‘Terrible’ senior hockey

Press, 26 April 1979, Page 3

‘Terrible’ senior hockey

Whether it was dissatisfaction at having to play on a public holiday or just incompetence, the standard of the four senior men’s hockey matches at Porritt Park yesterday was terrible.

Three of the games were drawn, including the one played by the competition leader, University. The only winning team was Linwood United, which played reasonably well to beat Woolston W.M.C. 4-0.

University drew 0-aIl with High School Old Boys and Redcliffs snatched a goal in the last 30 seconds to draw 1-all with SelwynHillmorton. The final whistle in both these games was a merciful release for players, coaches and spectators. In the other game, Sydenham-Cashmere also scored a late goal to draw with Harewood, but Harewood keeps its second place on the points table, two points behind University. Old Boys and Sydenham are in third equal place three points behind Harewood, but each has a game in hand over the two leading teams. Results and scorers were: Harewood 1 (B. McLean), Sydenham-Cashmere 1 (A. Black). University 0, High School Old Boys 0. Linwood United 4 (G. Barrett 3, M. Pettit), Woolston W.M.C. 0.

Selwyn-Hillmorton 1 (J. Pepper), Redcliffs 1 (P. Christensen). Points in the senior championship are:

LATE GOAL Harewood started so convincingly that a comfortable win looked likely. lan Riach, its young ceri t r e-forward, played particularly well. He dribbled with verve, and his passing was usually perfect. Bruce McLean scored the first goal after a scramble in the Sydenham circle. He dived at the loose ball and hit it into the goal as the umpire, Mr S. Crotty, was blowing his whistle for a breach. Harewood continued to attack from the start of the second-half. The Sydenham forwards, although receiving a fair share of ball, lacked the necessary cohesion to consistently put pressure on the Harewdod defence.

Five minutes from fulltime Steve Ambler broke into the circle and slipped a superb pass to Alan Black who scored. HAT-TRICK

Linwood won its game against Woolston in the first five minutes. Twice in that time Graeme Barrett fired penalty-corners into the Woolston goal. In the first minute of the second-half Barrett completed his hat-trick, again from a penalty-corner. Mid-way in the half Mike .Pettit scored Woolstdn’s fourth goal. Bhikhu Bhana, the Linwood centre-half, did a lot of work, covering and supporting his forwards. On deep defence Barrett was tackled confidently, while in the forwards Darryl Small was successful in getting the attack to combine. SCRAPPY DRAW

The Old Boys-University clash was a game that should have provided some

sparkling hockey, but the teams made too many errors, and University could not settle into its normal pattern df play, partly because its forwards were closely marked and partly because they missed too many traps.

Old Boys had the best of the first-half, with four penalty-corners to University’s one. Rodger McHarg, the University goal-keeper, made an excellent save. COMICAL The standard of the Redcliffs-Selwyn match was so bad at times in the second-half it was comical. Both teams took out their frustrations for their own incompetence. by questioning the umpires’ decisions. Finally one umpire, Mr A. Scott, gave a general warning that any further queries of decisions would result in the questioner’s temporary suspension.

The result seemed of only secondary importance but Selwyn scored first early in the first-half through a penalty-stroke by Jeff Pepper. It was not until the final minute that Peter Christensen equalised from a penalty-corner. Few players maintained a consistent standard while those around them mistrapped, mis-hit and generally played poorly. Craig Burtt at left-half and Alistair McGregor at leftback for Selwyn, tackled and passed reasonably efficiently, and Peter Christensen stood out in a haphazard Redcliffs defence. Early in the second-half Leon Munt (Redcliffs) and Jeff Pepper (Selwyn) were given temporary suspensions after they became involved in a scuffle. _____

p W D L F A Pts University 5 4 1 0 15 2 9 Harewood 5 3 1 1 9 9 7 H.S.O.B. 4 1 2 1 7 5 4 Sydenham 4 1 2 1 6 6 4 Pegasus 3 1 1 1 4 6 3 Redcliffs 4 1 1 2 5 8 3 Linwood 2 1 0 1 4 1 2 Selwyn 3 a .1 2 2 6 1 W.WJU.C. 4 0 1 X 2 11 1