Hockey University upset by Selwyn-Hillmorton

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 19

Hockey University upset by Selwyn-Hillmo rton

University’s bid for thirteenth successive senior men’s hockey championship was dealt a body blow on Saturday when it lost 0-1 to Selwyn-Hillmorton. It was the maroon’s second loss in as many weeks, and the third this season. The last time University lost three games in a season and two in succession was, as far as older members of the team can remember, in 1965. The loss cost University the joint lead in the senior competition — High School Old Boys which beat Pegasus 3-0 now has that distinction — and now has the difficult job of regaining the lead against a team that is gritting its teeth in a

determined effort to hold the lead.

Universiy looked tired on Saturday. It certainly played below its capabilities and that should be a warning to those who might write it off as a championship contender.

Craig Burtt, the SclwynHillmorton left-half, scored his first goal of the season on Saturday and it will probably be his most important of the season, perhaps of his career. The solitary goal was from a pen-alty-corner after seven minutes of the second half.

Thanks to Selwyn’s effort, Old Boys is now two points

clear of University. Selwyn, which made a bad start to the season with a draw and three losses, has since had a

remarkable run of five wins and a draw to rocket to third place on the points table, a point behind University and three behind Old Bovs.

Harewood dropped a point cn Saturday with a 1-all draw and that cost it me chance to take third place behind University on goal average. Instead it is fourth on goal average behind Seiwvn

in the fourth match on Saturday Woolston and Sy-ienham-Cashmere had a scoreless draw and remain m seventh and eighth place respectively.

Results and scorers were: Selwyn-Hillmorton 1 (C. Burtt), University 0. Harewood 1 (Balvant Bhana), Linwood United 1 'H. Singh). Woolston W.M.C. 0, Sy-denham-Cashmere 0.

High School Old Boys 3 (M. Tillman 2, J. Gibson), Pegasus 0. The points table is:

DESERVED WIN From the outset on a well manicured field at Barrington Park, Selwyn-Hillmorton looked a snappier team. It was faster to the ball and harried the University defence into mistakes. Selwyn, with a rearranged team, played splendidly. Tony Jur\ was taken from the forwards and put in his rightful place at centre-half, and George Carnoutsos brought in to centreforward where he formed a profitable liasion with Mark Burtt at inside-left. Carnoutsos was the outstanding player overshadowing his illustrious counterpart, Barry Maister. Ironically there was more than a hint of Maister in Carnoutsos s play. His ability to find space to receive passes and his controlled dribbling created havoc in the University defence. University was fortunate to reach the intciwal without conceding a goal. Selwyn has several penalty-corners from its numerous attacks and the ball had to be cleared desperately twice after it rebounded from Rodger McHarg’s pads. The only goal came seven minutes into the second half when Craig Burtt finally got a penalty corner past the defence.

University briefly made a series of attacks in retaliation that stretched Selwyn and won penalty-corners. Selwyn slowly fought back and had control in the last quarter, not allowing

University to attack down its strong right , flank. In this period University let itself become flustered by some umpiring decisions it. and spectators, could not understand. Once it had a penalty-corner awared against it for a breach outside the 25-metre line. Selwyn’s was a genuine team performance. Robin Wilson at right-half continued his excellent recent form with a high work load on defence, and supporting the forwards. Alistair McGregor and Craig Burtt did a grand job of negating the University right-side attack.

The wings. Robert Walker on the right, and David Clements on the left, contributed some useful runs, and Mark Burtt did superb work on defence and attack. Jury varied his passing intelligently at centre-half and was invaluable on deep defence. Selwyn Maister was below his best at centre-half. His trapping was inconsistent and twice late in the game he committed the cardinal sin of hitting the ball across his circle. On each occasion it was intercepted by Selwyn forwards. Ewan Holstein was the best University defender under pressure. trapping with assurance and clearing confidently. In the first half Warwick Shillito, at inside-right, made some spirited runs to force penalty-corners, but he was replaced for the last quarter by John Christensen, who had been nursing a tender leg injury. His introduction added little to the University attack. POOR STANDARD

The benevolent spirit of Telethon captured the hearts of both Harewood and Linwood at Cottesmore College. Throughout, they persisted in giving passes to the opposition. To be fail* to Hare wood, it attempted to play constructively, but Linwood forgot the talented players in its forward line and the defence, with the exception of Bhikhu Bhana al centre-half, insisted on belting the ball aimlessly towards the forwards.

Perhaps it was a planned move because with six minutes remaining one of Linwood's infrequent attacks forced a penaltycorner and Henry Singh scored the equallising goal. There was a high error rate from both sides. Trapping was extremely poor and far too many tackles were made with wish and flourish of the stick. Harewood took the lead after 15 minutes of the first half when Balvant Bhana converted a penalty-corner, but try as they might the Harewood forwards

could not get 1 lie extra goal. Too often they bunched when moving forward and they failed to spread the attack to open gaps in the Linwood defence. Singh, Bhikhu Bhana and Greg Barrett did an admirable job keeping the Harewood right flank controlled, while in the forwards Darryl Small was unsuccessful in forming a cohesive attack.

Dick Pettit played consistently at centre-half for Harewood both on defence and supporting his forwards, and lan Steel did particularly good work covering on defence. OLD BOYS TOO STRONG

Old Boys had too much experience for Pegasus and was soon a goal ahead from a penalty-corner by Jeff Gibson. It continued to pressure a wavering Pegasus defence with Philip Crisp, the right-wing, featuring in some swift runs. From one of these Mike Tillman accepted a cross and beat a couple of defenders before scoring. Old Boys at that stage looked as though it might have a goal feast but the Pegasus defence improved and it was well into the second half before Old Boys scored its final goal, again through Tillman.

The evergreen Bub Best worked industriously in the Pegasus forward line and received some support from Paul Gradiner, but the Old Boys goal was never seriously threatened. Its defence, with Chris Tye and Simon Tilley playing soundly, broke up most Pegasus attacks.

Paul Wayman had a busy time in the Pegasus goal and emerged with credit as did Peter Cox and Martin Higgins. UNINSPIRING HOCKEY

Sy den ham-Cashm c re wasted the chance to notch two points against Woolston at Porritt Park. It. dominated the first half with strong attacks down its right, with Steven Ambler the insideright, and Ross Thompson, the right-wing, penetrating deep into Wool st on’s half. Sydenham had a number of penalty-corners, but Gary Copsey, playing * a typically consistent game, blocked several hard shots.

Woolston had its periods on attack but unfortunately they were mainly solo efforts and seldom was the Sydenham goal in danger. In the second half Sydenham lost some of its co-ordination and the game became scrappy

and neither side had much purpose about its play. There were a number of long raking hits from both, sides that went nowhere in particular. Murray Peacock, the Sydenham centre-half, kept a constructive head throughout, but his efforts were in vain. SCHOOLBOY GAMES Schoolboy hockey matches played on Saturday resulted: A Grade.—Breens 4, Selwyn 0; Casebrook 3. St Michaels 2: Burnside 4, St Marks 1; Mt Pleasant 4, Redcliffs 1; Heaton Street 0, Shirley 0. B Grade. —Rangiora 5 Opawa: 1; Casebrook 4. Burnside I. C Grade.—Redcliffs 6. Mt Pleasant 1; Isleworth 7, Rangiora 1; Burnside 0, St Marks 0. D Grade.—Bishopdale 1. Wainoni 1; Pegasus 2, Redcliffs 2. MINI HOCKEY Round 14.—Woolston 1, Kings A 0; Paparoa A 0, Kings B 0; Paparoa B 1, Burnside A 1; Bumside B 2, Opawa 0; Kaiapoi 4, Selwyn 0; Redcliffs A 2, Pegasus D 0; Redcliffs B 0, Pegasus E 0; Redwood A 4, Redcliffs C 1; Pegasus C 2, St Marks 1; Bishopdale 6, Redwood B 0. Round 15.—Woolston 2, Kings

B 1; Paparoa A 2, Kings A 1; Paparoa B 1, Kaiapoi 1; Burnside A 6 Opawa A 0: Bumside B 8. Selwyn 0: Pegasus C 2. RedcliffsA 0; Redcliffs B 1, Pegasus D 0; Redcliffs C 6, Redwood E 0; St Marks 3. Pegasus E 0; Redwood A 2. Bishopdale 0.

P W D L !- A Pts H.S.O.B. 10 6 3 1 22 8 15 University in 6 1 3 25 9 13 Selwyn 10 5 2 3 10 9 12 Harewood 10 4 4 2 18 18 12 Redcliffs 9 4 2 3 12 12 10 Linwood 10 3 3 4 JI 11 9 Woolston 10 1 5 4 8 17 7 Sydenham 9 1 4 4 7 14 6 Pegasus 10 1 2 7 11 26 4