Old Boys Beaten, Other Surprises In Hockey

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30497, 20 July 1964, Page 13

Old Boys Beaten, Other Surprises In Hockey

A further unexpected development added interest to the championship when High School Old Boys suffered defeat by West Old Boys in the thirteenth round of the Canterbury Hockey Association’s senior competition on Saturday.

Woolston also received a check in its efforts to catch the leader when it was held to a draw by University in the only match of the round whose standard of play maintained the dignity of some recognisable technique, and Technical Old BoyS added a further odd touch to an afternoon of surprises by refusing to bow the knee to Harewood. Results were:— West Old Boys 2, High School Old Boys 1. University 3, Woolston 3. Technical Old Boys 2, Harewood 2. Sydenham 2, Selwyn 0. Competition points with goals for and against in brackets:— High School Old Boys 10 (3616), Woolston 94 (46-21), West Old Boys 9 (36-28), Harewood 7J (37-28), University 7 (37-24). Sydenham 4i (21.28), Technical Old Boys 2i (1747), Selwyn 2 (14-52).

Small Bore Shooting Had the Harewood forwards possessed telescopic sights, slings and binoculars their team might have gained a narrow victory over Technical Old Boys. Lacking such precision instruments, they had to rest content with a rather unsatisfactory draw on a ground which would have wrecked a theodolite. Neither team could control the ball well enough to elude the tussocks and dunes, but Harewood’s greater liveliness and familiarity with a pattern of procedure bestowed upon it a considerable territorial advantage and innumerable opportunities in the circle, where its shooting was appalling. Occasionally Technical escaped with sufficient purpose to bustle Harewood into errors, two of which were fatally productive. Apart from these rare intrusions/ the Harewood backs, J. Bate and L. Innes, pursued the even tenor of their ways without molestation. At centre-half D. Shepherd gave his forwards adequate support, but the winghalves did not display their usual 'form. On attack Harewood was hampered by the indifferent passing of D. Stanton, many of whose push-shots reeled to a drunken collapse. There was more hurry than speed in H. Kerrigan’s performance, and C. Broadhurst on the leftwing dribbled immoderately. In gaining so many shots at a goal which seemed smaller than the bull on the new small bore targets, Harewood almost played N. Millington, the Technical goalkeeper, and S. Hall, at right-back, on their own. The former made some fine saves and kicked with power; the latter proved once again that, he is one of the most under-rated backs in the competition. Technical did succeed in harassing its opponents and in profiting more readily from their errors, after several recent and discouraging disasters.

I. Parker scored twice for Technical, and the Harewood goals were scored by D. Stan, ton and H. Kerrigan. Umpires: Messrs R. Thomson and A. Holland.

Shreds And Patches The saving grace of this most ragged of matches was the compulsive altruism which animated both Sydenham and Selwyn. The accuracy with which each team fed the other eased their defensive burdens and severely limited their attacks, many of which terminated so abruptly that the players were in need of safety belts. Selwyn sought to penetrate with short passes which were Intercepted with ease. Sydenham applied pressure by some useful dribbling and a boisterous opportunism which eventually brought goals from defensive errors. In a match on a gnarled and knotted surface on which, the general standard of trapping, stick-work and passing was worse than mediocre, few reputations were enhanced. At centre-half for Sydenham, M. Bennett eluded opponents and made some successful passes, and A. Bhana in the vanguard dribbled with a skill whose effect was limited by his diffidence. At right-back, L. Lloyd injected some deft touches into the scrambling melees, often slipping away from them unobserved and with the ball. The Selwyn left-back, B. Turner, trapped, intercepted

and passed with respect for accepted techniques, and J. Paterson and K. Cherry on the right flank often led their team into Sydenham territory, which was usually adequately populated by defenders. The Sydenham goals were scored by K. Gee and C. Woods. Umpires:—Messrs P. Chant and R. Ferguson. Right Was Might Lapses of memory influenced events when University drew with Woolston among the potholes of the Polo grounds. In the first quarter Unversity gained and maintained the initiative by attacking on its right. Woolston then remembered the presence of its own rightwing, B. Judge, and his intervention brought two goals against a forgetful defence, which limped listlessly along the left. , After the Interval University s temorary recovery from amnesia restored its pressure and penetration, from which it gained the lead and a threat of final superiority. Frantically Woolston called Judge to the colours again, and again he obliged, with some assistance from somnolent opponents. The final result was a fair reflection of the degrees of pressure which the respective teams were able to exert, but University might have won if dedication had overruled personal whims. By his stick-work, undeniable persistence and speed, J*j“B e was the juggernaut of the Woolston attack, which was mediocre in other directions. His main accomplices were the halves, R. Gillespie and K. Millard, who exhibited skill and intelligence in their respective areas. From left-back B. Winks passed powerfully to the right when given time, and there was merit In the manner in which his colleagues followed his example when the need was greatest. Too many passes were given without looking, particularly in the forward line, where N. Hobson was a major offender, and this fault was also evident at times in the University ranks. The Woolston custodian, R. Jenkins, kicked spectacularly. The University left-back, C. Ineson, trapped and passed coolly and constructively, and K. Carpenter, by conscious effort, increased his share of participation In the game. S. Maister played well at centrehalf in the first spell, and splendidly at inside-right later, his close stick-work being as refreshing at his determination. After his switch to centre-half, K. Thomson demonstrated his superiority In this position over all Tokyo aspirants. The speed of T. Crossen always worried Woolston, and I. Bishop was sensible and unselfish on the left-wing. The University goals were scored by K. Thomson (2) and M. Mikhelson, and G. Gourley, B. Aldridge and K. Kiernan scored for Woolston. Umpires:—Messrs D. Lloyd and D. Denniston. Pick Pocket

Seldom has a winning team played so poorly, or defended so desperately for so long with so satisfactory a result. For much of the time and almost continuously after the interval, High School Old Boys invaded Old Boys’ half of the ground, wherein was waged a battle of bodies, which swung, swiped and pushed at a most bewildered ball. Late in the game A. Scott on West’s right-wing, so deviated from the agenda that he successfully pursued an errant clearance to the Old Boys’ goalline, whence he slipped a centre pass to p. Clark, who had the effrontery to score. Satisfied with its meagre haul, West shortened its lines and sought salvation in modest introspection; thereafter ragged defence withstood an attack whose fury negated skill. Old Boys emerged from the match with vast territorial possessions, but West had stolen the title deeds.

The total failure of the West forwards enabled the Old Bovs’ backs and halves to retrie’ve weak clearances and what must have been Intended for through passes with some ease. The resultant prolonged attack consistently ignored R. Bailey on the right-wing, a serious mistake. G. Judge, at inside-right, trapped well, but time and again thumped the ball over the far left side-line. The remaining forwards attempted short passes to each other, and pounced

upon the intercepting opponent with enthusiasm, one melee following another with considerable rapidity throughout the game. At centre-half, A. Patterson held his frantic team together with some success, but even he became infected to some extent with the mounting anxiety.

Apart from their own errors, Old Boys found the chief obstacle to their progress to be N. Little, the West goalkeeper, and R. Elliot at right-back. The former played splendidly, blocking with certainty and kicking powerfully; the latter produced a performance superior to all previous efforts, trapping, tackling, intercepting, eluding and clearing with persistent success under continual pressure.

Both must have been grateful for some degree of help from K. Abrams, who was virtually a third back, and In the closing stages from W. Thomson, who became a fourth back, where his Improved form justified his shift from the shadow forward line. Goals were scored for West Old Boys by W. Thomson and P. Clark, and J. Klddey scored for High School Old Boys. Umpires:—Messrs P. Beere and B. Lloyd. Lower Grades Second A Grade.—Woolston 8, Selwyn 1; Sydenham 3, West 0.8. 1; B.H.S. 6, Linwood H.S. 2; Harewood S, University 1. Second B Grade.—Technical 3, Papanui H.S. 2; B.H.S. 5, Christ’s College 1; Sydenham 1, Shirley B.H.S. 1; Harewood 3, Emulous 2. Third Grade.—Riccarton H.S. 13, University 0; West 0.8. 10, Sydenham 3; Linwood H.S. 3, B.R.A. 1; Selwyn 3, Woolston 0. Fourth Grade.—Selwyn 5, Woolston 2. Fifth Grade.—Technical beat Hornby by default; Sydenham 2, University 2; Christ’s College 2, Harewood 2. Under-16. —Woolston 5, Shirley B.H.S. 5; School for Deaf 5, Sydenham 1. Under-14. —New Brighton 6, H. 5.0.8. 1; B.H.S. 17, Sydenham B 0; Sydenham 6, Harewood 0. Beginners.—Sydenham A 12, Woolston B 0; Selwyn 7, Sydenham B 0.