Selwyn seeks national title

Press, 23 September 1983, Page 32

Selwyn seeks national title

KEVIN TUTTY

Hutt and Victoria University from Wellington, Selwyn from Christchurch, and Indians from Auckland, are the four semi-finalists in the H.W. Smith Trophy national inter-club hockey competition to be decided in Christchurch this week-end.

For Selwyn it is the second time in three seasons that the club has reached the final four — in 1981 it was the beaten finalist. Tomorrow it will have to overcome Victoria University to reach the final, and provide itself with the chance to add the Smith Trophy to the Championship Shield it won in August for securing the Christchurch senior championship for the second time in three years. The most interesting match in the semi-finals at Porritt Park will be the clash between Indians and Hutt. The Wellington side had to overcome the doughty Auckland club, Somerville, to reach the semi-finals. Two of New Zealand’s most skilled forwards will be in the opposing sides tomorrow. Peter Miskimmin will lead the Hutt attack, while the Indians will be led by the elusive Peter Daji.

The ground at Porritt Park will be firm, and providing it has been adequately cut and rolled, will provide a true surface on which the teams can play with confidence. Hutt has another New Zealand forward, Lawrie

Gallen, in its team and a New Zealand junior, Kevin Gallen. In the defence the former New Zealand representative, Wayne Buckingham, and the current national right-half, Brent Miskimmin, will provide stability. Apart from Daji, Hugh Compain and Chan Chibha are the best known of the Indian side, but only three of the side have not played for either Auckland colts or Auckland B. Victoria is a mixture of young and old players, and one of its greatest assets is the cunning of those older players. Jan Borren and Bruce Judge have retired, but three Borrens — Thur, Tone and Frank -- remain to form the basis of the attack. The calm and wise heads of Derek Wilshire, John Scott and John Granger in the Victoria defence, have the ability to cope with whatever any upstart young forward might test them with.

Selwyn’s greatest handicap could be a lack of games. Several of the team have not played for five weeks, but the coach, Jim Bowden, has worked the side hard in the last week, the team having its final practice last evening. Success for Selwyn will depend on the form of its inside forward trio of George Carnoutsos, Richard Schoeman and Mark Burtt, and how well Robin Wilson can marshal the Selwyn defence.