Canterbury nears top form

Press, 2 June 1986, Page 24

Canterbury nears top form

FromKEVIN TUTTY in Wellington

Canterbury finally produced form near its best in the Post Office Savings Bank Champions tournament yesterday when it beat Northland, 2-0, to maintain its perfect record, and boost its confidence for the deciding match this afternoon against Auckland. Canterbury and Auckland, traditional rivals, both have four wins from four matches and will be evenly matched. The game should be a fitting climax to the tournament which has been played in good weather, but with both teams playing their fifth game in as many days

there is a danger that fatigue will lead to an increase in the number of errors.

Auckland had to wait until 10 minutes from fulltime yesterday to secure a 1-0 win in an even match against Wellington, which has been without luck at the tournament.

Canterbury’s win was more decisive than the score suggested. It scored a goal in each half, and a third went into the goal in the first half and bounced out with the umpire unsighted. He waved play on.

There was a fluency and confidence about the Canterbury play yesterday which had been absent in its previous three games. The forwards passed the

ball .with style in the first half, frequently driving deep into the Northland half.

The play fell away midway through the second half when the Canterbury coach, Ewen Holstein, made two substitutions to rest some tired legs. The changes upset the Canterbury rhythmn and the thrust and understanding that had been present for the first 50 minutes largely disappeared. Canterbury made several promising attacks before it finally managed to breach the Northland defence after 20 minutes. George Carnoutsos, who had his best game of the tournament, worked his way into the circle and from near the back-line

nicked a pass back to lan Riach who turned the ball into the net. Before the interval David Grundy flicked a ball over the net from close range, and Carnoutsos got a neat deflection which went just inside the net before rebounding into play. Canterbury’s second goal came only four minutes into the second half when Grundy scored from a penalty corner rebound. Northland was not outplayed. It put together some moves that had the Canterbury defence fumbling. Dave Stuthridge in goal had to make a couple of difficult saves in each half. * The best of the Canter-

bury defence was Gary Hodder at left back. His trapping and tackling brought a halt to many Northland attacks. Greg Pierce at centre half played his best game of the tournament.

Alan Lints at centre half for Northland was a doughty defender making many timely tackles as the Canterbury forwards threatened to break the last line of defence.

The Canterbury team yesterday was: Stuthridge; Mark Tynan, Gary Hodder; Robin Wilson (captain) (sub: Craig Burtt 58 mins), Greg Pierce, David Penfold; David Grundy, John Radovonich (sub: Chris Leslie 54 mins), George Carnoutsos, Mark Burtt, lan Riach.