Carlton’s win a highlight

Press, 24 June 1985, Page 28

Carlton’s win a highlight

The Woolston-Selwyn encounter apart, a feast of goals were scored in the N.Z. Permanent senior women’s hockey competition on Saturday. As expected, Burnside went further into the lead with a resounding eight-goal win over Hornby. Woolston and Selwyn remained in equal-second placing as a result of their 0-0 draw. This match promised much but offered very little as a result of poor application of basic skills and unimaginative play.

The highlight of the day was a match watched by only a few spectators at Nunweek Park when Carlton beat Harewood, 4-3. The one-goal margin was flattering to Harewood as two of its goals were scored from circle breaches which went unnoticed and a seemingly well-executed goal by Carlton was disallowed in the second half. However, the game proved entertaining and exciting. Pegasus played with assurance to convincingly beat Rangiora, 6-0. Points: Burnside 22, Selwyn 17, Woolston 17, Carlton 16, Harewood 10, Pegasus 9, Hornby 3, Rangiora 2. Carlton 4, Harewood 3

All seven goals in Carlton’s 4-3 win over Harewood were scored in the first half with both teams intent on pushing players forward, at times to the detriment of their defences. This policy allowed for an open match which was played at a hectic pace and created an air of excitement.

Carlton opened the scoring when Bronwyn Wilson on the left wing received a pass, beat her full-back, and found a narrow gap to score. Harewood soon replied with a pass from the right to Lynda Bowie after a strong run by Lisa Sutherland. A superb passing move from halfway by Carlton’s Robyn Hocking and Shirley Haig led to an onside bully when the ball became lodged in the path of the goalie, Elaine Jensen. From the bully Haig pushed the ball into the net to score and a penalty corner goal by Kathy Paterson put Carlton further into the lead. Loose defence by Carlton

allowed Harewood to narrow the gap when Leah Grafton guided the ball into the net, but, Carlton nudged ahead again when Haig scored with a bullet-like shot from the edge of the circle to give her team a 4-2 advantage. Harewood’s attacking strength lay with its centrefield players and it was from such an attack that Harewood’s third goal originated. Maree Flannery moved forward smoothly and after a number of passes in front of the goal Heneritta Carroll scored with a close-range shot.

In the second half Harewood dropped an offensive player deeper in order to tighten the defence. This resulted in Carlton dominating but having less space to execute its passing moves. Still, Carlton was able to get shots at goal, a disappointing feature of their game of late, but the goalie, Jensen, improved her play and was sound.

Flannery and Carroll’s use of the straight pass threatened Carlton’s defence, especially when Sutherland ran on to the ball. However, Carlton’s Paterson was always quick to tidy up loose ball and the deep defender, Debbie Gillander, was sure, if not spectacular. Haig and Thompson combined well to lead Carlton attacks while Wilson on Carlton’s left wing had her best game of the season. Harewood’s Janet Collenton frequently thwarted attacks and distributed the ball adequately while Lorraine Rouse was solid at left half. Scorers: Carlton: S. Haig 2, K. Paterson, B. Wilson. Harewood: L. Grafton, H. Carroll, L. Bowie. Burnside 8, Hornby 9

Burnside was untroubled in its match against Hornby and substantially added to its already impressive goal tally. Burnside’s superior team work, experience and individual skill combined to allow the Hornby team very little leeway. Leanne McFadden was Bumside’s individual star with her fine effort of five goals resulting from aggressive play when she frequently robbed

the Hornby defence of the ball.

McFadden, who has played in the more defensive role as a link, relished the return to her familar front-running position. Jillian Hack, who has spent most of the season as a substitute player, received her chance to impress as left link and this she did with aplomb. She tackled well and distributed smoothly enabling the Burnside machine to operate with efficiency. Burnside led, 4-0, at halftime, a score which could have been considerably higher if it had not been for the diligent defence of Margaret Steward and Jo Readman and the fine goal-keeping of Julia Fitzgerald. Hornby’s ability to constantly hassle sometimes disrupted the Burnside attackers and in addition a number of scoring opportunities were missed with poor finishing. The best of the Hornby forwards was the talented left wing, Jackie Nuthall, who made a number of bold attacking sorties. Burnside 8: L. McFadden 5, J. Phillips 2, J. Earnshaw. Hornby 0. Pegasus 6, Rangiora 0 Pegasus produced one of its finest displays of the season when it defeated Rangiora by six goals. Two early goals by Nicky Headifen and Delwyn Richards set the pattern and Rangiora found itself constantly on the back foot against an inspired team.

Poor positional play by the Rangiora left-side defence allowed the Pegasus right wing, Headifen, ample opportunity to attack which she did to good effect. Her forceful running and her ability to work the ball in the circle created several scoring opportunities. The team member, Delwyn Richards, was in a goal-hungry mood and her explosive running and willingness to attempt shots at goal posed problems for Rangiora. At half-time Pegasus led, 40, with a further goal from Headifen and a penalty stroke by Lyn Riesterer. Rangiora’s customary strong attacks down its right flank were thwarted by Debbie Rob-

inson and Geneva Kara who were both sound and showed good understanding. The only time the Rangiora defence created any sense of stability was when the left inner, Liz Reeves, forfeited her attacking duties and assisted her flagging team mates. Ginny Richards made it five goals for Pegasus with a strong shot from the circle edge and Delwyn Richards completed the scoring after the goalie, Jocelyn Dobson, who had repelled many shots on goal, erred to let the ball slip between her legs. Pegasus 6: D. Richards 2, N. Headifen 2, G. Richards, L. Riesterer.

Rangiora: 0. Selwyn 0, Woolston 0 Selwyn and Woolston produced a scoreless draw in an uninspiring match which was a stop-start affair caused by too many errors and time spent retrieving wayward balls over the sideline. Woolston had the better of the match, especially in the first half, with Sue Duggan and Julie Reid providing some probing runs and being ably supported by the midfielders, Sally Moorfield and Isobel Thomson. The repositioning of Woolston’s most thrustful forward, Reid, to left-wing allowed Woolston to make better use of the width of the field and at the same time keep play away from Selwyn’s centre-field strength of Nicky Sherriff and Barb Mitchell. Although Woolston had opportunities to score they could not break through the sound and unobtrusive defense of Rose Gardiner and the fine goalkeeping of Tania Johnston. Selwyn’s defence was guilty of lazy footwork and often found itself in weak tackling positions which allowed Woolston to keep pushing forward. The second half Legan with Selwyn taking the initiative and for the first time testing the goalie, Lyn McDonnell. The Selwyn forwards managed to break free from their tight markers and show more imagination. However, their brief flutter on attack ended when Woolston regained possession and won a number of corners only to fritter them away with poor trapping.