CANTERBURY SOCCER TEAM ON TRIAL AGAINST OTAGO

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28002, 23 June 1956, Page 3

CANTERBURY SOCCER TEAM ON TRIAL AGAINST OTAGO

rpHE Canterbury Soccer eleven will i -I play its second representative game of the season at English Park this afternoon. Earlier this month, hopes of Canterbury wresting the Football Association Trophy from Wellington on June 30 received a severe set-back when its team was soundly beaten 7-1 by Wellington in the first of the Gordon Cup matches. Today, Canterbury meets Otago and Canterbury supporters will be watching the game anxiously to see whether the changes in the team made by the selector (Mr Gordon Smith) have improved its chances of success next Saturday.

Although only three players have been dropped from the side, other changes have been made necessary through injuries, and positions have been altered.

H. Langley, goalkeeper, has a dislocated shoulder and his place has been filled by J. Callaghan (Shamrock). If Callaghan can reproduce the form displayed in last Saturday s Chatham Cup game he will be hard to beat. Full-backs will be P. Flynn (Shamrock) and F. Haydon (Western). Criticism of Flynn’s play at Wellington was freely expressed but weakness ahead of him left him with many impossible situations, two or three opponents breaking through together. Haydon’s experience will be of value to his team. The selector was fortunate to have J. Hunter (Technical Old Boys), a New Zealand- centre-half, to replace the injured A. Laffey (Western). Hunter is solid, reliable and good in the air and should be able to cope with Otago’s centre-forward, G. Forbes. D. Charlton (Technical Old Boys) will be played again at right-half, and provided he does not run with the ball should justify the confidence placed in him. The other flank half is R. Durant (Shamrock) who -played centre forward against Wellington. Durant replaces P. Cole (Western) who needs more match experience. Durant is fast on to the ball and should team well with Haydon. E. Steele (Western) has held his place on the right wing. He has showed improved form lately. Inside him is A. Van Rooyen (Nomads) whe replaces E. Charlton (Technical Olc Boys). Van Rooyen has shown greai industry, an absolute essential for the position. The selection of E. Field: (Shamrock) as centre forward woulc appear to be an experiment. Canter bury is short of good centre-forwards ; but after his game for Shamrock ii i this position last week, Fields coulc : be the man the selector is looking for i Another experiment is the playin; = of P. Saunderson (Western) as insid • left, replacing J. Price. Saunderso: : has played in this position before, bu • is better known as Canterbury i winger. Shifting Saunderson allow : W. Logan (Technical Old Boys) t = play on the left wing. He and Saund i erson could make a dangerous pan = In addition to Langley and Laffe) = players who were unavailable owin ; to injury or indisposition were /

Calderwood (Rangers) and K. Olley (Western). Otago is fielding a strong team of experienced players, with a sprinkling of new representatives. J. Stephenson, in goal, has represented New Zealand, and is reported to be play-

ing as well as ever. Two South Island representatives, R Naus and T. Gilchrist, will be Otago’s full-backs. . Naus is a slimly built Dutch player, very quick of recovery and hard to get past. Gilchrist normally plays centre-half, but fills the full-back position well. One of the vounger players, J. Dunbar, is at right half, and is a 'good tackler, very fit and a full 90 minutes player. The other flank half is R. Clough, who has played for Otago and South island, and has been showing good

form recently. Otago representative last .year, W. Driehuis has the centrehalf' position. A tall player, his head is his greatest asset. The Otago attack will be led by G. Forbes, at centre-forward. Another South Island and Otago representative, Forbes is a well built, robust player, who has scored some good goals with his head. Outside him he will have G. Cuthill and W. Williams. Cuthill is a newcomer to Otago, and is settling down to the New Zealand type of lootball very quickly. Williams has played representative football for eight years, and had intended to retire this season. His return will add thrust to the Otago attack. R. Canadzich, right wing, is making his first appearance against a senior Canterbury team. Only 19 years old, fast and constructive, he is expected to go a long way in the game. On the other wing is T. Macfarlane, who has played some sound games for Otago in the last few years.

Mr Smith will announce the team for the Wellington match this evening.