Hagley Lucky To Win In Senior Men’s Hockey

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31399, 19 June 1967, Page 14

Hagley Lucky To Win In Senior Men’s Hockey

When the ninth round of the Canterbury Hockey Association’s senior competition was played on Saturday, the lead nearly changed hands.

High School Old Boys, in the last few moments of their match against Hagley Old Boys, failed to convert a penalty, and then their indecision and ineptitude enabled Hagley to score.

The leading teams also won their games. Results were:— University 4, Selwyn 0. Harewood 5, Sydenham Z. Woolston 1, Linwood 0.8. 0.

Competition points, with goals for and against in parenthesis, were: Hagley Old Boys 8 (19-6), University 74 <2B-7), Woolston 6 (12-8), Harewood 5J (21-14). High School Old Boys S (23-13), Selwyn 2 (9-29). Linwood Old Boys 14 (7-24), Sydenham 4 (9-27). Hagley K O.B. v. H. 5.0.8. After a scrappy first half. Old Boys established a marked ascendancy in possession of the ball and territorial superiority. They were able to feed 'their right flank repeatedly, helped by the increasingly defensive methods of Hagley. in which K. Thomson, at centre-half, became a third back for much of the time.

Hagley’s tactics frustrated the opposing attacks until a late stage of the game, when its defence was penetrated and a penalty stroke conceded. At this point Old Boys deserved what would have been the winning goal, but the stroke was badly taken. Worse followed, with Hagley being presented with a goal two minutes from time. Yet Hagley had not been able to visit the Old Boys’ circle more than four times in the second half.

Generally the Hagley defence was sound, but there was a hint of uncertainty at times, and It appeared as if Old Boys should have exerted more pressure on Hagley’s wing-halves, R. Smith and G. Smith. The only real thrust in the attack was provided by S. Crotty, the centreforward. and Paul Clark, the inside-left. R. Thomson, on the right-wing, was sadly neglected, especially as W. Thomson, his partner, was inclined to accept frustration with a stoic indifference.

Old Boys’ main strength lay In their half-line. The covering of D. Warren, on the left, was Invaluable, since A. Patterson. the left-back, persisted in a wide rlght-to-left side-step which usually placed the ball beyond his control. In the centre E. Barnes took advantage of the space and time provided by the withdrawal of Hagley's defence, and he passed io good effect. The trapping of C. Francis was outstanding, and his feeding of T. Burrows at inside-right was almost as good.

Burrows was too deliberate to take advantage of gaps in the defence, and lacked speed when a break invited it. G. Rothwell, on the right-wing, showed some penetration, and R. Bailey, in the centre, worried the defence sufficiently to compel close attention from K. Thomson. T. Thomas, on the left-wing, saw little of the ball, suffering from the ponderousness of his inside partner. Both goal-keepers kicked well, and bad little blocking to do. For most of the match Hagley’s passing was incredibly ragged. Its goal was scored through the agency of

Pau! Clarke, with the connivance of some defenders, led by Patterson.

Umpires: Messrs W. Morris and D. Lloyd.

University v. Selwyn University's four goal margin was a fair reflection of its superiority in a match in which Selwyn played with considerable spirit, managed a number of lively sorties, and even forced a fruitless penalty stroke. University’s close passing forced so much defensive play upon Selwyn that the University forwards were usually obliged to find a channel to the circle through 11 opponents. R. McHarg, in the University goal, kicked the ball so far from his circle as to suggest a disdainful dismissal of Selwyn’s aspirations, and both backs, B. Turner and C. Ineson, tackled well. The halves showed increased mobility with S. Maister in the centre dominating the mid-fleld. On the right, E. Holstein was in better form.

J. Christensen at inside-right was heavily marked, yet managed some excellent breaks with skilful dribbling, and he and the other forwards back-tackled with urgency and profit. B. Maister's goal was an example of skill, control, opportunism and coolness. J. Borren at in-side-left was inconsistent, but he produced some penetrative dribbles and good passes. J. Monk made many saves for Selwyn some with skill and assurance, others with a hint of panic. Selwyn owed much to the diligence of K. Mason and A. Waters in the half-line, and to the back-tackling of all the forwards. In this phase of play K Cherry was especially to the fore. University’s goals were scored by S. Maister (2) from penalty strokes, B. Maister and J. Christensen.

Umpires: Mr R. Campbell and Dr. L. McH. Berry. Harewood v. Sydenham The bustling methods of the Harewood forwards proved effective against a loose Sydenham defence. However, many passing errors by Harewood gave Sydenham some relief, and the Sydenham forwards received some share of the ball as a result.

Clarke and J. Bate, dealt effectively with Sydenham’s long through passes, and G. Haste made the most of the time which a welcome loneliness afforded. On the right G. Baldwin was not required to hasten to dominate his area. The right flank pair, C. Broadhurst and D. Stanton, imposed massacre upon the Sydenham defence, and the flow of centre passes provided the remaining forwards, D. Lloyd K. Kiernan, and P Bygrave with some scoring chances.

In the Sydenham defence, M. Bennett, the centre-half, was the main obstacle to Harewood, and R. Fergus the one defender who could create counter-attack with accurate passing. The only really close control in dribbling was provided by D. Petherbridge, who received some assistance from his centre-for-ward, C. Nimmo. G. Morris made some useful pushed passes on the left-wing. Goals were scored for Harewood by K. Kiernan (5), and C. Woods and a collective scramble scored for Sydenham.

Umpires: Messrs K. Thomson and K. Mortimer.

Woohton v. Linwood Old Boys When this match ended Woolston had won by a single goal, thereby gaining revenge for the upset inflicted by Linwood in the first round. Woolston deserved to win because it attacked for most of the match, but the margin justly reflected the paucity of skill in its advances. The proceedings consisted of mis-hit or ill-directed passes which were easily intercepted, an odd flash or two of stickwork, then more mis-hits. Being the more consistent in these vices, Linwood lost the ball with regularity in its own half where most of the activity took place. R. Gillespie dribbled further than most, and with better control, hence proving the most effective on attack, since dribbling appeared to be the only method for progress. J. Abrams and R. Campbel], the Woolston backs, were able to play far upfield, there to collect the ball or rob the opponent with ease. B. Aldridge scored Woolston's formal registration of superiority in a match too pitiful to be related closely to hockey. Umpires: Messrs W. Perry and B. Lloyd.

The Harewood backs, E.