N.Z. hockey women wrap up Canada

Press, 21 August 1978, Page 28

N.Z. hockey women wrap up Canada

FA' Palmerston North The New Zealand women’s hockey team had another 4-0 win over Canada on Saturday in the second test to wrap up the test series. Canada only briefly impressed; New Zealand demonstrated a cohesion on attack and defence which the disjointed Canadians could not match. Shirley Haig and Jenny McDonald both scored a goal each in each half. A relatively small crowd watched the test, played on Memorial Park, which was in generally excellent condition considering the rain during the week. Canada had its chances in the test. One or two solo breaks put the New Zealand backs under pressure, but

the visitors lacked strong shooting forwards, and could not work together to finish a movement.

Canada was at its most assertive early in the second half as it tried to peg back the 2-0 half-time deficit.

However, the New Zealand forwards soon regained control, and McDonald, Haig, Marianne Gray and Judy Phillips, with precision passing, frequently exposed weaknesses in the Canadian defence.

With New Zealand dominating so much of the test, the score could well have been much higher but for the determination and courage of the Canadian goalkeeper, Teresa Tetreau. She was frequently under siege, and in the first lOmin of the

game survived a barrage of penalty corners. Other bright performers in the Canadian team were Dianne Whittingham, who was solid in defence, and Margaret Dalgarno, who looked sharp on attack but lacked support. The New Zealand forwards all had excellent games, and the full-back, Kathy Petre was safe in clearing whenever the Canadians threatened. Edie Weber had an excellent game at left half safe in defence and supporting the forwards well.

Although New Zealand started well and put the Canadians under steady pressure, it was not until the second half that the New Zealand team really began working together to establish complete supremacy. The reality of test-match hockey came quickly for the Canadians, in the first lOmin. A succession of penalty corners had the Canadians scrambling, but New Zealand could not make its first breakthrough until 21min had passed.

New Zealand was awarded a penalty corner, and Jenny McDonald struck it beautifully from the centre of the circle, giving Tetreau little chance.