Selwyn aided in success

Press, 26 April 1983, Page 28

Selwyn aided in success

The inclusion of its three international players played a main role in Selwyn exposing the Sydenham defence for its deficiencies, in the third series of matches in the men’s Noel Leeming hockey championship in Christchurch on Saturday. Selwyn’s win put it two points ahead of the field, on six, but its principal opponents, Harewood, with the bye and University, who seem likely to be well in the race this season, have had a win and a draw from two matches, for three points. University had a first half struggle against Woolston, but won with apparent ease in the second half, Old Boys and Linwood were locked in a tight struggle for a draw, as were Redcliffs and Pegasus, with Redcliffs edging ahead.

Saturday’s matches give the hint that below the top three places there may well be numerous struggles between teams, with the level of performance seeming to be so similar that none will have a clear advantage. It promises to be an interesting, if not necessarily highly skilful season. Results were: Selwyn 4 (G. Carnoutsos, M. Burtt, R. Armstrong, K. Read), Sydenham 0. University 3 (J. Tanner 2, G. Pierce), Woolston 1 (W. Bessie). Old Boys 1 (S. Tilley), Linwood 1 (M. Hobson). Redcliffs 1 (L. Munt), Pegasus 0. University improves On a Porritt Park field that carried some surface water, University had the better of the first half, but the loss of control in the later stages of attacks, often with the Woolston goal at its mercy, prevented it from converting possession to goals. It was a failing that it was to rue at half-time, when Woolston’s right wing, Wayne Hessle, scored a neat goal just before the break. University’s search for control was arrested in part by the bustle of the Woolston players, who on attack, frequently made the University defence look sketchy and unable to put tackle to ball at anywhere near ground level. In spite of that, the University backs, John Griffin and Garry Hodder both had good moments, with Hodder’s pass-

ing several times proving decisive. .

In the second half, University reasserted its first half intentions and was able to further its cause when John Tanner on the right, was able to make the most of two opportunities afforded him. Later Greg Pierce hammered the point home, with a dribble followed by a quick shot that left the Woolston defence dumbfounded. Tanner, with Steve Ambler advanced with some precision on the right, whereas the other forwards had difficulty matching intentions and the interchange between positions became a liability for this reason. In Wpolston’s defence, Greg Rhodes and Malcolm Wood, held up many University, attacks, . while Steve Barrow toiled in the centre to coordinate defence and attack. Late draw There was an air of inevitability about the Old Boys — Linwood encounter, in spite of Old Boys leading for a considerable period of the game. It was only in the final minutes that Linwood fulfilled the promise in the contest, when it levelled the scores. After scoring in the first half and having Linwood nearly return the favour, Olds Boys displayed little interest in advancing their score and settled in the later stages for holding out Linwood. It was to prove a fatal error when the score was equalised. Much of the match was played between the 25 yard lines, with neither able to endanger the goal area to any great degree. Linwood, however, had several likely chances but made no use of them. For Old Boys, Gavin Cumberpatch made some likely early breaks and it was from one of these that Simon Tilley scored from a penalty corner. Tilley, in the centre was all industry and injected some authority into his team’s midfield play. Behind him, Rob Smith was again level-headed. In the Linwood forward line, Graham Davies made some useful breaks on the right, while Simon Willocks often made good progress, but there were- time when his control was suspect. At centre half, Robin Whitmore had a sound game and the backs, Brett and Mark Hobson, were also reliable. Open country ’ The latitude which is being afforded the Selwyn forward line in its matches is proving to be a boon which they relish and capitalise on. Whether this leniency towards the forwards is a product of the so-called new formations that have become the passion of some teams, or whether Selwyn are merely finding more space, is hard to tell, but it has indeed become a telling factor. Sydenham’s defence was no match for the Selwyn assemblage and never looked likely to hold out for the duration of the match. So, it proved with only an excellent performance by the goalkeeper, Marty Fitzsimons, holding Selwyn out When the flood came in the second half, there was no stopping the onrush. Without left back, Ross Ambler and his being replaced by Dick Spiers, just out of plaster from a broken limb, Sydenham could not often enough muster a counter to the Selwyn raids. Its half line was also surprisingly innocuous, while the forwards could not come to terms with their role. George Carnoutsos’ control and drive, Mark Burtt’s supporting role and Robin Wilson’s more varied approach to his centre half task, made certain that Selwyn would be superior to Sydenham. Added to that were some effective performances by Glen Hayde at right half and the running off fife 1 ball of Richard Schoemany

Brothers’ flair

A jubilant Redcliffs deserved to hang on to its early first half goal and win, if only for the fact that it injected some sanity into its retaliation to a helter skelter series of attacks by Pegasus. While it conceded much of the possession to Pegasus, Redcliffs made far better use of its limited hold on the ball. Pegasus has a problem of being loaded with young players whose enthuisasm and energy has not yet been tempered by the assertion of a more logical approach to the matter of outdoing the opposition with sufficient speed and at the same time adqequate control. The consequence of this inadequacy is that it makes much play for itself, but when its attacks become concentrated on the opposing goal, its lack of control and hasty attempted shots deny it the rewards it seeks.

In the early period of each half Pegasus put together a number of crisp short passes, but when this early precision faded their attacks became more isolated individual attempts. In the best of the attacks, Andrew Dave and David Grundy featured largely. Behind them at centre half, John Radovonich was all energy, while his incursions into the attack threatened to split both Redcliffs and his own defence. At right- half, Michael Matsis was sound and neat in his play. For Redcliffs, the Munt brothers, Ricard and Lee, in the inside forward positions, showed the. advantage of experience allied to flair. Their use of the ball was a major factor in the game. In the backs, the young Tony Gowans withstood the Pegasus pressure well. At centre half, Peter Christensen exhorted his team to gather in greater numbers on defence.