Lack of preparation biggest hurdle

Press, 30 May 1981, Page 60

Lack of preparation biggest hurdle

Lack of preparation will be the sternest opposition facing the Canterbury hockey team in its first big match of the season, at Wellington this week-end. Canterbury meets Wellington, Manawatu and Otago’ in an annual quadrangular tournament, with only one game — against the Canterbury colts — behind it. . Barry Maister. the caretaker coach for Cyril Walter while the latter is on a coaching job in China, has been forced to abandon Sunday practice games because of a heavy schedule for club teams. ': •

"The players needed some match practice to develop' some combination. With a new centre-half,' Ross Fowler, that was particularly important,” said Mr Maister. It. is a difficult enough assignment for Canterbury in Wellington without the worry of' knowing it is not well prepared. ’ In terms of. Canterbury teams of the last 10 years this season’s is inexperienced. It contains 10 of the •squad of 15 which I,took - Canterbury to the Challenge Shield final at the national . tournament last year, but the

loss of players such as Barry and Selwyn Maister, Graeme . Sligo and Jeff Gibson, all New Zealand representatives, has left a yawning gap to fill. Balvant Bhana, the new captain, Mark Burtt, George Carnoutsos, Chris Maister, Robin Wilson and Marty F i t z simons suddenly find themselves with added responsibility. They are now the most experienced members of the team. There was the threat of an ' additional burden earlier in ..the week. Wellington had scheduled Canterbury to play

two. games on Sunday and one on Monday, a departure from’ the previous tournament format with a game on each of the three days. However, Canterbury, which is scheduled to, leave at 7.00 a.m. this morning, qqi ckly had the draw changed and now plays Manawatu at 3.00 p.m. today, Otago at 1.30 p.m. tomorrow and Wellington at 3.00 p.m. on Monday. Manawatu will be a.tough first game. It has a defence of strength led by the New Zealand captain Paul Ackerley. He is accompanied in the halves by Alan Lints, a-New

Zealand colt last year, and Graeme Hall, a national trialist. One of the backs, Brian Kensington, is a New Zealand junior this year. Wellington will be Canterbury's chief opponent. Its side has changed little since last year and will be more experienced. The Wellington backs, Wayne Buckingham and Phil Benfield, are the most efficient pairing in the country 7 , and the half line — Brent Miskimmin, Stuart Grimshaw and Hus Bhikha — could lay a similar claim. ’ Peter Miskimmin and the

durable Alan Mclntyre lead a competent forward line. Against the colts a few weeks ago the Canterbury i forward line lacked penetra- : tion after impressive build- ' up play. There will need to < be thought , and more accurate passing inside the opposition 25m area to score goals. . Carnoutsos.. the right-wing I and Bhana, the inside-right, ! are two of the most skilled I players in New Zealand. J Given the slightest chance J they have the ability to tear : open any defence. f.