HOCKEY Good Wins By Hagley O.B. And University

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31660, 22 April 1968, Page 14

HOCKEY Good Wins By Hagley O.B. And University

University and Hagley Old Boys both had good wins in the first senior hockey games of the season on Saturday. Because of the heavy state of the grounds only senior matches were played, but the playing surfaces were in fairly good condition and the results were consistent with the 1967 records. Both Linwood Old Boys and Woolston offered stout resistance to their victors, but Selwyn and Sydenham were less successful, although both battled bravely against more skilful opposition. Results were:— University 8, Selwyn 0. Hagley 0.8. 6, Sydenham 0. H. 5.0.8. 2, Woolston 1. Harewood 2, Linwood 0.8. 1. Initiative Held Possessing the better stickwork and much greater experience, and proving more accurate in its passing, Hagley maintained the initiative against Sydenham. It was particularly effective on Its right flank where W. Thomson and R. Thomson combined well, their inter-passing and close dribbling repeatedly penetrating the Sydenham defence. So deeply did they penetrate that the covering defenders were drawn out of position and the goalmouth severely exposed. W. Thomson linked consistently with his halves and backs, and he was responsible for many intelligent passes which were used to good effect by R. Thomson. Paul Clark, at in-side-left, also used the ball constructively, but missed several chances in the circle through impetuosity which Impaired his aim. At centre-half K. Thomson directed affairs with skill and precision, and the backs, Peter Clark and D. Robertson, were most reliable. Their trapping was good, and each revealed sufficient stickwork to enable them to evade opponents and initiate counter-attacks. N. Little made several useful saves In goal, and it was to Sydenham’s credit In face of the odds that he was obliged to do so. Sydenham lacked combination, and there was some laxity in marking opponents. R. Fergus frustrated many attacks by good covering from the leftback position, and M. Bennett’s interceptions at centre-half were valuable. B. Hall made several useful breaks on the rightwing, and C. Wood harassed Hagley at times with spirited back-tacking. The introduction of a number of young players who will require time for development leaves Sydenham without much experience, and there will have to be improvement in the direction of the passing and in movement to position for the

receipt of passes if combination is to be acquired. Goals were scored for Hagley Old Boys by K. Thomson (4), Paul Clarke, and K. Fletcher. Umpires: Messrs D. Lloyd and K. Mortimer. University Attacks Outstanding dribbling by the University forwards, clever use of the halves by back-passing, and some swift but insufficiently frequent flashes of ball distribution in the approach play almost demoralised the Selwyn defence. Selwyn’s dogged marking was often defeated by splendid stickwork, and many University attacks were so deep that J. Monk, the Selwyn goal-keeper, usually occupied the most heavily populated area of the field. He made Innumerable saves, some of them born of swift reflex action, but the avalanche was too great to be checked by one man. On the right-wing for University, M. Thomson made a most promising debut, his close dribbling favourably following the pattern established by the three Inside forwards, J. Christensen, B. Maister, and J. Borren, each of whom cut a swathe, stamped by personal identification and skill, through the defence. Christensen and Borren operated devastatingly in their respective channels, enabling Maister to rove with a freedom born of unusual energy. The centre-field attacks were as difficult to check as those cn the right flank, and both were complemented by the speed of T. Crossen on the left. However, his shooting was of greater danger to spectators than to the Selwyn goal. At centre-half S. Maister revelled in the use made of him by the forwards and the winghalves, but his passing was distinctly erratic, and he was at times in error when neglecting a feed to the left in favour of the attempted dribble to the right against opponents who refused to be drawn. The University defence was usually adequate, often adroit and precise in developing counter-attack, occasionally frail when trapping lapses offered Selwyn the eagerly accepted chance of applying pressure. K Mason defended resolutely at. centre-half for Selwyn, whose performance was graced at times by some neat stickwork from A. Waters at left-half. Both received useful assistance from A. Abernethy at full-back. On the left-wing R. Best’s dribbling sorely troubled his former clubmates, and I. Brown at centre-forward kept the ball close to his stick and produced a useful side-step. The passing in the forward line was indif* ferent, and the Selwyn forwards achieved little success in gaining unmarked spaces. Goals for University were scored by J. Borren (3), B. Maister (3), S. Maister, and J. Chlrstensen. Umpires: Messrs B. Lloyd and D. Holland. Harewood’s Task Harewood experienced more difficulty in beating Linwood Old Boys than it might have anticipated. It maintained a narrow lead throughout the second half, when it enjoyed a

I territorial advantage, but its I attacks lacked combination, thereby enabling a stubborn I defence to hold it at bay. J. Cranfield blocked well in the Harewood goal, and the backs, J. Bate and E. Clarke, tackled resolutely. G. Haste played soundly a-t centre-half, and A. Chesney provided the Linwood right flank with a substantial road block, which they were unable to demolish, although the energy of M. Lumsden, Linwood’s inside-right, instigated a number of proceedings within the Harewood circle. The speed of C. Broadhurst on Harewood’s right-wing often menaced Linwood, and sometimes betrayed Broadhurst. D. Stanton was cool and reasonably constructive at insideright, and the other inside forwards, D. Curtis and H. Kiernan, made vigorous sorties which threatened from afar, but were finally engulfed because they tended to be individual in nature. For Linwood the covering, trapping and tackling of I. Stanton were invaluable, and A. Best played neatly at centrehalf. A tendency to overdribble, producing the consequence of hurried and therefore indiscriminate passing in the forward line, was often the cause of early collapse in many of Linwood’s attacks. C. Broadhurst and A. Chesney scored for Harewood, and D. Le Page scored for Linwood Old Boys. Umpires: Messrs E. Ambler and D. Denniston. Lead Kept Down Although High School Old Boys maintained a distinct territorial advantage, Woolston's opposition was of sufficient quality to restrict the lead in an uncomfortably narrow margin. Old Boys showed the better combination, and usually commanded a greater amount of spare time, but suffered from some lack of finish in the circle, where R. Fuller In hi* Peripatetic manner made some good saves. Sound displays by T. Iggo at right-back and E. Barnes at centre-half helped Old Boys, and A. Patterson at inside-right made many elusive breaks. T. Wall new to senior status at inside-left, was unselfish and constructive in general field play. Woolston relied heavily upon the experience of R. Gillespie on defence and of B. Aldridge on attack, and both proved most effective. At centre-for-ward H. Kerrigan scored a remarkable goal from one of his sudden sallies. For High School Old Boys, goals were scored by A. Patterson and G. Rothwell. Umpires: Messrs W. Sloane and H. Horman.