Hockey championship hard to predict

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31656, 17 April 1968, Page 9

Hockey championship hard to predict

JAN the eve of operations, a profit and loss account of personnel among the eight senior hockey clubs, based partly on established fact and partly on the more dubious reliability of the grape-vine, a most fertile plant at this time of the year, reveals a balance which events alone will place on the debit or credit side. University, last season’s champion after a close, protracted struggle with Hagley Old Boys, has lost B. Turner, possibly the most competent back in New Zealand, and C. Milne, and has gained R. Campbell from Woolston, A. Borren from Wellington, and M. Thomson from Boys’ High School. Hagley’s will-

Ing workers, and its other experienced members, will continue to trouble all opposition, and Harewood should benefit from the addition of A. Chesney from Linwood Old Boys to compensate for the considerable loss of G. . Baldwin and H. Kerrigan. Like Hagley, Sydenham appears to be intact, although there is a rumour that L. Lloyd may not be playing, and this would be detrimental to its interests. Woolston has made a successful take-over bid for the Working Men’s Club in its district, and has also gained

Kerrigan. The problem of stabilising the defence, afterthe retirement of J. Abrams last season, is still with it. The loss of Chesney is a major blow to Linwood Old Boys, whose other absentees are R. Stanton and L. Hutchison, the latter for part of the season at least. Lin- . wood has gained M. Read from University and possibly A. Best, a former University player, and F. Harding from Linwood High School may be a substantial acquisition. High School Old Boys will miss the influence of T. Burrowes in its forward line,

but should derive some solace in the recruitment of T. Wall and M. Kidd frofn Boys’ High Por-| ter may not be jwlth Selwyn,! and if -J; W.' Burtt also reTires from the ranks the gap will be quite perceptible. Its attack should benefit from! the addition of the former University player, R. Best A list of the teams for the first round of competition play on April 20 suggests that the four leading paper tigers should be University, Hagley Old Boys, Harewood and High School- Old Boys. However, a colts tour of Australia, a possible short national tour of Australia, and week-end coaching seminars for the Olympic team, might w.eck the competition as a serious contest for the senior clubs. In this regard University appears to be the most vulnerable. It is not likely that the last four teams will be ultimately contesting the Harewood Trophy and the major four competing for the Taylor Trophy, but the composition of each group could mock at all prediction. Certainly at the present time University regards its first eleven as a combination and permutation of its best 18 players. The less favoured . clubs may find 1968 a rewarding season.

Good new half-back

Canterbury will be well served by half-backs this season with C. R. Laidlaw available for part of the season, and L. J. Davis playing in the senior competition.

However, a young halfback who may attract some attention from the selectors this season is a former Golden Bay-Motueka player, G. Barnes, who has joined the Christchurch Club.

The vice-captain of the combined team last season, Barnes played some very fine Rugby for his union and was instrumental in Golden-Bay-Motueka almost taking the Seddon Shield from the strong Marlborough side when he scored a superb blind-side try which led the combined side in its fight back to draw 11-11 with the holders of the shield.

Barnes should find club Rugby in Christchurch not quite so demanding in some respects. While living in Murchison he travelled more than 5000 miles to play Rugby.