Hockey Wairarapa wins national title

Press, 7 June 1983, Page 22

Hockey Wairarapa wins national title

By,

JANE DAVIDSON

A valiant Canterbury effort to draw 2-all with Wairarapa was not quite enough for it to retain the ANZ Bank national women’s under-21 hockey title at Hagley Park yestersday. Honours this year went to Wairarapa, which had three wins and the draw from its four matches. Canterbury was also unbeaten, but instead had two wins and two draws. In the other game yesterday, Waikato beat Otago 1-nil in a match that was goal-less until the second to last minute when Rose Jeffries, the right wing, scored. Final points were: Wairarapa 7, Canterbury 6, Waikato 3, Northland 2, Otago

The Canterbury—Wairarapa match provided a fitting climax for the tournament. Played at a quick pace throughout, the game was not without controversy as Canterbury made a desperate effort to win in front of its home crowd.

Canterbury had the misfortune to have two goals disallowed, one in each half. The first was deflected from Leanne McFadden’s stick on the up and flew high into the goal, then late in the second half Debbie Hockley put the ball into the net but the whistle had already blown for offside. The tone of the match was set in the opening minutes when Canterbury goaled. Again it was the centre half, Debbie Hockley, who scored, this time neatly trapping a penalty corner and ramming it home. It was Hockley’s third goal in four games, a good record for a player not usually in the front line of attack. But if Canterbury thought it had the advantage, it was not for long. Wairarapa then went looking for the ball and weaved its way upfield. A strong cross came from the left wing which was missed by several of the Canterbury defence until finally it deflected off Donna McCartney’s stick. It was then a matter for the Wairarapa right inner, Julie Cornford, to tap the ball home for the goal. If that was not enough, the second Wairarapa goal came hard on the heels of the first when Sharon Rutene, the left inner, scored from a penalty corner. The visitors then stayed on attack, when a long comer was hit across the face of the gojjj, Unfortunately for

Wairarapa, there was no-one backing up and when Maureen Williams finally did get a shot, it went wide. In the first 20 minutes or so, Canterbury had problems with players mistrapping, which on occasions proved dangerous. In one case it let Angela McLeod, the Wairarapa right wing, burst upfield and get close to the circle, where it was only the solid tackling of Donna McCartney which stopped her. McCartney, at right half, played a solid game in defence and worked hard.

A feature of the Canterbury Swas the combination of y Smith and Leeane McFadden in the frontline. Both were quick to the ball, and keenly contested possession. Smith, in particular, made some sparkling runs. She created some excellent chances, including one solo run upfield, she fed inside to Kerryn Doig only to see the ball go wide of the post. The hectic pace was maintained during the second half. Claire White, the Wairarapa centre half, again displayed top form. Quick to go on attack, she tackled hard and her passing was always strong and direct, and she linked well with Maureen Williams, the left wing. Canterbury equalised when Kerryn Doig took a pass from Smith and goaled, and for 10 minutes or so after the goal, Canterbury was rampant. Another goal looked well on the cards, but Wairarapa’s defence held out a concerted attack. Play in the final 10 minutes deteriorated just a little, but in general it was a clean, hard fought match between two evenly-matched sides.