Canterbury assured of semi-final place

Press, 4 September 1980, Page 28

Canterbury assured of semi-final place

From

KEVIN TUTTY

in Auckland

A dynamic Canterbury team, playing some of its best hockey of the season, assured itself of a place in the Challenge Shield semifinals at the national men’s hockey tournament with a 6-0 win against Manawatu yesterday. '■ ? ' - ■ Canterbury’s first-half performance was stunning. It scored four goals and came close to scoring several others as it swept?down on the Manawatu defence in wave after wave. ' ■;

If Canterbury can produce the same form against Wellington in its final pool game today, it should win again, especially as Wellington’s form faltered yesterday and it was held to a 1-1 draw by South Canterbury.

It was the second time in as many days that South Canterbury sprang a surprise in the Newman’sAdidas sponsored tourna-

ment, but it has finished its pool matches and cannot win a place in the Challenge Shield semi-finals. Wellington and Canterbury are already assured of those (wo places in pool B. The top team will be decided by their pool game today, and Canterbury needs only a draw to win.

In Pool A Auckland seems sure of finishing top. Yesterday it scored 13 goals against a Wairarapa side which provided less and less resistance aS the game wore on.' '■

Cyril Walter, the Canterbury coach, started the game with his-top forward line of George Camoutsps,. Balvant Bhaha, Barry Maister,. Mark Burtt and Chris Maister, and they were magnificent. They dribbled with speed and skill, and created .so many gaps in which to receive passes that the Manawatu defence found it impossible to control them.

Selwyn Maister at centre-

half was used as a pivot to initiate attacks, using both the left and' right flanks and the centre.

After the interval Ghana and Carnoutsos were substituted for Warwick Shillito and Steve Ambler. The latter at inside-right made some dashing ?." runs in the last quarter.- and Shillito made his presence felt after a tentative start. Jeff Gibson, at. right-half, and Craig Burtt, at left-half, had commendable games. Their trapping and tackling had few blemishes and they distributed the ball quickly and thoughtfully. In the Newman’s trophy section Marlborough secured its first win yesterday beating Army, 1-0. while Ashburton lost to Horowhenua and finished bottom of its pool. In the India Plate (third section) West Coast lost- to Auckland B and with it probably any chance of a semi-final place;