Last-Minute Goals Decide Men’s Hockey Matches

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30794, 5 July 1965, Page 15

Last-Minute Goals Decide Men’s Hockey Matches

A feature of the eleventh round of the Canterbury senior hockey competition, which was played on Saturday, was the scoring of important goals in the last few seconds of two of the matches.

Harewood gained a draw against the run of play with one of these efforts, and Woolston maintained its championship lead of one point as a result of a belated and sustained assault upon the University goal. Results:

Woolston 3, University 2. Selwyn 2, Harewood 2. H. 5.0.8. 5, Technical 0.8. L West 0.8. 2, Sydenham 1. Points. —Woolston 91, High School Old Boys Bi, West Old Boys 7, Harewyiod 6i, University 41. Sydenham 3i, Selwyn 3, Technical Old Boys li. WOOLSTON v. UNIVERSITY

The first half of this match was fairly evenly contested, with Woolston enjoying some small measure of territorial superiority, which was more emphatically asserted after the interval.

However, University interjected at times with some raids of sufficient spirit to overcome technical frailties, and snatched a lead of one goal. University lost the match because Its forwards were not skilful enough to raise the siege, but Woolston deserved its win by reason of the intolerable pressure which it brought to bear when the need was greatest. The Woolston backs, J. Abrams and B. Winks, covered each other adequately, trapped the ball with some assurance, and were usually constructive in their passing, and both R. Gillespie and P. Sutherland in the halves emerged from an afternoon of bustle with some credit, mainly for their success in harassing the opposing forwards.

B. Judge on the right-wing dribbled and weaved into and through the University defence with skin and speed, and only good covering and resolute tackling held him at bay. A solid display of back-tackling, fetching and carrying, determined dribbling and useful passing by N. Hobson was of vital importance to Woolston. The University goal-keeper. L. Anderson, was outstanding, and often repelled shot after shot projected at his charge on a conveyor-belt system. The sound positioning, cool, resolute trapping and tackling, and swift passing of C. Ineson, left-back, were invaluable, and S. G. Maister, centre-half, wriggled out of tackles and slipped past opponents in the minimum of space and with an abundance of stickwork. In the vanguard T. Crossen and R. Best made some spirited breaks, and I. Bishop pursued the loose ball with energy and enthusiasm. Goals were scored for Woolston by T. Brennan (2) and B. Aldridge, and R. Best and T. Crossen scored for Univeristy. Umpires: Messrs R. Fuller and D. Lloyd. HAREWOOD V. SELWYN A rejuvenated Selwyn forward Hne prowled with some vigour and admirable persistence upon the Harewood defence, and so disorganised it that Harewood's attacks became spasmodic, limited in number, and more re-

flective of desperation than organisation. Hence, Selwyn should have won, and would have done with more skill near the Harewood goalmouth. The return of B. Turner, leftback, brought stability to the Selwyn defence, and although some of his passes were thankfully received by opponents he enjoyed much success in creating counter-attacks. At centrehalf A. Waters trapped, intercepted and passed to good effect, and his untiring mobility enabled him to assist his defence and support his forwards ceaselessly.

At centre-forward T. Bellamy slipped between the Harewood backs and turned up in the circle so often that a personal duel developed between him and R. Fuller, the Harewood goalkeeper, who made some desperate saves. The inside-left, W. Burtt, was always giving aid to his half backs, and his dribbling was more skilfully controlled. He made some neat through passes, and, like Bellamy, indulged in some swift personal probes.

For Harewood, J. Bate and G. Baldwin shouldered most of the burden in deep defence. At centre-half, D. Shepherd confined himself a little too much to midfield play, being of greater assistance to his forwards than to his backs. Two fruitful combined moves by the Harewood forwards emphasised their lack of combination for most of the match, and although C. Broadhurst, D. Stanton and H. Kerrigan often travelled far in their individual dashes for the Selwyn circle, they were usually smothered before reaching their destination. R. Myhre and W. Burtt scored for Selwyn, and L. Smith and G. Baldwin scored for Harewood, whose most authentic period developed when defeat threatened. Umpires: Messrs E. Thomas and M. Good. WEST 0.8. V. SYDENHAM In this match the welkin rang with the clashing of sticks and an interminable babel of protesting voices from players with views on the left-side tackle rule and from side-line advisers with opinions on tactics. During the occasional interruptions to the debate West filched a win by slipping the ball into spaces behind opponents and causing them much twisting and turning on a muddy ground.

In the midst of the tumult, N. Little made several outstanding saves in the West goal, and D. Robertson at left-back strengthened the defence with sound positioning, skilful evading and accurate passing. The left-half, G. Smith, blocked the opposing right-wing, D. Petheridge, well, the latter sihowing too much modesty in parting so quickly with the ball.

On the right-wing, R. Thomson suffered from the bellicose interpretation of the left-side tackle rule, but his partner, W. Thomson, led the attack well, trapping, dribbling and passing skilfully. A. Scott dribbled well, but for too long, and P. Clark journeyed even further, chiefly because of a greater defensive weakness in his area.

Some powerful kicking by B. Harris cleared the Sydenham goal, and M. Bennett contributed some sound trapping and valu-

■able covering at centre-half, although his upright stance limits his stickwork. At Insideright M. McKinnon directed the attack shrewdly, receiving useful support from C. Woods. Two goals were scored for West Old Boys by W. Thomson, and one for Sydenham by B. Monk. Umpires: Messrs P. Chant and N. Dailey. H. 5.0.8. v. TECHNICAL Old Boys gained a comfortable win from a superior pattern of play. Little back-tackling was required from their forwards, and the backs, T. Iggo and D. Warren, enjoyed ample leisure for trapping, clearing and feeding. The Old Boys centre-half, A. Patterson, produced the best stickwork in the match, and by concentrating upon correct positioning dominated play. C. Francis on the right was used to advantage as an attacking medium, and the forwards experienced little difficulty in reaching the Technical circle. For Technical, I. Emmerson played well in goal. G. Clarkson was clearly the most solid defender, and S. Crotty the most constructive forward.

Goals were scored for High School Old Boys by A. Patterson (2), E. Barnes (2) and T. Thomas, and G. Creagh scored for Technical Old Boys. Umpires: Messrs R. Thomson and V. Horman.

Lower Grades

Senior Reserve.—High School Old Boys .4. Technical 0; Sydenham 6, New Brighton 2; Harewood 2, Woolston 0.

Second Grade A.—Boys’ High School 6. Sydenham 1; Selwyn 5, West Old Boys 0; Linwood High School 6, University 2; Harewood 4. Woolston 0. Second Grade B.—Christ’s College 7, University 3; High School Old Boys 4, Cashmere High School 1; Selwyn 2, Boys’ High School 2; Shirley Boys’ High School 7, Technical 1. Third Grade.—Sydenham A 4. Riccarton High School 2; University 3, Woolston 2.

Fourth Grade.—New Brighton 4. Sydenham A 3: University 7, Sydenham B 0; Burnside High School 3, High School Old Boys 0; Woolston 5, Christ's College 2.

Under 16 Years.—Shirley Boys’ High School 1, School for Deaf 0: Boys ’High School 9, High School Old Boys 0; New Brighton 9, West Old Boys 1; Cashmere High Schoo! 4, Sydenham 2.

Under 14 Years.—Boys’ High School A 15, Boys’ High School B 9; Sydenham A 9, Selwyn 0: Woolston 8, Riccarton High School 3; Shirtey Boys’ High School 5, Harewood 4.

KAIAPOI LADIES' CLUB.—Results of a bogey match played this week were:—A grade: Mesdames C. Chisnail, 4 down; K. Reid, 5 down: 'M. Sullivan, 5 down. B grade: Mesdames W. Gordon, 2 down; R. Register, 7 down; R. Evans, 8 down; K. Duncan, 8 down.