Hockey matches all poor

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32614, 24 May 1971, Page 12

Hockey matches all poor

Each team engaged in the sixth round of the Canterbury Hockey Association’s senior competition plunged deeply into mediocrity, reducing the four matches to an error rate beyond the capacity of any outmoded 1971 computer. The most important match was that between Hagley Old Boys and High School Old Boys, and its outstanding feature was the state of the ground at Ensor’s Road. The turf was cropped, manicured and rolled, offering itself to swift trapping, dose stickwork, nimble footwork and inspired passing. Instead it was raped by the ponderous, heavy tread of upright battalions whose sticks groped for the rolling ball at a height which made them dizzy with lack of success. It was a groundsman’s triumph and a player’s tragedy, and the result was determined by the fates. The remaining games wound their weary ways to the results of statistical form. Scores were: Hagley Old Boys 1. High School Old Boys 0. University I, Sydenham-Cash-mere 1. Linwood Old Boys 2, Selwyn 1. Harewood-Bumside 3, Woolston 1. Competition points, with goals for and against, are:—University 51 (36-3), Hagley Old Boys 5 (16-8), High School Old boys 4i (19-4), Harewood-Bumside 4 Linwood Old Boys 2j (10- | 11), woolston 11 (6-15). Selwyn 1 (6-32), Sydenham-Cashmere 0 (4-31). Hagley Old Boys v. High School Ola Boys

Seldom has such an important match produced such a cumbersome display. Tentative probing was the introductory theme, and as the players became more tentative still, the probing became more pitiful. All present ignored ! the law of gravity which commanded the ball to roll along the ground, and their ineffective dabs from upright postures defied in vain the postulations of the late Mr Newton. The upper half of the ball deflected from ‘nervously held sticks with such abandon that K. Thomson’s goal from a penalty comer in the first half should have been enough to release all present from the drudgery of further proceedings. Nothing else even threatened to happen. In the first half Hagley spent the greater amount of the time in the Old Boys half by coming second in the errors race. In the second half Hagley overtook its opponents and established a commanding lead, but it assembled a sufficient number of defensive forces to cope with the opposing forwards. The latter were divorced by distance from their halves, who sought to reach them by the principles of grand circle sailing, and found themselves engulfed as they stumbled after the half-trapped ball which fled into a forest of sturdy legs and straight knees. Each team thumped the ball hopefully in the direction of its inside-right in the curious belief that it was establishing a right flank attack. In these circumstances the new rule demanding a push-in from the side-line was given an extended trial and lent stability to the game. Some of these pushes were invested with a delicacy of touch which suggested that the many players are capable of better things. Umpires: Messrs E. Gllliver and D. Lloyd. Harewood-Bumside v. Woolston

This match was very even, with Woolston having the better of the first half by forcing Harewood into errors. Later, however, Harewood achieved greater

cohesion in Its attacking play, a factor which entitled ft to Its success. The Harewood goalkeeper, S. Cranfield, again played well but his hsbit of waving his stick before him In a semi-circle Invited a penalty stroke, and the Invitation was accepted. B. J. Aldridge scored. The Harewood backs, J. Bates and E. Clarke, were very sound, the former being the best back on the ground. At centre-half A. Chesney was a vital factor In his team’s success. Although his trapping was occasionally suspect, his passing was outstanding and proved to be a major contribution to the improvement in the forward line. The wing forwards. I. Hill and C. Pettett, played well enough to make inroads into the defence, and the honest toll of D. Stanton at Inside-right was the basis of the vanguard’s progress. L. Smith was as lively as ever, but his error rate reduced his effectiveness.

The pairing of P. Sutherland and T. Brennan as backs for Woolston did not solve the problems with which they were confronted, but there was some compensation In the form of C. Cox at centre-half, whose many Interceptions suggested keen anticipation and were well executed. R. Gillespie made an appearance in the forward line with good effect In the first half, but as the temperature of the match increased he tended to melt from view. Aldridge was certainly the most impressive forward, his skill and determination giving the approach play an authenticity which none of his colleagues are yet able to achieve. Harewood - Bumside’s goals were scored by Smith (2) and Stanton.

Umpires: Messrs T. E. Eggleton and M. Clark.

University v. SydenhamCashmere In the first half University was all urgency and error as it mistrapped and pushed powder-puff passes to grateful and surprised opponents. Proceedings were perpetually punctuated by faithful Interpretations of the sticks rule, whose breach neither umpire would tolerate. In the second half Sydenham’s defence embodied many bodies, some launched with such elan that the University forwards slipped past recumbent forms and bore tbe ball triumphantly into a vacated circle, where lateral passes enabled shots from a range of six inches to achieve some degree of accuracy. Sydenham did achieve some advance in the speed of its play. Its error rate was high but Its players assumed a greater work load than has been their wont. Hence they reduced the amount of space with which they have provided previous opponents. Players who were especially effective in their ranks were A. Kirwan at right-back, P. McAllister at right-wing and later at Inside-right, A. McNeill at leftback, and D. Petherbridge at centre-forward. Behind the forward line W.

Wright was the most consistent University midfield player and suppUer of the baU, and B. J. Malster was quite outstanding at centre-forward and In the many other positions which he chose to assume from time to time. He was the only consistent forward In trapping and In setting up play, and quite deadly In the circle.

On the left-wing M. Thomson made some dangerous breaks, but tended to take the baU into tbe forehand tackle when he approached the circle line. McAllister scored for. SydenhamCashmere, and University’s goals were placed, pushed, tapped or blown in by Malster (5), J. J. Borren (2) and J. H. Christensen.

Umpires: Mr R. Trenberth and Dr L. Berry.

Linwood Old Boys v. Selwyn In this match It was perhaps expected that Selwyn might press the Linwood team, especially after its performance against Woolston the previous week, but Selwyn looked a completely different side on Saturday and Linwood must have given its worst display of the season.

The first half was dominated by scrappy and Indecisive play brought about by bad trapping, inaccurate passing and weak tackling by both teams and to a smaller extent, not playing to the umpire’s whistle. Members of both teams often waited for the whistle for infringements they thought had been committed.

Linwood had an advantage of possession in the second half and it fully deserved its 2-1 win for the almost constant pressure It exerted during this spell. Although it had less time on attack Selwyn led by a goal at the Interval, by virtue of an opportunist goal by C. Hill just before half-time.

Both sides received stern words from their coaches during the Interval but these made little impression, although the Linwood forward line showed more drive In the second half. In the first 10 minutes of the spell Linwood spent the majority of the time on attack but when P. Bhana missed a stroke It looked as though It might have been Linwood’s unlucky day. However, It continued to dominate the run of play for the rest of the half ana was rewarded with the two goals necessary, scored by D. Le Page and B. Murray. The defence of both teams proved adequate in the circumstances. P. Bhana, the Linwood centre-half was not at peak form but his tackling and ball distribution were commendable. A.

Abernethy at right-back for Selwyn made fewer mistakes than his co-defenders.

C. Bhana, centre-forward, and B. Murray, inside-left, were tireless on attack for Linwood while J. W. Burtt was industrious at inside-right for Selwyn and backtackled relentlessly. Umpires: Messrs D. Holland and R. P. Phipps.