HURLEY SHIELD GAMES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 15

HURLEY SHIELD GAMES

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

NEERLANDIA SHOWS IMPROVED FORM

WESTERN STILL UNBEATEN

Scoring was high in four of the five matches in the Hurley Shield competition on Saturday. The only closelycontested match was the main game at English Park, an improved Neerlandia side beating Rangers. Nomads had a field day, and scored 12 goals to Wigram’s 1. Western maintained its unbeaten record by beating University and Technical Old Boys were too strong for Thistle. Shamrock had an easy win over Christchurch City. Results:—

Neerlandia 2, Rangers 1. Technical Old Boys 6, Thistle 1. Western 6, University 1. Nomads 12, Wigram 1. Shamrock 7, Christchurch City 1.

With the qualifying round almost completed, the following are the points (numbers of games played in parenthesis):—Western (8) 16; Shamrock (7) 12; Technical Old Boys (8) 12; Neerlandia (8) 10; Nomads (7) 8; Christchurch City (7) 6; Rangers (8) 6; University (8) 4; Wigram (8) 2; Thistle (7) 0. NEERLANDIA V. RANGERS

Neerlandia has improved its football since it last played at English Park, and on Saturday deserved its narrow win over Rangers. In the early games of the season it was almost completely lacking in combination. Its backs booted the ball upfield and the forwards raced after it to dispute possession with the defence. They appear to have learned that the side in possession of the ball is the attacking side, and everything depends Upon retaining possession. On Saturday Neerlandia combined in several delightful movements, taking the ball downfield with careful passing. This was not always the case, but there was much evidence that the team has been practising hard. W. Heuvelmans played a good game in goal. He left his goal too early on one occasion and was lucky his full-back covered for him. The full-backs, F. Ceelan and J. Starink, defended strongly, and were well supported by the heavilybuilt centre half, R. Ekeris. J. Smit, left half, moved the ball well at times, but he still makes the occasional hefty kick lacking in direction. The other flank half, T. H. Earerins, teamed well with the right outside, J. Pet, and the pair made some clever movements. The inside trio played good football, prominent being R. Campfens at inside left. P. Feringa made a good centre forward.

Rangers were not up to their form earlier this season. Without A. Calderwood in the halves and R. Moore in the forwards, their play lacked combination. Their fast forwards, with quick, short passing, impressed against Western, but they showed little of this on Saturday. R. Vannan, their new goalkeeper, was impressive. He is alert and fast, and made some fine saves. E. Cousins played well at full-back. I. Pash, who has played in many positions this season, was centre half. W. Duddy, outside left, showed good ball control, and left the defence standing on occasions. T. Ryan played centre forward, but did not receive the support he needed to penetrate the Neerlandia defences.

After 10 minutes of patchy football Rangers opened the scoring with an unusual goal. Osborne sent over a beautiful cross-kick that dropped just under the bar. The goalkeeper, Heuvelmans, took the ball cleanly, but fell over the line after being shouldered by the Rangers centre forward, T. Ryan. The referee awarded a goal, and Heuvelmans was half-way off the .field as a protest against the ruling when he was persuaded to return by a team-mate. Neerlandia swung back to the attack, and a wellplaced corner kick by J. Pet dropped in front of D Steeman and he drove it into the net from , close range. Hands by a Rangers defender in front of goal gave Neerlandia a penalty, and R. Campfers scored. Neerlandia had the better of the closing stages, but could not add to its score. The referee was J. Davidson. SHAMROCK v. CHRISTCHURCH CITY Stronger in the forward line and possessing more thrust, Shamrock had an easy win over Christchurch City by 7 goals to 1 in the early game at English Park. City was without M. Wild and T. Clackson, two of its regular halves, and F. Sparrow, who has been prominent in the forwards. T. Lynch played right hall instead of inside forward as he sometimes does, and the absence of both Sparrow and Lynch around the goalmouth was sorely felt. The City halves saw that their forwards had their chances, but they never looked formidable. Shamrock did not play brilliantly, but had its bright moments. On attack Shamrock moved and passed quickly and had the City backs defending strenuously. Shamrock attacked from the whistle, and C. Banham put it in the lead with two quick goals. A nicely-judged header by the centre forward, T. Shearer, a few minutes later put Shamrock in a strong position. Shamrock kept up the pressure, and Durant and Nicoll combined to make an opening for Price, whose header weni very close. After a period of indecisive nlay Shamrock was back on attack, and Wheeler made it a present of a goal when he deflected Ni coil’s shot into his own net. Kipg, in goal for City, made some good saves, but he could not; handle a hard shot from Fields, and Nicoll raced in to score from a few vards out. Lvnch made an opening for City, and Wright’s shot found the net. but he was ruled offside. City’s first goal cam** from a penalty kier taken by Gordon. His first attempt went over the bar. but as he had kicked before the whistle he was given a second chance, ■’nd this time he was successful. A mistake by Codling in front of goal gave Shearer another goal for Shamrock, and . lelds took the final figure to seven when he accepted a well-placed pass from Banham and ran in to net. The referee was Mr C. Anderson. WESTERN OUTPLAYS UNIVERSITY

Western outplayed University in all aspects of the game and won easily, 6-1, on a greasy ground at Elmwood Park. From the kick-off play settled in University’s half and remained there for most of the game. Superior skill in ball control gave Western a monopoly of possession, and it maintained a constant attack. University, whose backs and halves were kept busy on defence, did far too much aimless kicking. Consequently the University forwards spent much time chasing the ball. When they did get the ball, weak links in the line lost possession through lack of speed or inability to beat a man. D. Adams, on University's right wing, was the only forward who showed ability to penetrate the Western defence, but he received too few chances. In thei second half University played virtually three or four full-backs. Had it

not been for hard-working defence by G. Coote, B. Montgomerie, and I. Smith, the score against University would have been greater.

University’s giant goalkeeper, M. Hill, also defended well and was applauded for some fine saves. He used his weight and height well to shoulder off charging forwards and clear with tremendous, high kicks, or to clear with tosses over the forwards’ heads.

The Western forwards were disappointing in the first half, scoring only two goals. They ran out of position and bunched too closely in front of the goal. In the second half they combined better tc create more scoring opportunities, but, even so, some easy chances were lost. D. Lilley and K. Ollev were the two fastest forwards and the best. They scored five goals between them.

A. Laffey played his usual competent game as Western’s centre half, and was well supported by J. Longmuir at rignt half. These two had the opposing forwards well marked and made intelligent play to their own forwards, switching the direction of their passes to get the ball to the feet of an unmarked man.

The full-backs were solid, and combined well with their goalkeeper in some defensive moves. H. Langley, who will keep goal for Canterbury in the Gordon Cup match at Wellington today, had an easy day in Western’s goal. Only twice did he have to face hard shots, and each time his saves were first class. He was unlucky to concede a goal right on time when he slipped. Goals were scored for Western by Lilley (3). Olley (2), and P. Saunderson, and for University by R. Sumeshwar. Mr L. Holland was referee.*

TECHNICAL BEATS THISTLE Technical showed much improved form to beat Thistle 6-1 at Barrington Park. Strengthened by the inclusion of two new first-class players, J. Hunter and D. Charlton, Technical immediately attacked Thistle’s goal and continued to do so for most of the match. Thistle was forced into playing a defensive game, but once again J. Donnelly, in goal for Thistle, was in brilliant form and defied Technical’s efforts to score for a long period. Up till half-time only two goals had been conceded by him—one hard shot from close in after a corner-kick and another tapped in before he had recovered after sprawling on the ground to save a shot. Throughout the second half Technical was in constant possession of the ball, and the forwards had ample opportunity for scoring, being well fed by Hunter. Charlton, and Storer, the Technical halves. Such was Donnelly’s ability in goal, hovyever, that only four more shots passed him, a fraction of the number of fine saves he made. With a handy lead. Technical was content to practise positional play and combination, but near the goal found it difficult to put shots past Donnelly. The best of the Technical forwards were T. Charlton and V. Smith. Both wings, W. Logan and M. Jones, also played well. The Technical halves were outstanding. The Thistle forwards did not have the ability to take the ball past the opposing halves, and its halves and backs were forced to play an entirely defensive game.

Goals were scored for 'Technical by T. Charlton (2). W. Logan (2), V. Smith,'and M. Jones. A penalty goal was scored for Thistle by A. Robinson. Mr G. H. Royce was referee.

NOMADS TROUNCE WIGRAM Nomads soundly defeated Wigram 12-1 at the Air Force Station ground, Wigram. Clearly superior in all departments of play. Nomads maintained an attack on Wigram's goal. The Nomads forward line, playing confidently, gave a good exhibition of attacking moves in running up its big score. F. Newell (centre forward) and I. McCallum (right wing) played well for Nomads, each scoring three goals, and A. van Rooyen (inside left) was outstanding in scoring four goals, including two splendid headed-in shots and a penalty shot.

Wigram’s goal was scored bv a Nomads player mis-kicking into his own goal. • Nomads' goals were scored by van Rooyen (4), Newell (3), McCallum (3), and P. Rennell (2). Mr M. Brown was referee.

LOWER GRADES Second Division.—Atlantis 3, Technical Old Boys 3; Neerlandia 1, Teachers' College 1. Third Division.—Thistle 6, University 2; Western 3, City 3. Friendly Matches. —Shamrock second 3, Rangers third 1; Shamrock third 3, Citv second 0; Burnham- third 4, Technical Old Boys third 0. Junior.—Nomads 4, Western 2; Celtic 14, Technical Old Boys 1; City 4. University 1; Thistle 7, Atlantis 2; Boys’ High School beat Oriental by default. Fourth Grade.—Boys’ High A 2, Citv 1; Shamrock 1, Technical 1; West High 5 Boys’ High B 0. Fifth Grade.—Boys’ High 17, Technical 0; Nomads 5, West High A 0; Western 11. West High 0; Boys’ High B 1, Technical B 0; Technical A 6. Boys’ High C 0; Rangers 1, Shamrock 1. Sixth Grade.—Shamrock 13, Boys’ High 0; Western beat Nomads bv default Seventh Grade.—Nomads 5, Western B 0; Shamrock 7. Citv 1; Rangers 3, Celtic 1. Eighth Grade.—Shamrock 2, Western A 0; Western B 3. Technical 0; Rangers 3, Celtic 0; Nomads 3, City 1. Ninth Grade. —Thistle 3, Shamrock 3; Nomads 3. Shamrock A 0; Western A 8 City 1; Western B 1. Celtic 0; Nomads A 1 Western B 1; Technical 1, Shamrock 1; Nomads B 0. Western C 0; Western A 2, Celtic 0; Rangers beat City by default. DAWSON CUP MATCH AT OAMARU (New Zealand Press Association) o ... . , OAMARU, June 3. Southland beat North Otago. 2-0, in an Association football match for the Peter Dawson Cup at Oamaru on Saturday. MATCHES IN OTHER CENTRES Wellington.—Miramar 19. Taita 11- K 0,2 , 29 ’ Geol 'ge 16; Marist Old'Boys 16. waterside 5. , ° ra 32 . Celtic 22: Athleuc 32, Caledonian 4: University 17 Western Suburbs 13. J