Selwyn’s remarkable record

Press, 22 June 1981, Page 21

Selwyn’s remarkable record

Selwyn-Hillmorton moved to a comfortable four-point lead at the end of the first round of matches in the senior men's hockey championship on Satur-' day. Selwyn completed its first eight games in the C.S.D. sponsored competition without conceeding a goal, a remarkable record, and is now playing such controlled hockey it should remain unbeaten in the second round. On Saturday it had a comfortable 5-0 win against Linwood United. and moved a further point ahead of its nearest opposition, Svdenham-Cashmere. which moved to second place with a convincing 4-1 win against Woolston.

High School Old Boys had its third successive loss in a game that twice developed into fights in the. final few minutes. An inept Old Boys was' beaten 1-0 by University. Hardwood had a bye and is in third place, and there are three teams — University, Redcliffs and Old Boys — grouped on nine points, a point behind Harewood. Sydenham-Cashmere had a comfortable win against Woolston. a team that provides its share of shocks. But it could not match the awesome penalty-cor-ner striking of Ross Ambler who scored three of Sydenham's goals. Redcliffs controlled its game against Pegasus doing 80 per cent of the attacking, but it was , not until 10 minutes from fulllime that it managed to score the only goal. I Results and scorers were: Selwyn-Hillmorton 5 (R. Schuman 2. G. Barrett 2. R. Wilson), Linwood United o. Sydenham-Cashmere 4 (R. Ambler 3, P. Gardner). Woolston 0. University 1 (W. Shillito), High School Old Boys 0. Redcliffs 1 (B. Stanley), Pegasus. 0.

SCRAPPY GAME The one bright spot in a <rab game was the -goal scoreu by I Warwick Shillito from ah impossible angle in the first-half. Shillito chased a pass to the * back-line, and when everyone, including the Old . Boys goalkeeper, Dave Stuthridge, thought it was going out of play, Shillito clipped the ball and somehow it sneaked inside the far post.

In the final minutes the game degenerated into a scries of shoves, stick hacks, and an open battle between’ Maurice Kidd (Old Boys) and Matt Slark (University),' who each earned a temporary suspension. That these two players are among the mildest mannered in senior hockey was an indication of the bad feeling generated in the dying stages. A further scuffle erupted about half a minute after the final whistle between Dave Connor (Old Boys) and Greg Pierce (University). University managed to get some passing movements going in the second-half in the face of some rugged Old Boys defence, but by comparison Old Boys' attacks were inept. They resorted to raking hits upfield, but usually only succbeded in giving away possession. The forward line is sorely missing the steady guidance of Geoff Deakins anil Greg Armstrong, who are both sidelined with injuries. Old Boys called on two former internationals to assist in its defence. Alan Patterson played competently until he left the field at the interval, and he was replaced by the team coach, Bill Browne. On the slide side of 50, Browne was a prominent figure in the secondhalf. The length and height of his hits were such, one could have been forgiven for thinking he was holding a hurling stick rather than a hockev stick. CONFIDENT SELWYN Selwyn was much too skilled for Linwood in their game at Barrington Park. It had a' far greater team understanding and it was reflected in many fluent attacks. By comparison the Linwood attack found it difficult to put together more than a couple of passes. Selwyn was three goals up by the interval. Robin Wilson scored from a penalty-corner rebound. Greg Barrett from a penaltycorner and Richard Schuman' scored a field goal. In the latter stages of the firsthalf Linwood had to sustain

some heavy pressure from Selwyn as it attacked from all flanks. David Clements on the left-wing for Selwyn had an especially good game making progress many times in restricted space: Schuman split the Linwood defence many times running behind the Linwood defence onto through passes, mainly from George Carnoutsos and Robin Wilson. He scored a splendid goal in the second-half moving the ball to the left of the goal, then turning and hitting the ball into the far corner.

Barrett scored the other goal in the half, a clean shot from a penalty-corner. In the dying stages Seßvyn lost some of its momentum, but Carnoutsos. who was brought on as a substitute inspired new efforts from Selwvn.

John Whitford played as a roving defender rather than leftback. but played effectively. He calmly robbed Selwyn forwards of the ball on the circle edge many limes, and initiated his own attacks, sprinting upfield. Darryl Small at inside-right for Linwood tried hard to get some combination between the forwards, but their passing lacked the precision of their opponents.

Craig Burtt was a prominent half-back for Selwyn. tackling calmly and varying his passing thoughtfully. CONVINCING WIN

Sydenham had enough control in the mid-field to ensure that it maintained dominance throughout. Sydenham, as usual varied its attack well. It made its best progress through the centre, but Paul Gardner on the left-wing, had another impressive game, making metres of ground several times.-He was rewarded in the second-half with a fine goal after another typically strong run. For its three other goals Sydenham had Ross Ambler and his powerful penalty-corner hits to thank. After a lean spell earlier in the season he is now striking the ball fluently again — a good omen for Canterbury as

t well as the Sydenham team. I ' Sydenham had a two e advantage at the interval and r soon after the restart Greg ’ Rhodes put Woolston back in the - game from a penalty-corner. Woolston had the ball in the net I a second time but it was disallowed. j Woolston. which had been 1 quicker to the loose ball, forced ! renewed energy from Sydenham, 1 and in the last few minutes it t scored, twice more, the result of . swift attacks and snappy passing. 1 CHANCES LOST The Pegasus defence was 1 tinder considerable pressure i from the Redcliffs forwards for ; much of the match but it was i only five.minutes from full-time i that it managed to score the only ■ goal. Led by a thoughtful Brent Stanley. Redcliffs worked away at the Pegasus defence, but usually to no avail. The forwards lacked finish in the circle and many chances were lost. But they were also foiled by some timely tackling by Mark Bodekar. Rob Wilson and Jeff McEwen. The Pegasus forwards got few opportunities to break out of defence and when they did they quickly lost possession enabling Redcliffs to mount swift attacks again. It was Stanley who scored the winning goal. He calmly slipped a rebound from a penalty-corner through the packed Pegasus defence. 4 The Redcliffs defence was seldom under pressure arid mtich of its work was involved in establishing attacks. Besides Stanley, Lee Munt and Murray Johnston showed skill and drive in the Redcliffs forward line.

The points table is F A Pls P W I) L Selwyn 8 7 10 19 0 15 Sydenham 8 4 3 1 16 7 11 ; Harewood 8 4 2 2 15 11 10 i Redeliffs 8 3 3 2 13 8 9 University 8 4 1 3 11 9 H.S.O.B. 8 4 13 10 8 9 Woolston 8 2 2 4 6 9 6 Linwood 8 116 8 28 3 LPegasus 8 0 17 2 22 1