Captain's goal secures cup

Press, 1 June 1981, Page 3

Captain's goal secures cup

A magnificent goal by the Canterbury captain, Alison Sutherland, earned her team the Bass-Worthington Trophy at the ANZ Bank national under 21 womens hockey tournament yesterday afternoon.

The goal gave Canterbury a 3-2 win against Otago, its nearest rival, and put the host team into an unassailable lead with one game to play this morning. Canterbury has the maximum six points from three games and Otago, four with four games completed. Manawatu (three points). Auckland (two) and Wellington (one) all have a game to play but cannot catch Canterbury.

The foundation for Canterbury’s success was laid in its first two games on Saturday when it beat Wellington 5-2 in the morning match and Auckland 3-0 in the . afternoon.

Although it looked far from invincible. Canterbury deserved its success. Its team-work was superior to its opponents, but the defence looked very shaky when it had to face fast breaks. This was especially obvious against Otago yesterdav.

Canterbury was 2-0 ahead after 11 minutes with goals by Leeanne Doig and Maree Flannery, but Otago, a pugnacious side, fought back and scored from penalty-corner rebounds in the nineteenth and twenty-sixth minutes. Sutherland’s copy-book clincher came four minutes into the second-half when she found space on the left-wing mid-way between the half and 25m lines. Controlling the ball superbly she sprinted down the sideline and into the circle, beating several players and finally the goal-keeper with a neat

Fortunately, the Canterbury defence trapped and tackled with more authority than it had in the first-half

and its positional play improved. Many Otago attacks were broken up before they reached the circle, although Otago had three penaltycorners in the last two minutes.

Against Auckland Canterbury took most of the firsthalf to settle and was fortunate to be a goal up at the interval. Auckland retained the" ball on its right flank and Canterbury seemed incapable of switching play. After the break Canterbury played with more purpose. Its passes were firm and more accurate, and in the last 15 minutes it applied almost constant pressure on Auckland.

Poor shooting by the Manawatu forwards cost the team a chance to be in contention for the title. It has had three draws.

Yesterday morning against Wellington it had several chances to score but overeagerness spoilt them. At times the Manawatu forwards played excellent hockey, but a tendency to stand too far upfield at free hits enabled the opposition to intercept many passes. Results were:—

Canterbury 5 (J. Earnshaw 2. A. Sutherland 2, D. Hockley). Wellington 2 (D. Ross. D. Julian), Manawatu 2 (R. Sperry 2). Otago 2 (J. Cameron, S. Edmundson); Canterbury 3 (M. Flannery, L. Doig, A. Sutherland). Auckland 0; Otago 4 (S. Duncan 2. C. Smith. J. Cameron). Wellington 3 (D. Julian 2,. M. Hogetts); Auckland 1 (L. Webber), Otago 1 (C. Smith); Wellington 1 (D. Julian), Manawatu 1 (R. Sperry); Auckland 0, Manawatu 0; Canterbury 3 (L. Doig. M. Flannery, A. Sutherland), Otago 2 (J. Cameron, P. Ogle).