Fundamental Skill Basis Of Win

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30568, 10 October 1964, Page 11

Fundamental Skill Basis Of Win

’THE University women’s 1 hockey team, in winning the 1964 senior championship. has extended an already fine record. Since 1961 the team has won the championship three times and has been runner-up once; it has played 46 games and sustained only four losses.

Its strategy has been based upon use of the right flank both in prosecuting attacks and as a defensive measure, and upon use of the short-passing game

which entails constant backing up by both halves and forwards. The team’s defence has been very sound and the intensive covering, particularly by the halves, has been responsible for the few goals scored against it. It is fortunate, indeed in possessing halves who are technically sound in the fundamentals of the game and who are also very versatile players. This is illustrated by the fact that six of the regular players are halves, one of whom played as a back, while two others played on the wings. There was a noticeable improvement in the play of the forwards, this being partly due to the team being stronger in both wing positions than it has been in recent seasons. The inside forwards also showed improved form, confidence and initiative, particularly in building up attacks in midfield. In the circle, at their best, they showed anticipation at picking up rebounds and wereijlso able to force

opposing defences into errors. Although the victory was a team effort, the performances of certain players are worthy of note. S. Comer is Canterbury’s best centrehalf, by a considerable margin, while A. Colville’s consistency and passing at righthalf have been invaluable. In the forwards the decisive breaks have often come from the quickness of F. Whitehead in the centre. In addition the team has been fortunate in having the ser-

vices of two promising senior reserve players, J. Fisher and L. McAllister, both of whom played more than adequately for the team in crucial matches. However, one of the most Impressive features of the team has been the development of J. Paget on the right wing. A strong, fast and determined player, she is now very nearly Canterbury’s best player in her position. The judicious passing and understanding of T. Minehan, the captain and inside-right, has been one of the vital factors in Paget’s —and the team’s—success.

Another reason for the win was the settled nature of the team: only 14 players were used throughout the season. The members of the team were:—

T. Minehan (captain and coach), S. Comer (vice-cap-tain), F. Whitehead, K. McKerrow, A Colville, J. Hickford, G. Falloon, N. Graham, P. Anderson, K. Pyatt, J. Paget, J. Pawsey, J. Fisher, L. McAllister. y