Soccer HURLEY SHIELD MATCHES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28263, 29 April 1957, Page 15

Soccer HURLEY SHIELD MATCHES

Western Beats Shamrock

Western and Shamrock, two of the strongest teams in the Canterbury Football Association’s Hurley Shield competition, met at English Park on Saturday and provided some of the best football seen this season. Western combined more effectively to win by 4 goals to 2. In the early game, Atlantis and Neerlandia both showed improved form. Neerlandia surprised by winning by a three-goal margin. In the other three games at suburban parks, Christchurch City, Technical Old Boys, and Nomads all had comfortable wins. Western, Technical Old Boys, and Nomads are the only teams which have won all matches to date. Results:— Western 4, Shamrock 2. Neerlandia 5, Atlantis 2 Christchurch City 7, Thistle 4. Technical Old Boys 10, Rangers 0. Nomads 8, University 1. With three matches played in the qualifying round, points are:— Western 6, Nomads 6, Technical Old Boys 6, Shamrock 4, Atlantis 2, Neerlandia 2, Christchurch City 2, Rangers 2, University 0, Thistle 0. WESTERN V. SHAMROCK With good positional play, snappy short-passing, and well-planned movements, Western outplayed Shamrock in the first half and fully earned the two-goal lead it held at half-time. Both sides scored two goals in the second spell, making Western the winner by 4 goals to 2. With control of midfield play, the ball was kept up to the Western forwards with well-placed passes. Halves and forwards teamed together in outwitting the hardpressed Shamrock defence. Flay switched from flank to flank, and the Shamrock goal was under almost constant fire. Shamrock, playing a defensive game, seldom presented a real threat to the Western goal. Contrasting with the well-placed kicks of the Western backs, those of the Shamrock defenders were aimed solely at getting the ball as far away from their goal as possible, so that Western often regained possession and it was not long before play was back in Shamrock territory.

Western lost much of its superiority in the second half, when players worked more as individuals than as a team.

In J. Voogt Western had the safer of the two goalkeepers, and J. White was a sound full-back. R. Durant’s strong passes from the left-half position were a feature of the match, but J. Longmuir was just as effective in general play. With A. Laffey, they formed the stronger set of halves. The two inside forwards, P. Saunderson and K. Olley, were prominent throughout, and C. Steel was the stronger winger.

T. Campion and P. Flynn served Shamrock well on defence, but they, with the other backs, might have given more direction to the ball. P. Fletcher played a plucky game at right-half and initiated one of Shamrock’s scoring movements. J. Price, at inside left, with B. Newsome, on the wing? were the best of the Shamrock forwards. S. N. Pcterie showed promise at centre forward.

The Play Western kept up a strong attack, and Saunderson scored first with a low shot after receiving from Olley. Steel gave Western its second goal when he made a run down the line and crossed the ball to the goalmouth, where Shannon snapped it in. A fine free kick by White found the net and put Western further Shamrock raided the Western goal, and Peterie scored from a cross by Newsome. Longmuir made a goal for Saunderson, and Newsome added another to Shamrock s total, finishing off one of the sides best movements of the day, initiated by Fletcher. . The referee was Mr L. Tointon. NEERLANDIA V. ATLANTIS Two different styles of play were seen in the early match at English Park. Neerlandia relied more on long kicking and fast-movifig forwards, whereas Atlantis moved up-» field with accurate short passing. Territorially, Atlantis had the better of the game, and might have expected to win, but Neerlandia surprise by winning by 5 goals to 2. The Neerlandia goalkeeper, W. Heuvelmans, was at the top of his form. F. Ceelan, right back for Neerlandia, and R- Ekeris at centrehalf, played sound games. R. Campfens did a lot of useful work at left half. G. V. Wyngaarden, left wing, capitalised on the opportunities Campfens made. R. Beltman and H. Koster worked hard as inside forwards, but were inclined to be too deep when the team was on attack. R. Fleming at right full-back, and J. Hegartv. centre-half, were prominent among the Atlantis backs. F. Nicoll, J- Levay, and H. Deruiter were three excellent forwards with good ball control. Neerlandia was first to score. R. Beltman netted after nine minutes. Atlantis pressed hard, and after 30 minutes Levay received down the centre to goal. A few minutes later, Neerlandia went ahead again when Wyngaarden scored after the ball had crossed the goal-mouth from Beltman. For Neerlandia, Campfens scored with a beautiful shot from well out, and then Gardiner goaled for Atlantis. Neerlandia broke away again and Wyngaarden scored after Koster had made st good solo run. Neerlandia ended the match by scor-