Burnside triumphs in women’s club hockey

Press, 12 August 1985, Page 3

Burnside triumphs in women’s club hockey

The inter-club season in the N.Z. Permanent Building Society women’s hockey competition was concluded over the week-end. Semifinal matches of the subsidiary competition were played on Saturday and the finals were played on Sunday.

Burnside again displayed their superiority by winning their third competition this year in convincing style. Harewood, who had an innocuous beginning to the season showed improved form and won their semifinal 1-0 over Pegasus. However, Burnside proved too big an obstacle for them to overcome and they lost by the massive score of 0-7.

The high light of the week-end was the semi-final match between Burnside and Carlton. This was perhaps the best club match seen in Christchurch for some time with both teams contributing to a determined and skilful encounter.

Play was locked at 2-all after regular time, but two goals in extra time sealed victory for Bumside. Carlton could be considered a little unlucky meeting Burnside in the semi-finals, as they were unbeaten in pool play and have shown fine recent form. However, each of their three encounters with Burnside this season have resulted in a two-goal winning margin that reflected Burnside’s superiority. Carlton produced a polished performance on Sunday beating Pegasus by five goals to one and taking third place. Woolston’s forwards put together a fine team effort to secure a 4-0 win over Selwyn after leading 2-0 at half-time. . Mary Davies on Woolston’s right wing played a thrustful game while Sue Duggan in the centre displayed elusive skills. Hornby edged out Rangiora 2-1 to take seventh position. Good goal keeping by Hornby’s Julia Fitzgerald kept Rangiora at bay. Final places:- Burnside 1, Harewood 2, Carlton 3, Pe-

gasus 4, Woolston 5, Selwyn 6, Hornby 7, Rangiora 8. A fired up Burnside team stunned Harewood with a display of classy and sometimes brilliant team play to gain a dominant 7-0 win. For the first 20 minutes Harewood made a contest of the match and had several chances to score.

In the opening quarter Lui Sutherland on Harewood’s right flank looked dangerous and kept the pressure on Burnside’s deep defenders.

However, the first goal was initiated by Leanne McFadden, who was in dynamic form, when she broke through centre field and passed to Jane Earnshaw to score. Mary Clinton soon followed up with a penalty stroke to give Burnside a 2-0 lead at half-time.

The tendency for the Harewood team to commit their tackles too early frequently left Burnside with the luxury of a player advantage. Burnside’s Clinton was dominant in the centre field. Her accurate passes to McFadden proved dangerous and these resulted in a heartening number of shots on keeping Harewood’s goalie, Elaine Jenson, busy throughout the match.

In contrast the Harewood forwards saw little of the ball as the strong Burnside midfielders seemingly blocked off all avenues of attack. Harewood’s slowness to react to potentially dangerous situations let them down on a number of occasions and they found themselves under unnecesssary pressure.

Clinton added a further goal when she shot from an off-balanced position and three goals, coming from penalty corners Jrom Judy Phillips (two) and Earnshaw respectively, soon increased the score.

Substitute Marina Nijland concluded the scoring spree when with good hunting she successfully slipped the ball round the goalie. Bumside; J. Phil-

lips 2, M. Clinton 2, J. Earnshaw 2, M. Nijland 1. Carlton and Pegasus met for the fourth time this season and again Carlton proved too strong, winning by five goals to one.

Carlton were superior in all aspects of play, and except for a brief flurry by Pegasus after the break, they dominated. Cathy Thompson opened Carlton’s scoring when she caught up with a pass that appeared to be going over the backline and she neatly reverse-hit the ball into the net.

A well executed corner gave Carlton its second goal when Shirley Haig goaled with a hard shot from a lay off.

Carlton defenders allowed the Pegasus attackers little room to move and Delwyn Richards with her nippy running was the only Pegasus forward to make any impression.

Pegasus’s usually strong dribbling right wing, Nicky Headifin, was well contained by Brenda Fleming while Nicky Turner was always well positioned to thwart any left side bursts. Good support play was provided by Kathy Paterson and Robyn Hocking. Hocking found space with her dribbling and frequently caused confusion in the Pegasus defence. Libby Weston, who was constructive on Carlton’s left wing pushed home the third goal but Pegasus soon replied with a penalty corner goal from Keryn Dawe to make it 3-1. Paterson netted from a penalty corner with a well struck shot and then Haig added the fifth with a successful penalty stroke high to the goalie’s right. Scorers: Carlton; S. Haig 2, C. Thompson 1, K. Paterson 1, L. Western 1. Pegasus; K. Dawe 1. Woolston; M. Davie 1, J. Sperry 1, S. S. Shearer. Selwyn.- 0. Hornby: 2, C. White 1, J. Turner 1. Rangiora: J. Searli| 1.