Harewood Holds Lead In Women’s Hockey

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32323, 15 June 1970, Page 12

Harewood Holds Lead In Women’s Hockey

After holding Harewood to a scoreless draw at half-time, University allowed Harewood to dictate play in the second half, for the latter to win, 4-0, while in the most crucial match of the round In the women's senior hockey competition, Burnside gained a 3-2 win over a tenacious Digby's team. Other winners on Saturday were Aranui and Rawhiti. Results were: Harewood 4, University 0. Rawhiti 2, Carlton 1. Burnside 3, Digby's 2. Aranui 3, Teachers* College 0. Points: Harewood 7J, Burnside 7. Digby’s 5, University 4. Carlton and Rawhiti 3, Aranui 2i, Teachers’ College 0. Digby's v. Burnside In a match which provided spectators with excitement, Burnside gained a narrow win over Digby’s. Both teams played at top speed throughout, and some fine movements resulted from good tactical play. Positional play of a high standard proved vital, and the value of such a skill became evident as the match went on. Both half-lines were hard-worked for support on attack and defence, both of which followed in rapid succession. Burnside opened the scoring with a good opportunist goal from the inside-right, J. Mouat. She caught the ball nicely off a rebound and caught the defence on the wrong foot. This was the only goal of the half. Play ranged up and down field, neither team managing to pierce determined defence. Digby's scored the equaliser very soon after play resumed. The attack moved off from the bully through the centre, and the inside left. G. Gray, caught the rebound from good following up. Burnside immediately attacked with great purpose down the right flank, and A. Alleway, at inside left, scored from a centering pass with a fine shot to the corner of the net. G. Grav again , equalised for Digby's. She got in a good push-shot when the Burnside goal-keeper, C. Cusdin, was on the ground—a frequent occurrence in the match. . What proved the vital goal was another well-directed shot from A. Alleway. She received a quick pass in the circle from the centre-forward, J. Phillips, and left the issue in no real doubt. Digby’s suffered a setback just before half-time, when its left back and captain. D. McKinnel, pulled a muscle in the left leg and had to leave the field. Umpires: Mrs J. Fifield and Miss J. Bowyer. Harewood v. University Although University held the strong and close-knit Harewood team for the first half, its defence slipped in the second half. Solid defence, good covering and backing up were features of University's defence in the first half, but Harewood began to find gaps in the second. Both teams trapped well, and the passing from line to line and forward to forward was of a high standard. Harewood's forwards were lively, and forced the pace. They were ably led by L. Rutledge, the inside right. She is playing very fine hockey and is a real danger when in possession. She herself scored three of her team's four goals. L. Bayliss, the inside left, scored the other goal. She is showing much improved form. The Harewood left defence, with J. Capstick foremost, marked closely and University's R. McDonald, its most dangerous forward, was not allowed much

leeway J. Poulsen, Harewood's right back, covered well and cleared strongly. She and J. Capstick interchanged well. University pushed many of its attacks down the left flank, this side of the field being Harewood’s busiest, too, where the wing, P. Randle, had a busy [match. Her left back. P. McMorran, broke up many Harewood attacks, and her distribution of the ball was good. The goal-keeper, H. Brassell, made some good saves, but she was not abfe to withstand five harassing forwards at once. Umpires: Miss B. Makinson and Mrs M. Gray. Carlton v. Rawhiti In a deservedly-earned win, Rawhiti proved that team play is far more valuable and effective than relying on individual players for solo runs. Throughout the match. Rawhiti distributed the ball for a forward rush, and the ball moved along the line as though players well j knew of one another’s whereabouts. J. Millard attempted to [combined with her right wing, M. Bennett, but the latter was [closely marked by Carlton's left half, H. Warren. Rawhiti’s left flank of K. Sutton and K. Hulston was just as [effective and dangerous as its i counterpart, and so received a [great amount of play. The [young centre-half, L. Wright, showed great understanding of the positional play vital to a i centre-half. Carlton opened the scoring, Rawhiti trailing until half way through the second spell. After a long series of attacks, stemmed by grand blocking from the Carlton goal-keeper. J. Hamilton. Rawhiti's J. Millard, at inside right, steered a pass from her half line into the corner of the net. Rawhiti continued to press hard, its efforts being rewarded when K. Huls!ton, inside left, pierced the ! solid defence to score the second goal. Carlton began confidently and [constructively, but as the 'match wore on. Rawhiti's con [sistency seemed to wear Carlton down, and its forward line broke up. There remained little [team work and players ran the ball as individuals, a tactic Rawhiti became practised at stopping. The left flank, though inexperienced. attempted to combine, and continually passed the ball to the right, where movements broke down. The

s Carlton defence played hard. 1 but its efforts were wasted . when the forwards failed to carry out their job. s J. Hamilton, in goal, kept the s Carlton defence together, and - was most reliable. Her biggest e support came from her wing ( halves. P. Carr and H. Warren, • and the left back, J. Buckley. ‘ Carlton’s goal came from an ’ inside-right attack. The ball ; came loose to J. Wilson, at - centre forward, who lost no ’ time in getting in a hard shot. e Umpires Miss B. Turbott and 1 Mrs M. Gray. Aranui v. Teachers* College Although Teachers' College showed better form, with more . team work and combination, it ( lacked the necessary finish tn - the circle to gain a goal. Col--1 lege found the more experi- • enced and much faster Aranui - forwards hard to contain. J. 1 Moher again played a good I game in the College goal, but 1 did not overawe Aranuis - centre forward, S. Cowles, who J scored two fine goals. The first . came soon after the match be- » gan. t Aranui moved into College territory and S. Cowles passed to - her right near the circle edge. k The ball slowed up on the soggy b field and to retain possession. » she ran quickly after the ball e herself. Then followed a hard • shot from the right of the net f which caught the defence off aj balance. This was the only goal of the half. In the second half, it was K again S. Cowles who moved r early into the College circle and . netted with a hard shot. Ara ? nut’s third goal came from good • positional play on the part of . W. Stock, inside left. Aranui s s forwards had mounted an at - tack into College territory and - after several attempted goal s shots the ball rebounded - straight to W. Stack, who nete ted decisively. College had its share of attacking movements, but these 1 broke down within scoring dise tance. The right inner and centre forward, J. Burnett, and - G. Stanley played hard to gam e ground, and received good supe port from the centre and left e halves, M. Higgins and B c Thomas. t With more drive and purpose i in the circle. College could o have capitalised on its scoring 1 chances. ? Umpires: Miss G. Bowyer and Mr R. Hurst