubborn custodian, and K. Cherry’s stickwork made him easily discernible in an otherwise sedate line of halves. At inside-right, W. Burtt played well and passed skilfully.

right-back, B. Berkeley, defended well with excellent stick-work. His partner, M. Spicer, was generally safe but erratic with his trapping. In the halves, R, Galbraith and M. Mikkelson, were neat and effective, but the star was undoubtedly the brilliant K. Thomson at centre-half

His generalship and control were superb, while his stickwork and passing must rate amongst the best seen in Australia for some time.

The right flank pair of D. P. Paget and A. Read combined well and were a strong attacking unit. R. Best, at centre-forward, hunted the ball enthusiastically and showed determination; P. Byers, at inside-left, worked hard, and B. Rogers played an intelligent game but was closely marked. New Zealand led, 1-0. at

Although suffering the discouragement of successive defeats Technical has played with restraint throughout the season, and herein Iles its best chance of development. There was, however, a certain air of resignation at times in this game, in which S. Hall appropriately terminated a season’s contribution of heroic endeavour with a final gesture of skilful defiance. Selwyn’s goal was scored by J. Ellis. Umpires: Messrs E. Ambler and W. Perry.