Canterbury women in hockey final

Press, 5 September 1980, Page 24

Canterbury women in hockey final

Special correspondent A brilliant save of a penalty stroke by the Canterbury goal-keeper, Lesley Shankland, and a successfully taken penalty stroke by Canterbury’s international forward, Shirley Haig, took their team in to the final of the K Cup at the national women’s hockey tournament at Blenheim yesterday. Both the semi-finals were closely-fought contests, Canterbury scoring its goal in the-final minutes to beat Auckland, 'l-0, and Hawke’s Bay also getting the winning goal near the end to beat the title-holder, Eastern Southland, 2-1. . - : -

Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay will meet in the final tomorrow morning.

The Canterbury , arid Auckland match was a dour, tight game and lacked spirit, until the final part. Both teams had their defensive cordons well marshalled. Auckland forced Canterbury on to‘defence for the early part of their encounter and Canterbury found it difficult to establish its attacking momentum. ~

Mrs. Haig, one of Conterbury’s most dangerous attacking forwards, was well marked and effectively kept isolated. The Auckland halfline dropped back to counter

the inner breaks of Canterbury. Both teams had a goal disallowed, the whistle sounding before the ball had crossed the line. There was no score at half-time. Auckland was awarded a penalty stroke mid-way through the second half but the shot by .Karen Thomas was expertly saved by Miss .Shankland in goal. That save seemed to spur the Canterbury players and they lifted their game noticeably. In the closing minutes, Canterbury received a penalty stroke and the experienced Mrs Haig made no mistake with her shot. Canter-

- bury comfortably ‘ maintained its one-goal advantage to .the . .end. r \ " » In the ' other semi-final, 1 Hawke’s Bay led ‘Eastern j Southland,. 1-0, at half-time after Allana Hihai netted a 5 penalty stroke, but . Marilyn f McKenzie equalised'early in t the second . half also - with a - penalty stroke. Just before 5 full-time, Harina Kohere > scored a fine field goal to give Hawke’s Bay a place in 1 the final. In the second section for the Floyd Shield, Canterbury ’ B had a convincing win . against Wairarapa. After . nine minutes, Canterbury - was ahead 3-0 with goals by

Jane Earnshaw and two by the captain, Barbara Mitchell. ,

Wairarapa scored from a penalty stroke, but Canterbury, playing its best team game of the tournament, advanced its tally to five before half-time through two wellhit goals by Marie Flannery.

Semi-final results were:— K. Cup.—Canterbury 1, Auckland 0; Hawke’s Bay 2, Eastern Southland 1.

Floyd Shield.—Canterbury B 5, Wairarapa 1; North Shore A 2, Manawatu 1.

Mills Cup.—Tauranga 3, Malvern 0; Marlborough 2, Taranaki 2 (Marlborough won on strokes). Holden Cup.—Wellington B 2, South Otago 0; Nelson 5, Maniototo 0. •

Umpires Trophy.—South Canterbury 3, Ruahine-Dannevirke 2; Wanganui 2, Piako 1. . ■