Important match for men’s teams

Press, 26 May 1984, Page 72

Important match for men’s teams

Harewood and High School Old Boys, two of the leading candidates for the Noel Leeming senior men’s hockey championship, meet in a crucial game at Porritt Park tomorrow. This week-end’s matches mark the half-way stage in the championship and a win tomorrow to Harewood will seriously hamper Old Boys’ prospects of winning the championship. They would be four points behind Harewood, which heads the competition before today’s games, with Selwyn. A win by Old Boys against Harewood, would leave the two sides level on points and give Selwyn the sole lead in the championship. Predicting a winner is not easy. Both teams have been inconsistent in their previous matches this season and a lot will depend on the

motivation of the teams on the day. Harewood, naturally, will miss Balvant Bhana who is injured. His strong dribbling and intelligent guidance of play will be missed;at in-side-right. Harewood’s success could well depend on the placement of Chris Leslie and lan Riach in the forward line. Riach is generally more value to the team at- leftwing, rather than at centreforward. In the right frame of mind, Riach and Leslie would be a handful even for the cool and experienced Old Boys defence. The Old Boys forward line is playing with more purpose than it has done for several seasons. Its greatet problem, though, is an inability to capitalise on scoring chances created by impressive build-up play.