Inter-district competition hotting up

Press, 20 April 1981, Page 14

Inter-district competition hotting up

Competition for places in the inter-district men’s hockey league is hotting up. with two rounds of pool play left. In pool A High School Old Boys moved to a comfortable two-point lead on Saturday, and in pool B there are three teams capable of finishing at the head of the pool. Harewood, Redcliffs, and University are the three teams. Harewood is the only side with full points, but its last two matches are against Redcliffs . (today) and University next week-end. In Saturday's games. High School Old Boys earned its two points against the run of play, and in the last minute. Selwyn-Hillmorton’s chances of a place in the final were virtually demolished when it could only draw with a spirited Linwood United, and Harewood gave another mixed display, coming from behind to beat SydenhamCashmere. University was two goals, down against Redcliffs 10 minutes into the second half, but kept its chances of a place in the final-on June 7 alive by scoring two quick goals midway through the half for a draw. Results and scorers were: Harewood 2 (P. Hayde, C. Leslie), Sydenham-Cashmere 1 (R. Ambler). ’ Redcliffs 2 (C. Prutton, S. Smith), University 2 (P. Borren. B. Carter). Timaru Town 5 (G. Stanbury. G. Leslie. I. McKerchar, W. Annear, N. Rawston), Ashburton 0. .. Selwyn-Hillmorton 2 (G. Hayde, D. Clements). Linwood United 2 (G. Davies, M. Pettit).

High School ’ Old Boys ’ 1 (D. Connor), Woolston 0. ADVANTAGE LOST Redcliffs, through a mixture of inept finishing by University.and its own defence, led 1-0 at half-time against the run of play; University’ did much of the attacking’ in the half and Redcliffs replies were infrequent. It took the lead when Chris Prutton scored from a penaltycorner — a firm shot into the corner of the net. University fought desperately to equalise, but spoilt several promising moves with hasty trapping and sloppy passing. When Redcliffs scored another goal against the run of play 10 minutes into the second half,'University's task became even more difficult. But it responded magnificently. the forwards in particular working their hearts out. Fortune finally smiled on them when Pirn Borren scored after a crisp passing movement, and then about five minutes later Baden Carter equalised after a fine solo run aided by sloppy Redcliffs tackling. At brief times during the game Redcliffs showed fine attacking ability. A couple of times smart passing moves swept the length of the field with ease, but the moves were too infrequent to keep pressure on University. The back-tackling and ball hunting done by the University forwards. who were ably supported by the halves, was a 'key factor in University’s success. LINWOOD SETS PACE Selwyn-Hillmorton, which lost surprisingly a week ago to Timaru Town, had to fight to draw with Linwood United at Barrington Park. There were numerous errors by both teams, who were playing too fast for the difficult ground, and consequently there were few passing moves of note. Linwood twice held the lead, and the onus was on the Selwyn side to fight back for a vital point. Mike Pettit scored first for Linwood after 10 minutes, and it was not

until a few minutes before halftime' that the ever-alert Dave Clements scored from a penaltycorner rebound. Midway through the second half Graeme Davies scored for Linwood from a penalty-stroke, and Selwyn had the task ahead of equalising. It mounted some strong attacks, and with just minutes left Glen Hayde -scored. LUCKLESS WOOLSTON High School Old Boys spent most of the second half on defence before it finally broke away in the last minute anil from a goal-mouth scramble. David Connor scored. The players had only time to get back to half-way to hear the final whistle. Woolston was unlucky. It forced numerous corners during the match, and those that were struck firmlv were splendidly saved byDave’ Stuthridge in goal. Only a minute before the Old Boys goal he somehow got an. outstretched right leg to a shot that seemed destined for the corner of the net. There was little constructive hockey from either side. Steve Barrow. the Woolston centre-half, kept a steady flow of passes moving to his forwards, but a high proportion failed to get further than the receiver. Rob Smith in the Old Boys defence, was a valuable left-back. HAREWOOD ESCAPES Svdenham-Cashmere dominated the‘first half against a disorganised Harewood side, and was perhaps unlucky not to be more than a goal up‘at the interval.

One of the problems for Sydenham was that it could not complete promising attacks, and its only goal came from its burly penalty-corner striker. Ross Ambler. Harewood changed its tactics and its pace after the interval Its forwards showed more combination than in the first half, and passes were slipped behind the Sydenham defence with some success. Harewood equalised when Chris Leslie scored from a penalty-stroke after a Sydenham defender stopped a shot on the goal-line with his leg, Pat Havde scored the second with a typically hard shot from the top of the circle. GOAL SPREE Timaru Town scored four goals in the space of 10 minutes early,in the second half to give it a comfortable, 5-0, win against Ashburton at Leslie Park. Timaru. Ashburton dominated the first 10 minutes of the game with strong attacks, but then the game settled into a series of scrappy exchanges until Graeme Stanbury scored for Timaru just before half-time. A few’ minutes after the interval the floodgates opened for Timaru. George Leslie scored after a rightflank attack: lan McKerchar scored after a scramble in the goal-mouth; Wayne Annear beat several defenders to score in a solo run; and Neville Rawston completed a good passing move down the left flank. 1 After the scoring spree the game reverted to a series of uniidyl attacks, with neither side looking dangerous.