Cheering win in hockey

Press, 31 July 1978, Page 3

Cheering win in hockey

From

KEVIN TUTTY

in Auckland

A dream first-half with four goals in 28 minutes gave Canterbury a moraleboosting 4-2 win against the national hockey champion, Auckland, at Hobson Park yesterday. It was vintage Canterbury hockey in the first 35 minutes, the ball was moved about with speed and purpose, with the Auckland defence being beaten time and again by snappy passes and changes of directions. Canterbury has not beaten Auckland since 1973 and the win should give it confidence for the national tournament at Masterton next month, where it will attempt to win back the Challenge Shield. ( The game was not entirely Canterbury’s however. For the first 15 minutes of the second-half Auckland attacked with vigour and during this period scored its second goal. But for some splendid goal-keeping by Rodger McHarg Auckland might have levelled the score from the four penalty-corners and four comers it forced.

The game — one of the best displays of hockey for several seasons — was spoiled slightly by a soft surface, which caused trapping errors and forwards often overran the ball.

The first goal came after three minutes. George Carnoutsos sent a superb overhead pass to John Christensen, who crossed to Barry Maister in the circle. His shot was wide but Mark Burtt picked the ball up on the goal-line and slipped it back for Christensen to score.

Auckland fought back, and in the eighth minute received a penalty-comer which Trevor Laurence hammered into the goal. Canterbury took control from that point and mounted attacks from all parts of the field. After 16 minutes Selwyn Maister scored from a penal-ty-stroke, and ten minutes later Barry Maister scored the third goal when a free hit was stopped but not controlled, and Maister flicked it into the net.

Two minutes later Barry Maister added the fourth goal after a comer. Christensen trapped the ball on the edge of the circle and slipped a pass to Maister whose quick shot beat the Auckland defence.

With everything turning to goals for Canterbury, Auckland began to show hints of panic in its defence. Its normally two reliable backs, Greg Dayman and Kevin Towns made several trapping errors and Dayman was often caught too far upfield. It said much for Auckland’s fortitude that it was able to fight back so capably after half-time. For 15 minutes it was Canterbury’s turn to panic — passes were given to the Aucklanders and traps were missed under pressure. The one player who stood firm through this period was Tony Ineson. His trapping was impeccable and his strong hitting often eased the pressure on the Canterbury goal. McHarg too, played his part. Auckland’s second goal came in the early part of its siege on the Canterbury circle. Although Laurence hit the ball weakly from a pen-alty-comer it was not trapped cleanly and David Appleby pounced on it and flicked it into the net. Camoutsos had a creditable game on the right wing for Canterbury. His trapping was sound and his duel with the New Zealand representative and Auckland left-half, Laurence, was even.

Christensen and Barry Maister were outstanding in their running off the ball to find gaps, and Burtt and Chris Maister on the left flank continually harassed the Auckland inside-right, Jeff Archibald.

Although his passing was sloppy at times, Selwyn Maister was an excellent pivot at centre-half. On Saturday, Canterburybeat Northland 4-1 at Whangarei. Canterbury was too fast and experienced for the Northland side never allowed it into the game.