HAREWOOD AND OLD BOYS LEAD HOCKEY

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30740, 3 May 1965, Page 20

HAREWOOD AND OLD BOYS LEAD HOCKEY

As a result of the matches played in the second round of the Canterbury Hockey Association’s senior competition, Harewood and High School Old Boys have taken the lead in the championships.

Although moving in a quietly restrained tempo, Harewood gave the most convincing display of the day by reason of the degree of efficiency which it attained in disposing of Technical Old Boys. High School Old Boys were not greatly troubled by Sydenham, but they did not reproduce their good form of the previous round. Results were:— University 2, West Old Boys 1. Harewood 6, Technical Old Boys 1. High School Old Boys 4, Sydenham 1. Woolston 2, Selwyn 0. Competition points:—Harewood 2, High School Old Boys 2, Woolston li, University 1, Technical Old Boys J, Selwyn J, Sydenham J, West Old Boys 0. Narrow Win The major fixture at Williamson Park was accorded the dignity of television, but the existence of an unseen audience did not inspire the teams to histrionic bliss. West Old Boys had the better of the first half, apart from one Serlod of sustained pressure by diversity, and after the resumption of play threatened to continue tn the same vein, but

University was the stronger and more determined team in the closing stages, and deserved its narrow victory because of its more co-ordinated defence and its greater mobility.

fts centre-half, S. Maister. was the outstanding player of both teams, his anticipation, positioning and trapping repeatedly foiling West attacks, and Ms close stickwork enabled him to emerge triumphantly from areas of complete encirclement. He was ably aided and abetted by C. Ineson at left-back, who timed his tackles and interceptions at curately, and passed neatly and constructively. The right-back D. Wilshire, provided some useful covering, but his right-to-left sidestep often led him into difficulties. At left-half M. Mikhelson showed improvement in his trapping and sought to switch the play as often as possible. a manoeuvre which would be available to him more frequently with closer stickwork.

R. Best at inside-left revealed Improved mobility and his back-tackling was most valuable, and G. Devon on the left wing provided several useful centre passes. The University right flank was seldom in action, and the prosecution of attacks through the centre was not efficient enough to prevent a scrappy and tentative appearance in the progress of the forward line. Many West players were obviously far from fit, with the result that the probings qf the forwards were more lethargic than lethal. Their trapping was poor, they were too upright in stance for adequate bait con trol, and they were slow in moving into position. P. Clark at Inside-left was the only forward to impress by reason of bis Industrious back-tackling. G. Smith at left-half was re-

sponsible for some valuable close marking, and D. Robertson on the right covered well on defence at times. K. Abrams played soundly enough at rightback, his trapping being good and his passing reasonably efficient, but his partner. D. Hamilton, tackled with more impetuosity than wisdom at times. N. Little was a very safe custodian. R. Best and M. Mikhelson scored for University, and K. Thomson for West Old Boys. Umpires: Messrs E. Thomas and E. Ambler. Mediocrity Poor trapping and attempts by some players to dispense altogether with this requirement prevented either High School Old Boys or Sydenham from developing much semblance of control, and doomed the exchanges to a worried mediocrity. Sydenham’s defence was mainly destructive in content, and this handicapped a forward line which showed little combination when it did receive the ball. Old Boys were able, therefore, to exert pressure for most of the match, and they won comfortably although playing indifferently. The Old Boys backs, T. Iggo and D. Warren, were among the sounder players on the field, the former being particularly effective in trapping and passing. At centre-half A. Patterson’s übiquity enabled him to dominate the midfield, but his wanderings might have been less effective against shrewder opposition, and his trapping was not as reliable as usual. T. Burrows was the best forward in the match, linking well with his defence, exhibiting neat stickwork, and passing sensibly and accuratedly. R.

Bailey also enjoyed some moments of prominence, and C. Dawson and E. Barnes on the right flank frequently worried the Sypdenham defence. The Sydenham custodian, R. Harris, made many good saves, Ms courageous display preventing a more severe statistical embarrassment. At centrehalf M. Bennett defended stubbornly, apart from one costly fly-Mt, but Sydenham lacked the ability to develop attacks on its right flank, its frequent clearances to the left being of great value to Old Boys. This was doubly unfortunate for Sydenham, because D. Petheridge on its right wing was easily its best and most penetrative forward. Goals were scored for High School Old Boys by T. Burrows (2), R. Bailey and A. Patterson, and K. Gee scored for Sydenham. Umpires: Messrs E. Thomas and E. Jackson. Consistent As play between Woolston and Selwyn developed the proceedings settled into a fairly consistent pattern of Woolston attacks led by B. Judge at insideright and N. Hobson at centreforward against a plucky defence, based on good covering by backs and halves implemented by sustained back-tack-ling from the Selwyn forwards.

Selwyn showed . Increased maturity and determination in its defensive play, but Its forwards are not yet sufficiently developed to create effective, combined counter-attacks, and their efforts were usually frustrated with some rapidity by the Woolston halves, supported by backs who were fully adequate whenever required. The return of R. Gillespie at centre-half greatly strengthened Woolston, and he and P. Sutherland on the right gave their forwards a handsome service. Judge dribbled most elusively and combined ■ cleverly with Hobson, both of them controlling the bail admirably in some very congested situations. Their move which produced Woolston’s second goal was .the product of considerable hockey ability. G. Gourlay also made some swift and skiMul breaks on the right wing. The pressure which these players exerted made the result inevitable, bu,t Selwyn made the scoring of goals quite difficult for them. Quite outstanding in the Selwyn defence was B. Turner at left-back, whose trapping, tackling, eluding, positioning and was doubly unfortunate for passing presage an impressive future for this young player. A. Waters and R. Allan also toiled heroically to provide a tight defence, and the back-tackling of W. Burtt and J. Patterson greatly helped their halves and backs. The forwards managed a few useful sporadic raids, without succeding in breaking the covering of J. Abrams and B. Winks. The. Woolston goals were scored by K. Kiernan and N. Hobson. Umpires: Messrs D. Lloyd and W. Perry. Harewood Best Play was falrdly even in the first half, but Harewood established an ascendancy over Technical Old Boys thereafter by achieving and maintaining a precision which gave <it a preponderance of possession and which enabled it to ad-

vance with ample time for combined moves which took full advantage of faulty marking by Technlcal defenders. Both teams played with restraint and at a deliberate pace, and these factors allowed Harewood to attack with a pleasing fluency at times. Technical never succeeded in emulating this level of combination, and its defence almost collapsed completely in the later stages. ,

L. Smith (5) and H. Kerrigan scored for Harewood, and S. Crotty for Technical from a penalty corner. Umpires: Messrs R. Ferguson and D. Denniston.