Men’s Hockey Has Three Leaders

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31090, 20 June 1966, Page 14

Men’s Hockey Has Three Leaders

The tenth round of the Canterbury senior men’s hockey competition brought Harewood’s first defeat, which enabled High School Old Boys and Hagley Old Boys to share the lead with it for championship honours. All matches were played at Burwood Park, where one of the grounds was in good condition, but the other two were rather bumpy. Results: Woolston A 2, Harowood 1. Hagley 0.8. 2, University 0. H. 5.0.8. 1, Selwyn 0. Sydenham *, Woolston B 2. Points: Harewood 7, H. 5.0.8. 7, Hagley 0.8. 7. University 51. Woolston A 51, Sydenham 4, Selwyn 3i, Woolston B i. WOOLSTON A v. HAREWOOD Although Harewood made desperate efforts to preserve its unbeaten record and forced several difficult chances, it was held for most of the game in a vice compounded of swift tackling and effective dribbling by I the Woolston forwards. I Woolston had the better ot i the play in each half, and made more profitable use of its right flank. In addition it produced many dangerous breaks through the centre, which required some desperate covering and switching by the Harewood backs, J. Bate and L. Innes, to frustrate. Also, its goal-keeper, S. Cranfield, who played well, was obliged to block more shots than hts opposite number, R. JenIn Woolston’s defence the sound trapping and powerful clearances of the left-back, J. Abrams, were invaluable, but the use which his partner made of the side-line suggested a lack of confidence in stickwork. R. Gillespie Intercepted and tackled well at centre-half, and his passing was reasonably accurate C. Cox on the right trapped well and passed cleanly, but found H. Kerrigan 8 speed a difficult problem. The dribbling of P. Bygrave, N. Hobson and B. Judge skilfully gained vast stretches of ground at considerable speed,

and its early successes appeared to Influence Bygrave and Judge to go too far at times. B. Aldridge, at inside-left, was effective in midfield play, and the quantity of hts back-tackling made him almost an extra halfback.

G. Baldwin played neatly at right-half for Harewood, but tended to dally with the ball too often. C. Broadhurst used his limited chances to display good stickwork, but his infield break was effectively blocked. D. Stanton at inside-right also dribbled well. He had difficulty in feeding Broadhurst, but some of his passes to the left were of greater use. At insiae-left D. Lloyd spent much time in back-tackling, and his elusiveness enabled him to switch the play frequently. Seldom did it return to him in the late stage of attacks. Harewood’s failure to check the Woolston forwards In midfield play cost it the initiative, and this was the pattern for the whole match. The Woolston A goals were scored by P. Bygrave and N. Hobson, and D. Stanton scored for Harewood. Umpires: Messrs K. Mortimer and C. V. Walter. HAGLEY 0.8. V. UHIVMSITY TerrltoriaiMy and wrth regard to possession of the bald University won this match, but it presented Hagley with two bonus goals by reason of pathetic trapping, and its forwards swarmed around the Hagley goalmouth without result. Hagley’s cover defence was good, G. Smith, at left-half, being especially Indefatigable in this need, and the soundness and skl'N of D. Robertson, at leftback, were of equal value. Hagley’s long confinement on defence was caused by inaccurate passing and the Inability or indifference of ths forwards to seek unmarked positions. The Inside-left. Paul Clark, back-tackled strongly, and Peter Clark, at right-half, gave bis backs good support. The main stumbling Mock to University, however, was K. Thomson at centre-haM, who played a deep defensive game, and wandered judiciously and effectively. His trapping and stiekwork were outstanding, and he read the play much more intelligently than Ms

opponents. For the most part the Hagley attack seemed to consist of testing the trapping ability of the University defence. University trapped the ball with sufficient frequency to gain much possession. but there) was also uncertainty in this skill, and It exacted a heavy price. The tendency to overdribble was again in evidence, as was ths desire to survey the field like a nervous punter before deigning to pass. These faults forced much square passing on the University halves because of the time they gave to the Hagley cover defence, and the forwards seldom enloyed much snace for manoeuvre.

The University centre-haif. S. G. Matster. played well on defence, Intercepting frequently and guarding the ball with close stickwork, but his passing was erratic, nor did he manoeuvre often enough for a better position from which to deliver the pass Hagley’s goals were scored by K. Thomson and A. Scott. Umnfres: Dr. L. McH. Berry and Mr D. Llloyd. H. 5.0.8. V. SELWYN On a bumpy ground Old Boys experienced great difficulty in I penetrating the Selwyn defence, which withstood the onslaught by assembling rapidly and in great numbers. It was materially assisted by faulty trapping, inaccurate passing and poor positioning by the Old Boys forwards. The latter had an abundance of ball from their halves and backs, who early established and then maintained superiority over the Selwyn forwards. The Old Boys centre-half. A. Patterson, enjoyed the unusual experience ot receiving many passes from Ms eolieagugs, but the ineffectiveness of his forwards caused him to overdribble, a fault whicb may have been no worse on tbe day than an earner pass. The Selwyn goalkeeper. J. Monk, blocked stubbornly, but Ms kicking was not always strong. The left-back, B. Turner, appropriated the ball in Ms area from all and sundry with the ease of a bank teller, and bls partner, A. Abernethy, trapped well and covered usefully. The halves lacked the close stiekwork needed to elude

opponents, but they positioned themselves Intelligently The weekly failure of the Selwyn forwards to combined pee vented them from making much progress, but their determined back-tackling greatly added to the problems of the Old Bov« vanguard. R. BaHey scored tor Old Bovs Umpires: Messrs K Thomson and R. Campbell. SYDENHAM v. WOOLSTON B Sydenham fully deserved its success because it achieved greater penetration on attack especially through the right flank In the first half the woolston defence was quite dis organised, but after the tnter ral Improved trapping and pow tinning restricted the activities of the Sydenham forwards and gave the Woolston vanguard more opportunities Tbe Sydenham defence was not often threatened by an organised attack, but It was obliged to concede two goal* in the second half through faults in trapping, tackling and pom tionlng, and it was fortunate that it was not subjected to more sustained pressure. The reorganisation of the Svdenham forward line was sue cessful. c Woods trapped and passed with certainty at Insideright. and gave D. Petherbridge "•nF chances for lengthv on rts 6l ring *• inside-left. M. McKinnon passed the ban to tbe right constructively and dribbled neatlv. but scorned back-tackling requiremenu.

Woolston B has spent manylong hours on defence this season. and once again Ito bust *** * n J ■J?* 1 •••ettvo members were E. CampbeH whose trap Ping and intercepting were reasonably well dene. P. Sutherland whose positioning was gen erally attuned to the needs of the moment, and K. Kiernan whose spofling play was bonest *"£ The forwards certainty registered their greatest sueceea of the season tn scoring two goals. Sydenham's goals were scored by B. Monk. J. Ooddard. M. Ben neti and M. McKinnon and D Anthony and D. Steventon ■cored for Woolston B. Umpires: Messrs D. HoHsnd and D. Warren.