Nervous wait for winners

The Press, 11 July 2005

By KEVIN TUTTY

University player-coach Lincoln Churchill experienced a new type of pre-game nerves in the deciding round of the Canterbury men's premier hockey league on Saturday.

It was nerves about a game he was not playing but which handed University the championship.

Carlton-Redcliffs, leader by a point, had to beat High School Old Boys-Burnside to win a fourth consecutive championship, otherwise University, barring the upset of the year, would win.

Redcliffs lost 2-3 to Old Boys and two hours later University beat Avon 7-0 to win the title.

"I've never been as nervous about a game I wasn't playing in," said Churchill after his side became the 94th winner of the President's Shield.

Churchill said he and his teammates felt more relaxed when Old Boys went 2-0 ahead in the first half.

"Old Boys are a good side and it meant Redcliffs had to score three times to win. I think we owe them (Old Boys) a few beers."

Redcliffs did get back to 2-2 but was left kicking itself for missing two good chances.

Churchill said University's success was based on a solid squad.

"We had no weak links. We had a good bench to replace players when others were unavailable."

University was 4-0 ahead at the interval against Avon and went on to score three more goals in the last 15min.

It was a pity that so few were present to see the conclusion of the championship but not surprising when the game ended at 6.30pm.