SECOND HALF CONTROL

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32678, 6 August 1971, Page 20

SECOND HALF CONTROL

The skill and speed of the Australian team proved too great for Canterbury to handle in the international women’s hockey match at Hagley Park yesterday, and the visitors won 4-0. Although soft, the ground was well prepared and provided the players with a good footing. This enabled the Australians to exploit their fast moving game in the second half when it scored all its goals. For a side which had never played together before—the team came to New Zealand from its inter-state championship—each player had a remarkable sense of anticipation of where a team-mate would be. This was particularly noticeable among the forwards on attack.

Canterbury had its opportunities to press the Australians but it wasted too many passes. And the speed with which the Australian forwards moved upset the Canterbury defenders, who were guilty of clearing the ball with little thought of feeding a colleague. If it had not been for the very fine game played by the Canterbury goal-keeper, J. Hamilton, the score would have been greater. She was instrumental in keeping. the score o*o at half time. The other player to impress Was the Australian centreforward, A West, who scored three of het sides goals—her (third, and the last of the

match came from a brilliant solo run of about 50 yards. Australia’s other scorer was the centre half. M. Gray.