High School Old Boys take lead in hockey

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33520, 29 April 1974, Page 7

High School Old Boys take lead in hockey

High School Old Boys, with three wins in three matches, has a clear lead in the senior men’s preliminary hockey championship. But it has played one game more than University, the senior champion for the last seven years.

University had the bye on, Saturday while Old Boys, with another consistent display. beat Linwood Old Boys, which again failed to* reach the standard expected: of it. Old Boys will have little, trouble finishing in the top 1 six and qualifying for the Trans Tours championship later in the season, but their: sternest test will come when i they meet University and: Hagley Old Boys. The young Redcliffs side had a win after draws when! it beat Sydenham-Cashmere in a very even encounter. Selwyn-Hil'morton. which beat Hagley Old Boys on Anzac Day. lost a chance of i being second on the points | table when it missed a penalty stroke against Wooiston; Working Men’s Club. Hagley Old Boys and! Harewood-Bumside fought a dour battle at Cottesmore; College, Hagley winning by; a penalty stroke. The game was dominated by the' defences of both teams. Results and scorers were: High School Old Boys 2 (R. Bailey, G. Marshall), Linwood Old Boys 0. Hagley Old Boys 1 (K. Thomson), HarewoodBumside 0. Redcliffs 2 (S. Smith. A. Ineson), Sydenham-Cash- ■ mere 1 (Ray Lawry). Selwyn-Hillmorton 0, Wooiston 0. The points table is:—

showed initiative in the Wooiston attack. HOCKEY CAME SECOND I The boorish antics which sev-j eral members of the Hagley team Indulged in on Thursday were, repeated on Saturday. It is al pity that most of the players in-! volved. who have much to con-! tribute to the game, insist on I 1 these tactics. Had Hagley concentrated on I the task in hand it would prob-. ably have won by more than the!

■ single goal, and that from a .penalty stroke in the second half. R. Wilson, at inside-left for Hagley, was constructive, and J. 'Bailey, on the right-wing, was elusive at times. K. Thomson, Hagley’s centre(half, was caught out of position several times before the interval, but W. Griffin i right-back) tackled and passed witli skill. SENIOR RESERVE H. 5.0.8. 1. Linwood OB 1. Harewood 2, Hagley 0.

OLD BOYS SUPREME High School Old Boys’ forwards began to show a combination that was lacking in its first two: matches, and to do this on the Polo grounds was a considerable feat. Linwood, however, in spite of the obvious talent in its forward line, again failed on attack and has still to score a goal after two' games. Led by M. Tiilman and R.' Bailey, Old Boys frequently beat the Linwood defence with deep; pa-res, and after only 10 minutes ; Bailey scored. The Old Boys defence covered; and tackled splendidly and there' was little opportunity for the I Linwood forwards, although H. 1 TrnHabh and Balvant Bhana were; constructive in all they did < SYDENHAM UNLUCKY Sydenham Park was in poor condition, making the match between Redcliffs and Sydenham-' Cashmere a struggle for both! tides. Sydenham u«ed long through I passes and looked dangerous onl attack; h should have at least' drawn the game. But too often j vital passes were made without' thought. The Redcliffs forwards, who 1 rely on close control, were hindered by the ground, and they: only began to adapt iate in the. game. LOST OPPORTUNITY Selwvn-Hillmorton threw awav two valuable points when J.' Pepper missed a penalty stroke early in the game; this would have given his team a deserved win. Selwyn did most of the I attacking, but as the game wore on Wooiston realised it still had a chance, and put more purpose Into its play. M. Burtt was the chief Instigator of the Selwyn attacks »t inside-left, and had good support from A. Hayde and D. • lements. However, R. Wilson,, a talented right-winger, was. again badly neglected. V. Velluppallai roamed a little. far at centre-half, but his play] *as generally sound, and L. Wong and A. Kana were solid, at fullback. D. Copsey again played an outfinding game for Wooiston in the goal, but only P. Wilson and G Newton, on the left flank,

P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts W.S.O.B 3 3 0 0 7 1 6 University ■> 0 0 14 0 4 Hauler O.B, 3 2 1 0 3 3 4 R ’dcliffs 3 1 0 3 o 4 Selwyn-H. 3 1 1 i 1 3 3 Linwood O.B. 2 0 I 1 0 2 1 Harewood-B. 3 0 ■» 1 1 4 I Woolston .1 0 2 ! 2 9 1 Syd.-Cash. 2 0 2 0 1 11 0