Woolston Retains Lead In Senior Men’s Hockey

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30752, 17 May 1965, Page 16

Woolston Retains Lead In Senior Men’s Hockey

The fourth round of the Canterbury Hockey Association’s senior competition was played on Saturday. Sydenham’s effort in obliging West Old Boys to stage a dramatic finish in order to draw the match was unexpected, but the results of the other engagements were consistent with current form. The bumping pitch at Williamson Park made technique a problem for a computer. Results were:— H. 5.0.8. 6, Technical 0.8. 0. West 0.8. 3, Sydenham 3. Woolston 1, University 0. Harewood 1, Selwyn 0. Points: Woolston 3J, High School Boys 3. Harewood 3, Technical Old Boys li, Seiwyn 11, West Old Boys 11, Sydenham 1, University 1. Defence Erred Playing constructively and with ' a pleasing deliberation. Old Boys scored almost at will in the second half against a Technical team whose defence quite failed to summon up the blood and whose attacking sinews needed considerable stiffening. The winners made too many mistakes for their display to attain the heights whose intent was asserted by their methods, but they took grateful advantage of Technical’s failure to mark player and gap. The tackling of the Technical backs was weak and they failed to cover each other, nor did the winghalves retreat with enough speed to bolster the defence, T. Cane being particularly neglectful.

The Technical centre-half, G. Clarkson, showed some skill in what became for him the centre of a whirlpool, and G. Brown on the right-wing had much the better of his duels with G. Marshall, the opposing left-half, on the few occasions when the ball happened to be in his vicinity. Otherwise the passing was pathetic, the trapping was riddled with error, and there was little stick-work in evidence. For Old Boys, T. Iggo, rightback, A. Patterson, centre-half, and C. Francis, right-half, by swift tackling and shrewd intercepting, rendered stillborn Technical's attacks and provided their forwards with a rich repast of possession. On the right-wing C. Dawson, often quite unmarked, danced and jigged through the opposing defence with neat stick-work and fed his inside-forwards intelligently. He combined well at times with E. Barnes, insideright, whose dribbling and distribution were equally effective. The centre-forward, R. Bailey, made some elusive dribbles and was most unselffish in feeding his colleagues, and T. Burrowes, inside-left, linked well with his defenders and delivered some very delicate passes with devastating results in close play in and near the Technical circle. Goals were scored for H. 5.0.8. by E. Barnes, T. Burrowes, C. Dawson, A. Patterson, T. Thomas and R. Bailey. Umpires: Messrs B. Lloyd and I. Painter. Respect Restored Enfeebled by fallibility for much of the match West recovered in the last 15 minutes to overtake a deficit of three goals, and thereby restored some degree of respect to a display which had previously revealed a disorganised defence, subverted by halves who did not cover and by forwards whose attitude to retreating suggested support for automation and the 20-hour week. Nor did West bother greatly about the of its right flank until the spark of revolt had been kindled in the final quarter, when it struck with decisive effect in this area. Many West defenders were guilty of lunging tackles which caused over-reaching and destroyed balance, committing themselves beyond hope of recovery. There was also a tendency throughout the side for the stick to be thrust at the ball when trapping was attempted,

and the resulting rebounds repeatedly cost possession. Playing with some liveliness, the Sydenham forwards took advantage of the disruption in West's ranks, and the rather unconstructive bustling characteristic of their methods proved effective in the circumstances. In the second half there was such dedication to defence that the construction of counter-attack appeared to have been deleted from the terms of reference. Hence Sydenham lost any semblance of control over the proceedings, and when the typhoon tinally struck there was much debate but little decision in a defence which had become incapable of plucking the ball from the aggressors. West did well to force a draw, but in the circumstances Sydenham should not have permitted it. The Sydenham goals were scored by B. Monk, C. Woods and M. McKinnon, and W. Thomson (2) and K. Thomson scored for West Old Boys. Umpires: D. Lloyd and R. Fuller. Chances Missed The smoke screen from rubbish fires on adjoining properties made visibility difficult during this match at Williamson Park, and may have caused Selwyn’s failure on three occasions to deposit the ball in an untenanted goal. Selwyn played the better hockey and deserved these scoring chances which should have given it victory, but neither team was really constructive. When at home R. Fuller, the Harewood goal-keeper, blocked well, and J. Bate, right-back, was sound in possession and shrewd in positioning, compensating cleverly for an injury which greatly reduced his mobility. At centre-half D. Shepherd intercepted, eluded and passed ably, but was not present as often as desirable in cover defence. Only on the right flank did Harewood proceed with any authority, where D. Lloyd, right-wing, and D. Stanton, inside-right, combined well, controlled the ball closely, and dribbled with penetration. They enjoyed good support from G. Baldwin, right-half. In Selwyn’s ranks the lunging tackles of M. Berkeley demanded adequate covering from his colleagues, but B. Turner, left-back, was soundness personified, and his range will increase when he improves his left-to-right sidestepping. A. Waters worked willingly . at centre-half, and W. Burtt, In-side-left, was easily the most impressive forward. K. Cherry saw too little of the ball on the right-wing, and T. Bellamy’s failure to combine at centreforward handicapped Selwyn. G. Baldwin scored for Harewood with a penalty flick. Umpires: Messrs K. Mortimer and W. Thomson. Below Strength Both teams were below strength, Woolston being the more seriously affected by the absence of B. Judge and B. Aldridge. The match was evenly contested, the University defence appearing the better organised against the more decisive and determined forward line, but University was handicapped by the palpable lack of fitness of a number of players.

The Woolston backs were not impressive, but poor passing and lack of stick-work by the University forwards allowed them to scramble out of difficulty. R. Gillespie, centre-half, received an ample supply of the

bail from his opponents, and he kept his own vanguard moving freely, although he tended to over-dribble at times. All the Woolston forwards toiled hard, and this was a major factor in their win, but they did not pass well enough to achieve much combination. N. Hobson and K. Kiernan were the most impressive. and R. Timlin made some troublesome breaks along the right side-line.

University’s best player was L. Anderson, who made some splendid saves in goal and kicked powerfully. C. Ineson tackled and intercepted well at left-back, but poor positioning by his forwards limited the value of his clearances. His partner, D. Wilshere, often attempted without success to beat opponents unnecessarily, and his passing was more wide than handsome. The team badly neglected to use its most skilful player, S. Maister, centre-half, thereby vastly increasing his own problems.

The trapping and general control of E. Jackson, right-half, set an example which was seldom emulated. The forwards did not possess the technical skill to compensate for their general lack of vigour and speed, and they seldom seriously threatened the Woolston goal. Woolston’s goal was scored by D. Anthony. Umpires: Messrs E. Thomas and D- Denniston.