Strange Omissions From Canterbury Hockey Team

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30454, 30 May 1964, Page 11

Strange Omissions From Canterbury Hockey Team

THE composition of the Canterbury hockey team for the national tournament in Wellington next week defies all speculation upon the logic behind its selection. Some positions are filled by the obvious choices, some indicate a gamble, and some eliminate players whose names should have been first out of the selectorial sombrero.

In the first category are the backs, J. C. Abrams and W. Browne, provided that the latter concentrates upon the ball, which he can use most intelligently when in the mood, and forgets about the opponent. A. Patterson and R. Gillespie are equally valuable as wing-halves, with the former capable of useful assistance in the forward line should injury create a vacancy there. The return of N. Hobson to partner B. R. Judge makes a strong right flank possible, provided that the latter does not repeat last season’s tournament habit of bolting for the corner flag, and releases for the centre-half position New Zealand’s best player in this position, K. Thomson —who has not been selected!

In the second category are R. Fuller in goal and R. J. Best at inside-left. The former is quick of movement and is a safe stopper, but suffers from wanderlust; the latter likes to dribble and dribble, and often does so, yet now shows signs of combining with others when his memory is jogged. The incredibly stupid omission of K. Thomson may be connected with the problem of temperament—on the part of the selector, not the player. And it can hardly be argued that C. G. Judge, Best and T. Thomas are better forwards than W. Thomson. The latter has rejuvenated the West Old Boys forward line by his skill this season and has been mainly responsible for his team’s record to date—

W. R. GREEN, a popular Canterbury athlete, provides proof of Arthur Lydiard’s claim that distance running can keep a man young and vigorous at an age when most men become daunted at the prospect of a meeting with their lawnmowers. Green, at the age of 35, has been running better than ever this season. He has been a prominent member of the Christchurch Harrier Club’s senior teams which have won both the Hagley Park Relay on May 7 and the Kennett Cup Cross country event on Saturday. Green who at his age would be expected to shine over longer distances returned excellent lap times in both events of 2} miles and 3} respectively. A married man with two children, Green trains regularly most afternoons after w'ork. He is employed at a large tyre factory in Christchurch. He earlier represented Canterbury in surf life-saving.

the best it has known at this stage of the year since it entered senior ranks. It is to be hoped that the Thomson brothers will be given an opportunity of a trial in Wellington when the team for Tokyo is being considered. There will certainly be ample room. On the form shown by the

provinces in Christchurch last year Canterbury could win the coming tournament. Had all the obvious choices been included it would have had to lapse badly not to win it. As it is, a willingness “to go hard” and "to work” are not and never have been a substitute for skill.