Hockey to Otago girls

Press, 26 June 1978, Page 21

Hockey to Otago girls

Otago beat Malvern, 7-4, on a muddy ground at Cottesmore College , yesterday afternoon to advance to the final of the national under--21 women’s hockey tournament. Otago had earlier accounted for the Canterbury team in a thrilling quarterfinal game. After full-time, the teams were locked in a three-all tie, but Otagc scored the deciding goal in the final minute of the twe extra-time spells. Malvern made the semifinal by defeating Wellington. 2-1. Otago was always in con- ( trol in its game with Malvern, controlling the midfield and initiating sharp breaks ■on the flanks. The bumpy, cut-up ground was not at all conducive to skilful hockey, but both teams’ efforts under the conditions drew applause from the large crowd. Otago had much of the early part of the game, and narrowly missed a goal when it forced a series of penalty corners. Only stout defence in this period kept the Mai-

vem goal intact, and the country side, when it settled down, actually scored the first goal. It did not take Otago long, however, to equalise. An infringement in a goal-mouth tussle resulted in a penalty stroke sailing high into the top of the Malvern net. Otago continued to apply a lot of pressure, and by half-time had scored another two goals. One was a splendid effort by the new New Zealand representative, Jill Morgan. She floated a scoop high into the goal-mouth from the edge of the circle to beat the goal-keeper. The second came right on halftime when an Otago forward, with some fast following-up, pushed the ball into the net after a partial save by the Malvern goal-keeper. Malvern could only pull one goal back, and trailed, 2-3 at the interval. The second half was a repeat of the first, Otago dominating the early spell to pick up further goals. A cricket score seemed imminent when the southern side streaked to a 5-2 lead half-

eiway through the half, but d! Malvern came back strongly e to score two goals and fight its way back into the game. >, The pressure could not be i- maintained, though, and h Otago replied with a further y two goals to make the final e score 7-4. Morgan played particuy larly well for Otago, as did y the left wing, Dawn Glass. r For Malvern, the 15-year-old l " centre forward, Helen Walker, was always busy and the ‘I right inner, Heather Render-1 P son, was a tireless worker. ■ h For Otago, goals were p scored by Morgan (2), Glass! (2), Maree Flannery (2) and Chris Cook, while Sally Jen- ’ kins, Mary Gilmour, Walker ’ and Henderson netted for e Malvern. The final of the under 21 I tournament, for which the! e Bass-Worthington trophy was at stake, will be between .. Otago and the winner of the 0 North Island section of the 3 competition, and it seems \ likely to be the curtain-raiser . at the first test between e New Zealand and Canada in - Dunedin on August 12. j