Leading Hockey Teams Identify Themselves

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31114, 18 July 1966, Page 12

Leading Hockey Teams Identify Themselves

In the fourteenth round of the Canterbury Association’s senior competition the four leading, teams lished their places on the basis of championship points.

Goal averages were not necessary for this purpose. a process which had seemed probable tn recent weeks. The competition wM now be divided into two groups, and three more rounds wKi be played. In the major group Hagley OM Boys have estab Idshed a poartlve lead, and should prove difficult to overtake. Results: Hagley O.E. 1. H. 5.0.8. 0. University «, Sydenham 2. Harewood 1, Selwyn 0. Woalstan A S, Waalstan ■ 0. Competition paints, with goals for and against. are: Hagley 0.8. 11 (40-14); WooCston A 9| (32-16); University 9 (37-10): Harewood 9 (23-13); H. 5.0.8. 8 (17-15); Sydenham 5 (22-31): Selwyn 4 (12-25); Woo&ton B i (6-59). UHIVffItSITY V. SYDENHAM The score rather flattered Sydenham, because University launched far more attacks, which usually acMeved much greater depth. An injury to S. Maister midway through the second half partly disorganised University at a time when it had established a marked ascendancy. It played with determination, and there was marked improvement in the trapping and passing, although the tendency to over-dribble was still apparent, and there was some faulty footwork in the scrimmages. The University backs, C. Ineson and D. Wilshere, were reliable in their covering, blocking and passing, and combined constructively with the halfbacks, E. Holstein, S. Maister and M. Mikhelson, whose intercepting was good and who the forwards.

The best of the latter was J. Christensen, who was creative in Ms midfield play, dangerous in and near the Sydenham circle, and so relentless in his back-tackling that he often foiled the opposition in Ms own circle. B. Maister collected and distributed passes with more certainty, and scored one goal after a splendid dribble, an event which tempted Mm into seeking repetition too often. I. Bishop foraged successfully as a result of faster anticipation, and was a forceful threat in circle play, and L. Hutchison revealed better form, gaining much ground with fast breaks.

Sydenham's defence was based mainly upon the withdrawal of most ot the team. Lack of covering by the backs was a weakness for which stubborn tackling by the halves, R. Fergus, M. Bennett and R. Kenworthy, could not fully compensate. D. Fetherldge made some skilful breaks on the right-wing without really escaping the containment of Mikhelson, and C. Wood was more prominent on defence than on attack. M. McKinnon was by far the best player in his team, with neat stockwork and footwork, effective passing, and a refusal to indulge in barging. Goals were scored for University by I. Bishop (2), B. Maister and J. Christensen, and M. McKinnon and A. Bhana scored for Sydenham. Umpires: Messrs K. Mortimer and M. Good. HAGLEY OLD BOYS V. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS This keenly contested game was married by erratic trapping and passing, some of which was because of the pock-marked surface of a difficult ground. Hence the teams exchanged possession too rapidly for fluency, but Hagley deserved its narrow win because it penetrated more deeply on its right flank, whereas Old Boys concentrated too much upon A. Patterson, whom they had shifted to inside-left and who was fed when too far from the Hagley circle. Consistent trapping, tireless covering, reasonably accurate passing and some ability to elude made the contributions of D. Robertson, the left-back, and G. Smith, the left-half, who finished the match with a broken nose, invaluable to Hagley. Many of these qualities were also evident in the play of Peter Clark at right-half, but K. Thomson, in the centre, was below form in his trapping and passing, although more mobile than usual. On the right-wing, R. Thomson dribbled well, moving with an unusual vigour and determination. The main cause of Hagley’s progress was his partner, W. Thomson, who played his best game of the season, trapping well and dribbling elusively. He made some fine openings with subtle passes, and his back-tack-ling was vital. In the centre, A. Scott distri-

buted th* ball well. »nd hi* loss through Injury wa* sorely felt. The wetchinfl *nd carrying of the left flank pair. Paul Clark and K. Fletcher, did much to offset the opportunistic methods of the Old Boys forwards. I. Palmer blocked several shots well in the Old Boys goal, and C. Doig. at left-back, was sound in trapping and covering, although hi* tackling wa* rather weak. He was well covered by T. Iggo. the most reliable player in the Old Boys defence. The wing halves failed dismally, but E. Barnes In the centre made some effective interceptions, although tending to use his left flank too much. . . The forwards again failed to achieve combination. Because he failed to cut infield C. Dawson found his centre passes from the right were blocked with ease, and the neat dribblingof T. Burrows, his partner, could not compensate for indifferent passing. R. Bailey attempted to fill many positions from one sideline to the other, thereby neglecting some centre-forward duties. A. Patterson back-tack-led effectively and showed considerable ability in his efforts to overcome the problems of the incorrect tactical use made of him. Hagley’s goal was scored by K. Fletcher, after W. Thomson had wrecked the defence with clever dribbling. Umpires: Messrs R. Campbell and D. Lloyd. HAREWOOD V. SELWYH A match of many technical Imperfections was dominated territorially by Harewood, which had difficulty in scoring against a defence which had conscripted its own forwards for added assistance. In the second half they sometimes threatened to break out of their bondage, but their lateral passes were too easily intercepted for them to progress far. Harewood’s defence was securely based upon the efforts

tit the backs. J. Bate and L. ?Jnes* and“G Haste at centrehilt collected Selwyn passes rapaciously and « ave , hu L° h r ' wards a generous service. The vanguard indulged in too much solo dribbling, thereby co.laborating with the crowded de,e Hence J. Monk, the Selwyn goalkeeper, had little to do. and the outstanding p-«y« r ,n . game was B. Turner at ."£*■ back. He trapped well, timed his tackles excellent.y. used c'le stlckwork tn “P; ponente, and passed sensibly and accurately. The * ,r . l / h c ? ‘ lapse of movements which he had created provided a o afternoon for him. * nd ,YJJ}’ l have proved most frustrating. Harewood's goal was scored by D. Stanton. . Umpires: Messrs P. Clark and B. Lloyd. WOOLSTON A V. WOOLSTON ■ The B team did not asfiemo.e its players for defence for some time. In this period the A forwards flashed through gaps with great verve and collected four goals. Thereafter, roadblocks were effectively established. and they weathered he pounding of solo dribbling fairly well. The persistence in this form of attack denied the B team the opportunity of a lesson in fluent passing, triangular movements, back passing, and the sundry ways and means of retaining possession. but it should have imbued the juniors with a realisation of the futility of solo dribbling and of attempting to progress at a speed beyond the limits of ball control. They spent much time on defence, but at least there was much to observe by wav of negative example. Those who scored for the A. team were P. Bygrave (2), B. Aldridge, G. Gourley, and B. Judge. . Umpires: Messrs D. Hohand and S. Jessett.