WOMEN’S HOCKEY Wins to Canterbury over Ashburton

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32977, 25 July 1972, Page 15

WOMEN’S HOCKEY Wins to Canterbury over Ashburton

Gaining early control in both matches, the Canterbury senior A and senior B women's hockey teams had comfortable wins over Ashburton in representa* tive matches played at the Ashburton Domain on Saturday. The A team won, 5-1, and the B team, 7-1. Opening the game in a bright style, Canterbury A looked set to run up a big score.

The Ashburton defence was shaky, and Canterbury’s forwards were quick to move the ball through gaps. Several times the defence was caught square, and the Canterbury inside forwards ran straight through. Goals came right from the start of play, from inside right J. Fookes, right wing S. Wright (2), and centre forward J. Phillips (2).

Ashburton’s goal came in the second half, when the inside left, I. Mac Kay, deflected a hard centre from the right to the back of the net.

Throughout the game, Ashburton’s forwards looked lively and they penetrated mid-field without much opposition. The Canterbury half line lacked lustre and was not up to its usual strength. J. Horton, on the left, found trapping difficult. Her best moments came when she swung play hard to the right. PROMISING PLAYER The right half, A. Ruston, came up against Ashburton’s most promising player, the left wing, S. Lowe. Lowe cut her opponent out of play frequently and ran strongly down her wing to centre across Canterbury’s circle. At centre, P. Barwick, Canterbury’s captain, also looked out of form.

Canterbury’s backs, J. Te Karu and N. Struthers, were inclined to hold their tackles too long, and Ashburton’s crisp passing caused them to scurry back on

many occasions. The best of the forwards in t.be second half, when Canterbury’s play deteriorated, was the left wing, K. Sutton. J. Bootliroyd, Ashburton's goal-keeper, looked confident despite the early goals.

CANTERBURY B Although Ashburton opened the scoring very soon after the start, this was the only time it looked dangei*ous.

The inside forward trio of S. Frew, C. Hurst, and P. Stevens attempted to keep Ashburton’s game on the move, but the defence was comparatively weak and gave way under the pressure Canterbury’s forwards graduallybuilt up. Canterbury soon equalised with a splendid goal from the right wing, C. Thorn, who soon after

put her team ahead. The inside left, C. Hulston. made it 3-1 at half-time. In the second half. Hulston added three further goals, and the left wing, L. Paterson, one. Canterbury’s forwards gained confidence as the goals came, with Hulston and R. Carroll combining well with Thorn. V. McGregor and D Fleming were steady in the halves, with the backs and goal-keeper not bustled very often. Results of other matches were: Canterbury Secondary School A 3, Ashburton Secondary School A 2; Canterbury Secondary School B 5, Ashburton Secondary School B 1; Canterbury Primary School A 4, Ashburton Primary School A 0; Canterbury Primary’ School B 0, Ashburton Primary School B 4.