SO NEARLY A VICTORY Canterbury holds India to 2-all draw in hockey

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33966, 6 October 1975, Page 26

SO NEARLY A VICTORY Canterbury holds India to 2-all draw in hockey

i By

KEVIN TUTTY)

A 2-all draw was a magnificent accomplishment — but it could so easily have been a win for Canterbury against the world hockey champion, India, at Porritt Park yesterday.

Canterbury led 2-1 10, minutes into the secondhalf when it was awar-! ded a penalty-stroke, but Selwyn Maister. who had converted a stroke in the first-half, noshed! the ball straight to Ashok De wan. the Indian goal-keeper. Thus the chance to lead 3-1 was lost and India equalised three minutes later and the! remainder of the match was scoreless. When India burst to the| lead in the first minutes, Canterbury looked to have a hard! task ahead of it to keep the: score within three goals. , India started at a tremendous pace and caught Canterbury completely off-guaid. It.first attack was completed and the home side had somehow managed to concede a penalty-corner rather than a goal. Rodger McHarg saved well from Surjit Singh’s powerful shot, but the Canterbury defence had not allowed for the:

brilliant Ashok Kumar pick-i ing up the loose ball. He picked up the rebound near the circle edge, dribbled round several startled players and placed bail in the net. Canterbury struggled to find form for the first 15 minutes. But suddenly it ap□eared to dawn on it that it! was in the game and it put great pressure on the Indian i defence. Jubilant The forwards moved with purpose and from a raid on !;he Indian circle Canterbury 'was awarded its first penaltyj ?< rner. Tons Ineson pounded ■the ball into the net and a i jubilant Canterbury team realised that it was in the game. For the remainder of the ir.<r-half the home side did • no->t uf the attacking, while I he Indians appeared to be till suffering from the effects lof travel weariness. India appeared to be upset |at some umpiring decisions I mid-way through the half I but its continual breaking ; at penalty-corners was i blatant, and it was lucky it j did not have a penaltyi stroke awarded against it. V. J. Phillips was given a ! five-minute spell for conl tinually breaking at penaity- ! comers, two minutes before i half-time. The Indians claimed John Christenson | was taking too long in hitting • the ball out from the back- ■ line, but they were deliberately infringing by putting their feet over the back-line • before the ball was hit. Canterbury’s second goai [came two minutes before half-time when Thur Borren : picked up a pass on the , 25-yard line with only two

> full-backs and a goal-keeper 'within tackling range. As he prepared for a shot at goal he was pushed, and the umpire, Mr R. H. Campbell, ordered a penalty-stroke. The Indian goal-keeper, Ashok Dewan. got his hand to the bail but its speed 'carried it into the net.

The second half belonged to India. It had more possession and put heavy pressure on Canterbury, especially in the last 15 minutes. But the home side was able to break out of these situations and in fact its attacks had more purpose. From one bt these breaks, 10 minutes into the second half, Barry’ Maister bore down on the goal. His stick was held and the umpire, Mr C. Bedford (Otago) awarded a penalty-stroke. Unfortunately Selwyn Maister pushed ;the ball straight to Dewrnn. Equalise India, realising its plight, I began to take control of the I game and it was only three minutes later when B. P. Govinda scored after being handed a loose ball at the top of the circle. India looked very casual in its approach in the first-half, and Ajitpal, a very upright player at centre-half, seemed especially nonchalant. His

appearance was deceiving however, he was usually on hand to prevent Barry Maister moving too far at centreforward.

With nine of their World Cup winning team playing, India was obviously taking Canterbury very seriously, and it was a credit to the home side that it obtained such a good result. Tony Ineson, who was named' the Canterbury “Hockey Player of the Year’’ after the match was outstanding. His tackling was excellent and his clearing always sure.

John Christensen played his best game of the season at inside-right. He dribbled with purpose and mounted attacks by passing the ball intelligently. Paul Ackerley, after being beaten badly by the Indian left-wing, Harcharan Singh, in the first few minutes played well until he had to leave the field. His replacement Neil Coster, was an] admirable substitute. Unlucky The remainder of the Canterbury side played their hearts out, and were unlucky not to share the joy of a victory against the world champion. The Indians neglected their best means of attack by providing the right-wing, V. J. Phillips with too little ball. Ashok Kumar, at inside-right displayed tremendous skill but tended to hold the ball too long. The halves and backs were seldom caught out of position, and will be a tough proposition for the New Zealand team in two weeks.