MEN’S HOCKEY University still unbeaten

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33532, 13 May 1974, Page 14

MEN’S HOCKEY University still unbeaten

Barring some extreme misfortune, University should win its eighth successive senior hockey title this season. In the Trans Tours preliminary championship on Saturday it retained its unbeaten record to take the lead with High School Old Boys who had a bye. As has been the case in previous seasons. University’s play has been superior to that of most of the other teams in the senior grade. It has scored 21 goals in its four matches so far this season and has yet to concede one.

: Surprise results, which have 1 been frequent this.season, were 1 to the fore again on Saturday. Against the run of play Selwyn- . Hillmorton scored a goal minutes 1 from the end of its match against Hare Wood-Burnside. The ■ win put Selwyn into fourth ■ place on the points table, and enhanced its chance of making ' the top six teams in the prelirn- ! inary championship, to contest the Trans Tours championship ‘ later in the season. Harewood, however, has only 1 two points, and its chance of ■ making the top six are rapidly : fading. 4 Hagley, runner-up to University last season, continued its inconsistent form, and was very lucky to salvage a draw against the bottom team in the competition, Sydenham-Cashmere. Linwood Old Boys was almost unrecognisable from the team which had played in its previous three games this season. But there was one distressing factor in its play against Woolston — which it beat 2-0 — an inability to capitalise On scoring chances in the circle. Results and scorers were:— University 3 (Arthur Barren, J. H. Christensen, B. J. Maister), Redciitts 0. Linwood Old Boys 2 (Balvant Bhana, B. Murray), Woolston Working Men's Club 0. Selwyn-Hillmorton 1 (A. Hayde), Harewood-Burnside 0. Sydenham-Cashmere 2 (D, Kirwan and S. Ambler), Hagley Old Boys 2 (t. Thomson and K. Thomson).

LINWOOD TRANSFORMED The comment was passed on the sideline that Linwood team members should have been swabbed after the game—their performance was so revitalised. The team’s play was always imaginative, in particular that of the forwards, who time after time burst through on the Woolston goal. Linwood should have scored at least two more goals, so frequent were its chances. Balvant Bhana scored the first goal after 13min with a brilliant solo run of 25 vards and a minute later B. Murray scored from a centre by D. S. Small. The whole Linwood forward i»ne dribbled well and combined in some excellent passing moves which split the Woolston defence wide open. C. Cox and A. Curtis tackled well in a defence under extreme pressure for most of the game, hut their passing, and that of the other defenders, lacked purpose. I P. and Bhiku Bhana and B.

Trethewey. the Linwood halves, £ed the forwards a feast of passes, and intercepted as many. They tackled weU.

FORTUNE WITH SELWYN Had it not been for S. Harvey, who executed several magnificent saves in the Selwyn goal, his side would have lost. After an even first-half, Harewood ex- ' erted heavy pressure on the . Selwyn defence but could not score Once, the ball appeared to be in the net, but the umpire ruled it was on the line. J. Halstead trapped and passed with verve, and combined with I. Rhodes in many deceptive Harewood attacks. After an uncertain start, A. Chesney settled down to dominate the mid-field and feed a host of accurate passes to his forwards. Y VelluppUlia and L. Wong, the Selwyn backs, held up numerous Harewood attacks, and the trapping and tackling of R. Billcliff and D. Simpson in the halves was of considerable benefit. A. Hayde was the most effective forward, but was isolated for much of the time becau.a he was too far upfield. LATE REPRIEVE The field at the Polo grounds for the Hagley-Sydenham clash resembled one of the inferior paddocks of a dairy farm, and consequently caused a high error rate. Hagley scored in the first minute of the game and dominated the first half. But misstraps and poor tackles did not auger well for the defence, and Sydenham snatched the lead with two opportunist goals in the second half. M. Fitzsimmons dominated his circle and cleared it with towering kicks. A. Tizzard remained cool at right-back and A. Kirwan made many good tackles. S. Ambler provided most thrust on attack and covered vast areas of ground. A. Cook was the best Hagley defender. He trapped consistently and tackled sensibly. W. A. Thomson was the best player on the field. He frequently eraharassed the Sydenham defence with short passes and short incisive dribbles. J. Bailey used his speed to elude his- marker often and I. Thomson was improved at centre-forward. LATE GOALS There was littie doubt that University was a superior team to Redcliffs. However, it took longer than usual to exert its authority, mainly through overeagerness, which led to many errors, and unintentional body and stick obstructions by Redcliffs. J. H. Christensen and B. J. Malster. the former enjoying more freedom of movement than usual, dribbled incisively, setting up frequent attacks. But desperate defending and good goalkeeping by J. Whitehead kept the score to 0-all at the interval. B. J. Idaister gave University the lead after thre minutes of ■he second half, and although it had a monopoly on possession it was not until seven and five minutes from the end that its other goals came. S. G. Mais’er was a vital link for University at centre-half, and his trapping and tackling were a fine example. P. D. Ackerlev was assured in everything he did. A. Ineson was outstanding in the Redcliffs defence, and C. Prutton and M. Spinks tackled well and passed sensibly. The forwards were d'sjolnted and seldom worried the University goal-keeper.

The points table is:— A Pts P W L D F University 4 4 0 0 21 0 8 H.S.O.B. 4 4 0 0 8 1 8 Hgly O.B. 5 2 1 2 9 7 6 Selwyn-H. 4 2 2 1 2 7 5 Lin. O.B. 4 1 1 2 4 4 4 Redcliffs 4 2 0 2 3 5 4 H’wood-B. 5 0 3 2 2 5 2 Wools ton 5 0 3 2 2 11 2 Syd-Cash. 4 0 3 1 3 14 1