N.Z. HOCKEY TEAM Six Canterbury Players Chosen Junior Out Of Trials

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 19

N.Z. HOCKEY TEAM Six Canterbury Players Chosen

Junior Out Of Trials

(By Our Backey Reporter)

The New Zealand men’s hockey team to play three elimination test matches against Australia in Melbourne, on August 20, 22 and 23, was announced yesterday by the sole national selector (Mr R. H. MacKinley, of Dunedin).

The test series is being held to decide which country will participate in the world cup tournament in Pakistan next year. The team is: J. Anslow (Auckland), G. Archibald (Auckland), J. Borren (Canterbury), J. Christensen (Canterbury), G. Dayman (Auckland), I. Free (Auckland), B. Judge (Wellington), B. Maister (Canterbury), A. Mclntyre (Wellington), R. McPherson (Whangarei), A. Patterson (Canterbury), K. Rigby (Hawke’s Bay), K. Thomson (Canterbury), W. Wright (Canterbury).

match and attended one coaching school as a result of tearing ligaments in his left leg early in the season. His outstanding leadership may give him the right-half place. Good Record Wright has played poorly this season both at club and provincial level, and is perhaps fortunate to gain selection. A good Australian tour last year and a satisfactory performance in this year’s inter-island match may account for his selection.

Patterson is captain of the side and Anslow vice-captain. Mr MacKinlay has been appointed manager and coach. It is apparent that the selector has gone for maturity and experience in naming his tour team. A strenuous programme faces the New Zealanders—three tests in four days. All the players selected attended the national coaching school at Napier earlier this month, the two players missing selection from the 16 at the school being T. Manning (Wellington), and C. Ineson (Canterbury). Unlucky Player Manning deserved a place in the team and he would undoubtedly be the surprise omission. A mobile goalkeeper, Manning played a fine game for the North Island against the South this year and has increased his reputation with a number of spectacular long-distance saves. However, McPherson, the No. ‘1 goal-keeper at Mexico in 1968, has been preferred to Manning, possibly because of his ability at blocking doserange shots with his pads. Ineson has lost the full-back position to Free, whose ruggedness and robust play shows i

more confidence than does Ineson’s. This season positional play and trapping have often let Ineson down. The halves are Anslow, Patterson, Thomson and Wright A shortage of good halves probably resulted in Anslow being recalled. He is an ex-

Judge will no doubt be at right wing and, provided he has retained his sharpness and breaks go his way, will be dangerous. The inside forward combination may be the proven quartet of Christensen, Mclntyre, Maister and Borren. These players have undoubted technical skills and experience but none has played up to the expected standard this season. They will need to find a more direct route to the goal, stop going on long, isolated dribbles, and regain their combination among each other, if they are to prove troublesome to Australia. Mclntyre, in particular, was out of form in the game against Canterbury. Test Chance Two younger players in the side, Rigby and Archibald, both have good chances of being in the test side if they can maintain their present high standard of hockey. Rigby is a “rip, tear and bust” player who has developed more finesse as he has matured. He has pace and reasonable ball control but close marking could put him out of the game. Archibald, a newcomer to the side, has shown rapid improvement and played brilliantly in the North-South match. He could displace McIntyre.

tremely experienced player but whether he is mobile enough and sufficiently fit remains to be seen. The centre-half will most likely be Thomson who, although not trapping or passing as well as would be wished has the ability to rise to the occasion.

Patterson poses the biggest problem. So far this season he has played only one club

The team has the ability and experience to do well but the question is whether all players are fit enough for three hard days of top hockey.

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. The Waikato centre, J. D. Warre, has been forced to withdraw from the Junior All Black Rugby trials at Levin on Thursday, because of injury. His place has been taken by G. D. Newlands (Poverty Bay) and P. C. Gard (North Otago) will replace Newlands in the reserves.