Harewood, Selwyn retain leadership

Press, 19 April 1982, Page 24

Harewood, Selwyn retain leadership

Harewood and Selwyn both scored four goals on Saturday to maintain their colea’dership.. in the senior men’s hockey championship. Harewood’s was the more convincing win however, and indicated that it is finally gaining some consistency* in its play, an element that is badly needed in this capable side. Selwyn by comparison struggled against University, and the 4-1 winning margin was no indication of the struggle it had for much of the game to overcome an adventurous University side. Linwood continued to be a team capable of surprises, gaining a valuable draw with High School Old Boys at Porritt Park, and in the other match at Sydenham Park, the home side managed a late goal to take two points against Redcliffs and lift itself to fourth place on the points table. Linwood has been the success of the season though. It is still unbeaten in three games, and only the coleaders, of the nine sides in the competition, are able to boast that record with Linwood. Results and scorers were: Selwyn 4 (C. Burtt, R. Schoeman, D. Clements, R. Wilson), University 1 (C. G. Maister). Harewood 4 (P. Hayde 3, B. Bhana), Pegasus 0.

Sydenham-Cashmere 1 (W, Hadlee), Redcliffs 0. High School Old Boys 1 (G. Deakins), Linwood 1 (P. Snape). THE POINTS TABLETS:

Brief Dominance . A seven-minute spell in the second-half, in which Selwyn scored three goals, gave it a comfortable, but flattering win at Ham. For much of the game University matched Selwyn, and for a couple of periods had last year’s champion scrambling in defence as its inside forward trio of Warwick Shillito, Baden Carter and Chris Maister combined in neat inter-passing moves. University scored first through Maister. A free hit from outside the circle found him inside the circle, and his high shot beat a diving David Loader in goal. Selwyn was finding it diffi- ' cult to mount attacks against a very tight University defence. The Selwyn forwards found the opponents marking them unshakable and their rhythm was upset.

In the last 10 minutes of the first half, and the first 10 of the second, it was Selwyn who had to defend several concerted attacks including three penalty-corners. Mid-way through the half some of the University defence gave their opposites a little too much room and the Selwyn forwards, in particular Richar Schoeman and George Camoutsos, seized the openings gleefully. First Schoeman scored, and David Clements and Robin Wilson quickly followed with field goals, and University’s fate was sealed. Greg Pierce at centre-half for University played consistently in all departments, while Wilson, his opposite, was slow and inaccurate with his passing. Harewood consistent Harewood started with a flurry of fast attacks, moving the ball swiftly from flank to flank and harrassing the Pegasus defence almost without respite. But the Pegasus defence, although severely tested, held out until a penalty-stroke was awarded and converted by Balvant Bhana. Most of the attacks drove forward on the left flank, lan Riach and Chris Leslie working in close unison, while Dick Pettit and the rest of the defence fed them a stream of ball. Soon after the stroke

Harewood went to its halftime lead when Pat Hayde latched onto a rolling ball to find the net. Hayde distinguished himself by picking up two more such goals in the second-half, capitalising on some looseness in the Pegasus defence. Although Pegagus rarely looked like scoring, there were moments when the forwards showed some of their potential by moving the ball around neatly in an attempt to penetrate the Harewood defence. To the fore in these moves were Andrew Dove at inside-right, and outside him, Bob Best. To their left Graeme Richards and David Grundy added some much needed penetration. Advantage lost Linwood has in just three games this season scored as many points in the championship as it did in the whole of last season, and many more are likely from this young, rejuvenated side being coached by the former New Zealand representative, Noel Hobson. On Saturday it deserved to take a point off High School Old Boys, which in spite of, having one of the best defences in the competition does not have the attacking power to match it. For the second successive game, Kerry Thomas had the mortification to see a pen-alty-stroke saved — a stroke

that in each case would have given Old Boys much needed wins. On Saturday the former Linwood left-wing turned goal-keeper, Mike Pettit, saved the attempt. Old Boys scored first when Geoff Deakins, easily his sides most constructive forward, accepted a pass from the right-wing, Phil Crisp. In the attacks it made, Old Boys looked more dangerous, but even several penaltycorners proved fruitless, a couple being well saved by Pettit. Mid-way through the half Linwood levelled when Paul Snape completed a good passing movement. It was in the final minute when Old Boys received its penaltystroke, and to the delight of the Linwood players,- and the consternation of the Old Boys side, Pettit made his important save. Late goal Sydenham - Cashmere snatched a last minute win against Redcliffs after both sides had strived for 69 minutes for the advantage. Sydenham had had a dominance of possession during the game, but it lacked the ability in and near the circle to break the Redcliffs’ defence. The Redcliffs forwards also lacked the penetration needed against the sound Sydenham defence, even though they were able to

combine well in the mid-field there was inevitably a breakdown once the forwards reached the 25m area. Ross Thomson, with his swift running and close control, was the best Sydenham forward, while behind him Dick Spiers kept delivering well timed passes. Bryan

Ayson gave another good display, the best feature being his tackling. Time appeared to have run out for both sides when Thomson made a run down the centre and his cross found Bill Hadlee at the top of the circle. He scored with a strong shot.

P W D L F A Pt Hare. 3 2 10 8 1 5 Sei. 3 2 1 0 7 7 5 Lin. 3 1 2 0 4 3 4 Syd. 3 1 1 1 2 2 3 Untv. 2 1 0 1 3 4 2 HSdB 3 0 2 1 2 3 2 Wlstn. 2 1 0 1 1 2 2 Peg. 3. 0 1 2 1 7 1 Red. 2 0 0 2 1 5 0