HOCKEY Comfortable Win By Canterbury

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31144, 22 August 1966, Page 8

HOCKEY Comfortable Win By Canterbury

Canterbury beat South Canterbury, 8-0, on Saturday in its final match before competing in the New Zealand Challenge Shield hockey tournament at Dunedin.

The ground was firm but bumpy, and Canterbury absorbed much time in gaining mastery over the intricacies of trapping and passing, but

goals still came at regular intervals. For most of the match the South Canterbury inside forwards back-tackled conscientiously with the result that most members of the team were often in a defensive position. Under these circumstances the use of long hits upfield to the wings was illadvised because the wings were outnumbered by the defenders and possession was inevitably returned to Canterbury. Canterbury's performance was a slight improvement on its performance against Wellington in that it made an effort to relate speed to skill, but the centre half was again reduced to the role of a privileged spectator. The Canterbury custodian, J. Monk, was not tested and the backs, T. Iggo and B. Turner, were seldom under pressure. Extensive use was made of the right half, A. Patterson, who was untroubled by any opponent and fed his forwards capably.

p. Clark collected numerous clearing hits and returned them to the right flank, from left half. B Judge was the main destroyer of the South Canterbury defence which he penetrated time and again with fast, skilful dribbling but his feeding across the goalmouth was not always well executed. W, Thomson dribbled with some skill and fed Judge with accurate passes and P. Bygrave used his long reach and speed to effect at centre forward. D. McLay made some good saves in goal for South Canterbury but lacked judgment in meeting attacks and did not always anticipate shots quickly enough. Some of the goals were scored from such close range that he had little chance of saving them. There were others, however, which he should have covered. E. Clark tackled vigorously, and covered soundly. The South Canterbury forward line seldom acted as a unit because of the deep "W” for. mation it adopted and its sporadic raids into the Canterbury half were easily contained. B. Aldridge (3>. B. Judge (2), W. Thomson (2), and T. Thomas scored goals for Canterbury. Umpires: Messrs P. Clark and D. Holland.