Champion, University, ends 9 pts clear in senior men’s hockey

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 19

Champion, University, ends 9 pts clear in senior men’s hockey

University finished nine points clear of the runner-up, SelwynHillmorton when the senior men’s hockey championship concluded on Saturday, a measure of its superiority and consistency through the season. Selwyn, after a run of drawn games in the middle of the season, had a good run in the Latter stages of the championship and deserved its second placing. On Saturday its positive play beat the normally sound Redcliffs side.

Harewood showed its best form on Saturday but it was too late in the season, and it finished in fifth place. It had 17 points, the same as Redcliffs, but an inferior goal average. University ended the season with one of its largest wins—-5-2—against Linwood United. In 16 matches it scored 41. goals and Roger McHarg in goal, conceded only eight. Sydenham-Cashmere was robbed of a point late in its game against Woolston Working Men’s Club, when a goal was disallowed because the whistle was prematurely blown for a penalty-corner. However the point would not have made any difference. Sydenham was alone in sixth place. Results and scorers were:— University 5 (C. G. Maister 2, S. G. Maister, B. J. Maister, F. Borren), Linwood United 2 (G. Barrett, D. Small). Harewood 3 (I. Hill 2, B. Me Lean), Pegasus 0. Selwyn-Hlllmorton 2 (M. Burr, D. Williamson), Redcliffs 1 (M. Spinks). Sydenham-Cashmere • (G. Lapslie), Woolston W.M.C. 1 (S. N. S. Tasker).

EARLY LEAD University was untroubled by Linwood in its final match. It scored three times in the first 15 minutes and there was no prospect of Linwood getting back into the game after that early setback. Linwood did make some attacks which stretched a lethargic and disinterested University defence. Chris Maister scored the first and third goals from penaltycorners. The second was scored by Selwyn Maister after a good dribble along the back-line by Frank Borren. His quick pass to the top of the circle found Maister who snapped a quick shot past the defence. Linwood 'ought back and Graeme Williams, Darryl Small and Parsot Bhana all made inroads into the University defence, and from one penaltycorner the ball rebounded off a University defender’s foot on the goal-line. Greg Barrett converted the penalty-stroke. In the second half University continued to dominate with frequent attacks although many were spoilt by lax passing and trapping. Borren eventually scored the fourth goal w’hen he mistimed a cross from the right into the goal. Linwood again fought back and from a goalmouth scramble Small scored. University had the final say when Barry Maister scored with a hard chest high shot from the circle edge. The Linwood defence protested that the shot was dangerous, but the fact that the umpire did not see any defender taking evasive action probably prompted him to award the goal. REDCLIFFS FLOUNDER If Redcliffs was pre-match favourite, it showed litle inclination to maintain this reputation and only in brief flurries was it able Ao exert sufficient pressure to look likely winners. Selwyn-Hlllmorton, by contrast, after scoring first, seldom looked like losing and indeed, applied sufficiently constant pressure to ensure a win.

In the first-half, Redcliffs probably had sufficient chances, largely from penalty-corners, to have won, but none were converted. Similarly, Selwyn in both

spells could have won more con* c vincingly had its penalty-corners 1 been capitalised on. As it turned < out, most were rendered fruitless by poor hitting out, or the 5 bumpy ground. t For Selwyn, Mark Burtt was i clearly the most incisive for- < ward, his bustling dribbling pro* ; ving a constant threat and lead- 1 ing to his scoring the first goal 1 from a penalty-corner. Doug i Williamson also worried the Redcliffs defence and settled the i issue when he scored Selwyn’s j second goal. On defence, Tony 1 Jury and Robin Wilson were sound and safe. In the centre for Redcliffs. Tony Ineson was constantly dominant, but appeared to have one important lapse when Selwyn stormed through the centre for the winning goal. But a lack of cover for him from his backs contributed to the team’s demise. Only Peter Christensen otherwise impressed for his soundness, while the forwards were largely shadowy, insubstantial figure's.

HAREWOOD DOMINANT Harewood played one of its best games of the season against Pegasus. Its forwards combined better than they had in most previous games, and apart from a period of 15 minutes early in the second-half, had control of the game. Alan Chesney at centre-half for Harewoodd ominated the midfield, picking up many passes meant for the Pegasus forwards and putting his own forwards back on attack. lan Hill was the most impressive forward. He ran strongly with the ball and deserved his two goals he scored. The first was the result of quick following in on the goalkeepers pads. His second came after a corner. The other goal was scored by McLean who made some fine runs down the left-flank and combined in some good moves with Balvant Bhana. Pegasus started the second-half with more authority In its play. The halves were finding the forwards with their passes and the attack was moving forward positively. But slowly Harewood exerted its dominance again and with some of the key Pegasus players having an off day, its resistance was not strong. For a long period of the second-half Harewood camped in the Pegasus 25 but could score only one goal. GOAL DISALLOWED Cries of “oh no!’* rose from the Sydenham players just before the game ended as a goal was scored, while the umpire was busy whistling for a penaltycorner. It was another example

of the failure of umpires to withhold their adjudications in favour of the advantage rule. Nevertheless. although the! Sydenham players declared ; themselves “robbed” they probably deserved no more than a; draw, by virtue of their hapless attempts at playing hockey. Woolston deserved not to lose, because of its energetic harrassing of Sydenham. Few players distinguished themselves on a Porritt Park surface whicii continues to test their techniques beyond endurance. For Woolston, Stewart Tasker stood out for his increasing ability to bea thorn in the side of opponents, and he scored another goal. For Sydenham. the inside-left, Graham Lapslie provided his team’s highlight, with the other goal.

The points table is:— A Pts P W D L F University 16 14 1 1 41 8 29 Selwyn 16 7 6 3 25 18 20 H.S.O.B. 16 7 5 4 17 14 19 RedclifTs 16 8 1 7 30 22 17 Harewood 16 7 3 6 18 19 17 Sydenham 16 4 6 6 17 23 14 Linwood 16 1 10 5 19 33 12 Pegasus 16 1 7 8 12 24 9 W.W.M.C. 16 1 5 10 13 31 7