No changes in men’s hockey team

Press, 19 June 1979, Page 24

No changes in men’s hockey team

The Canterbury senior men’s hockey team that lost 2-3 to Wellington in the final game of the quadrangular tournament in Christchurch at Queen's Birthday week-end, will face the North Island side in a return match at Wellington next Sunday.

The only change the Canter, bury selector-coach, Mr Cyril Walter, is likely to make, is to the wings. Two weeks ago Chris Maister played on the right and Balvant Bhana on the left, but Mr Walter said he will probably switch them. Maister did not look at home on the right wing, which was understandable when most of his play in recent years has been on the left. Bhana, on the other hand, has played on the right several times. If Bhana can form the combination with John Christensen at inside right, that he had with Mark Burtt at inside left, Canterbury's chances of beating Wellington will increase. But the major problem for Mr Walter is the defence. At Queen’s Birthday week-end it played well below its capabilities. Since then there have been some gruelling training sessions and there will be more this week.

I The team is: i Rodger McHarg; Jeff Gibson, I Tony Ineson; Robin Wilson. Seijwyn Maister (captain), Bhikhu |Bhana: Balvant Bhana, Christensen. Barry Maister, Burtt, Chris ■ Maister. The Canterbury forward line will be improved with a fully fit Barry Maister. In the last clash he had an injured hand which affected his play at centre forward. A Canterbury B team to play Wellington B has also been chosen. It is: Graeme Sligo; Ewan Holstein (captain). lan Steel; Greg Pierce, Niall Coster, Gerard Guillen; Darryl Small, Warwick Shillito, Mike Tillman, Bruce McLean, Neil Edmundson.

Dick Pettit and George Carnoutsos were unavailable. Colts and secondary schools’ teams to play Wellington teams have also been chosen. They are: Colts.—D. Loader. G. Meyer. M. Beatson, G. Cowles, S. Tilley (captain). M. McLean, P. Agent, I. Riach. M. Johnston. G. Armstrong, B. McKenzie. Secondary schools.—A. Chapman, J. Radovonich, J. Carnoutisos, D. Rankin, P. Teague, G. Gibson (captain), D. Penfold, C. Campbell, G. McEwen, M. Skillton, A. Penfold, M. Carrell.