MEN’S HOCKEY TITLE TO UNIVERSITY

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32395, 7 September 1970, Page 11

MEN’S HOCKEY TITLE TO UNIVERSITY

- Univarsity has won the senior men’s hockey championship for the fourth year in succession. It demolished Sydenham in such manner as to assert its claim with maximum emphasis, and the surprising defeat of High School Old Boys by Woolston increased University’s margin.

Two matches were played at the Polo Grounds, which were dry and bumpy and lush with spring growth, and the four teams involved were severely handicapped. That they achieved any speed at all was a tribute to strenuous endeavour. Results were;— University 7. Sydenham 1. Woolston 4. High School Old Boys I. Harewood-Burnside 2. Linwood Old Boys 1. Hagley Old Beys 9. Selwyn L Competition points'with goals for and against are: University 16 (61-10, High School Old Boys 13 <34.27) Hagley Old Boys 111 <36-32), Linwood Old Boys 10 •33-31), Harewood-Burnside 10 • 22-26). Woolston 8 (28-35), Selwyn 6 (30-40), Sydenham 4j (30-67). University v. Sydenham

The return of a number of leading players enabled University to dominate Sydenham in a hard match played at consid erable speed and marred by too much body checking, 'from which University made some profit by converting four penalty strokes. Sydenham produced some swift raids, but the kicking of R. McHarg in the University goal and the trap ping, tackling and passing of the backs, E. Holstein and I. Bishop, were a constant foil. At centre-half A. Borren anticipated innumerable Sydenham manoeuvres, and his elusiveness enabled him to escape repeatedly and to maintain a steady flow of passes to his forwards. He was well supported by the wing-halves, P. Williams and W. Wright, the latter making a material contribution on cover defence. The three inside forwards, J. H Christensen. B. J. Maister and J. J. Borren. were in splendid form. Their dribbling was bewildering, and their intricate, running off the ban created mazes which they alone understood. They linked tirelessly with their defence, and their passing added much speed to University’s progress. In Sydenham s defence M. McKinnon at left-half and playing in bare feet was most prominent. His trapping was reliable, he eluded opponents skilfully, and he passed constructively. R. Fergus also played well, often clearing firmly under severe pressure, and he received useful support at times from G. Hall. In developing counter-attacks. D. Petherbridge and M. Bennett were quick tp seize upon errors by opponents, and Petherbridge showed skill and control in his dribbling. Goals were scored for University by i. J. Borren •4). Maister and Christensen, and McKinnon scored for Sydenham.

Umpires: Dr L. McH. Berry and Mr D. IL Warren.

Woolston v. High School Old Beys Although not at full strength Old Boys lapsed surprisingly from their former estate. Their defence was frequently over-

run, and they lacked their usual flair for developing counter-attack. Woolston played with much determination, achieving success in hunting and harassing, and its best attacks were based on the dribbling of B. Aldridge, who was a host in himself.

His dribbling cut swathes through the opposition, and his deep linking gave Woolston the bonus of an extra half-back. Seldom has a match been so dominated by one player. In addition Woolston's goal was adequately guarded by J. Monk. R. Gillespie and T. Brennan. The latter’s powerful bitting was valuable on the difficult surface.

In the half-line J. Rountree and C. Cox made many interceptions, and on attack B. Beaumont and K. Fletcher gave Aldridge good support. For Old Boys E. Barnes at centre-half fed his forwards well enough, but they lacked their usual speed and many attacks expired prematurely, in storng tackling. T. Burrow's possessed the greatest degree of control, but poor trapping and lack of combination reduced him to solo probing for most of the time.

Goals were scored for Woolston by Aldridge <3> and Fletcher, and T. Thomas converted a penalty stroke for High School Old Boys. Umpires: Messrs R. Fergus and T. E. Eggleton.

Harewood-Burnside v. Linwood Old Boys This was a very even game characterised by scrappy, indecisive attack which almost invariably foundered on more authentic and better organised defence. The Harewood inside-left L. Smith, cleverly snatched two goals by swift opportunism and good shooting on the occasions when the Linwood defence wavered, in reply to D. le Page’s goal for Linwood from an untidy scramble. These efforts were confined to the first half, and thereafter the game continued upon a placid untroubled course. In Harewood’s goal S. Cranfield was competent and unruffled, and the backs. J. Bate and E. Clark, covered each other ably, trapped soundly, emerged with the ball with little let and hindrance. and passed accurately S. Chesney at centre-half made many interceptions, but discovered that the practice of drawing the ball towards his feet was quite unrewarding, although it increased his stature. On the right G. Baldwin operated a useful transport service to his forwards, of whom D. Stanton and I. Hill made the best progress.

For Linwood I. Stanton and K. Budhia were safe backs, whose tackling, trapping and clearing gave the defence a sound base. The halves, R. Budhia, p| Bhana and B. Bhana, produced close marking and valuable covering, but P. Bhana was the only one who achieved consistency in the feeding of the forwards. The attack was restricted too much to individual dribbling to have much chance of success. The main contributions in this skill to what progress did eventuate were made by F. Harding, D. Small and Le Page. Umpires: Dr.L. McH. Berry and Mr D. Ferguson. Hagley Old Boys v. Selwyn Hagley won a fairly even game because it possessed the greater ability to utilise scoring chances, and because Selwyn had no forward who could match the skill of W. Thomson, who at inside-right created serious problems for Selwyn by his skilful dribbling and close ball con-

trol. Furthermore Hagley appeared to gain a dubious inspiration at times from its practice of maintaining an eloquent commentary upon events, so that Selwyn’s silence almost took upon itself a morose air. K. Thomson urged Hagley's forwards on with many passes and much advice, and his sense of direction was an asset in the development of a right-flank policy. For Selwyn S. Harvey made some excellent saves in goal, and G. Newburn was a very mobile back. There was a lack of coherence in the attack, but G. Ritchie covered much ground and added a degree of liveliness to his team’s advances.

Selwyn’s goal was scored by Newburn, and W. Thomson (2) and K. Thomson scored for Hagley Old Boys. Umpires: Messrs D. Witheridge and T. Thomas.

Strong Win Yesterday at Ensors Road in a postponed game, University beat Hagley Old Boys, 4-1. This win gave University 17 competition points and a lead of four points with one round left. The team has now scored 65 goals and conceded 17.

University dominated the first half and gained a lead of three goals. Thereafter some loss of effort produced many sustained attacks by Hagley which came close to scoring on several occasions, succeeded once, and found the cover defence frustrating if unconstructive.

University’s best player was B. J. Maister, at centre forward, who was always turning up and controlling the ball skilfully near and in the circle. J. J. Borren, at inside right, dribbled vast distances with an extraordinary persistence, but passed weakly. At inside left, J. H. Christensen was far from home and ill-at-ease. A. Borren, at centre half, was prominent in the first half, and then became academic until requested to take a penalty stroke, which resurrected his Interest. E. Holstein and I. Bishop were sound backs until interest in stickwork overpowered them, and W. Wright, at left half, solved all problems except for the question of penetrating the defence as an extra forward. P. Clark defended well for Hagley and was ably supported by W. Gilray K W. Thomson, at centre half, intercepted some passes and cleared the ball as if in quest of a thousand runs in May. J. Bailey and I. Jackson were the best of the forwards. They controlled the ball well, eluded opponents skilfully, and changed direction to good effect. At times the Hagley forwards moved the ball constructively, and they did well to immobilise University on defence for long spells. Goals for University were scored by J. J. Borren (2), Maister and A. Borren, and W. Thomson scored for Hagley Old Boys. In club and representative hockey J. J. Borren passed 50 goals for the season. Umpires: Messrs P. Chant and T. Thomas.