SOCCER Western Wins Hurley Shield Competition

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28679, 1 September 1958, Page 5

SOCCER Western Wins Hurley Shield Competition

In the final round of the senior Soccer competition for the Hurley Shield on Saturday, Western beat Technical Old Boys by 1 goal to 0. Technical, a point ahead, was favoured to win the championship, but Western’s narrow win added two points to the team’s total, and Western became the champion team for 1958.

Trailing well behind the other teams without a win and with three rounds to play, Atlantis seemed certain to finish last, but three successive wins brought it level with Neerlandia. On Saturday. Atlantis surprised again by beating the promising Rangers side. Nomads proved too strong for Neerlandia and Christchurch City had a two goal win ovei Shamrock. Results:— _

Western 1, Technical Old Boys 0. Atlantis 5, Rangers 2. Nomads 5, Neerlandia 3. Christchurch City 2, Shamrock 0.

All teams have now completed 14 rounds, with the exception of Nomads and Christchurch City which have yet to meet in their last match. Points are: Western 24, Technical Old Boys 23, Nomads 16, Rangers 12, Christchurch City 12, Shamrock 11, Neerlandia 6, Atlantis 6. WESTERN v. TECHNICAL Scoring the only goal of the match. Western beat Technical Old Boys at English Park in the deciding match of the Hurley Shield series. The game was good, but the standard of soccer was not what was expected from the two leading teams. Howr ever, the sides were evenly matched and there was plenty of excitement as Technical tried to gain the goal which would have given it a draw and the championship title. With the exception of the brilliant goal-keening by H. Langley, there was nothing spectacular about any of the Western players. They were smaller and lighter than their opponents. but this did not deter them. The Technical players probably had greater footballing ability and their attacks were stronger, but goals were wasted by poor finishing. Langley Good Much of rhe credit for Western’s win must go to H. Langley. His positioning and handling were good and his kicking exceptionally strong. R. Laby and M. Shardlow, as fullbacks, were a contrast in size and styles, but both kept a good check on their respective winger. W. Bithell defended well In the centrehalf position in the first half. In the second half W. Rodger was moved to centre-half. He directed the Western defence successfully in the stirring closing stages when the Technical attack was intensified. The solidly-built J. Wooders, as left-half,, proved a difficult man to push' off the ball and he usually managed to get ft away safely. Neither of the two wings, A. Trotter and H. Glass, figured very much in the game, but R. Durant and C. Whitehead, the inside men, both, had plenty of play. T. Glass, centreforward, eluded his marker at times, and he might have scored more goals if he had been given some long balls to chase.

Although he handled well and used his throws judiciously. H. Botterman left his goal too readily. W. Charlton and C. Spinks, as fullbacks, gave the Western wings few chances and V. Smith went well at centre-half. The flank halves. D. Charlton and I. Drewitt, played well, both on attack and defence, with Charlton having his best game of the season. Of the two wings, A. Gardenbroek was the more successful. His opposite, M. Jones, held on too long and was seldom successful with his crosses. Inside forwards were A. McAnulty and W. Shannon, both of whom initiated a number of likely movements, and they teamed up well with E. Charlton, who had few chances because of close marking. Technical’s goal was scored by Gl ass - . Mr A. Williams, of Dunedin, was the referee. NOMADS WIN Making many positional changes, Nomads Neerlandia at Macfarlane Park by 5 goals to 3. -Nomads dominated the early play, but against the run of the play Neerlandia opened the scoring. R. Beltman scored from a good cross kick by T. Feringa. Nomads equalised immediately, when A. Van Rooyen scored from close in. Playing with more method m their attack Nomads went ahead when P. Rennell outpaced the opposition and finished off a good solo effort. . . Rennell put Nomads further, ahead after the resumption. I. McCullum was injured and went off. but upon returning made the total four for Nomads. , .. . . Undeterred. Neerlandia fought back and from a mistake by the Nomads defence, M. Camfens reduced the margin and H. ' Trower, the leftwing, followed up. with a long shot from outside the penalty area. Just before time Van Rooyen headed in Nomads’ fifth goal. For Nomads D. Simmonds was acapable centre-half in a defence that shone in the first spell. I. Toth, at left-wing, tackled and distributed the ball well, but I. Graham and D Ennis, the backs, were inclined to play too far -back in the second half. A. Van Rooyen and P. Rennell were the pick of the forwards, although B. Shaw and B. Prebble did - lot of good through their wing play. ?. Neerlandia’s defence had a rowing time against the\ NomadA forwards, with -the result tn’ajißMn had few opportunities to forwards on attack. K.

centre-half, was the strong man on defence and J. Van der Griend and G. Tabek, the wing halves, gave him good support. The forwards tried hard with R. Beltman and T. Feringa forming the better wing: H. Hoevers, an emergency centre-forward, could be persevered with, and M. Camfens played his usual captain’s role at inside left. The referee was Mr J. G. Gourlie. ATLANTIS WINS Atlantis played good football to beat Rangers 5-2 in an Interesting match at Beckenham Park. The Rangers’ defence was frequently unsound, and the lively Atlantis forwards were quick to seize the advantage. Rangers were without two players, W. Adams (goalkeeper) and R. Moore (centre-forward), and tneir absence was keenly felt. There were occassional neat pieces of combination by the Rangers players, but the teamwork of Atlantis was more consistent.

The Atlantis defence was solid, with goalkeeper J. Voogt in excellent form. Both full-backs, J. Cole and J. Weston, worked their men closely and cleared the ball well. At centrehalf, J, Hegarty was seldom caught out of position. A. Allerdyce and D. Soder played hard in midfield. J. McGrath was effective when in possession, but was often slow to the ball.

, The outstanding forward for Atlantis was S. Herke, at outside right. He was the fastest man on the field, scored three good goals, and made many openings for the inside forwards. J. Levay, on the left flank, was not so effective, although he received fewer opportunities. The Rangers defence was a mixture of good and bad. E. Adams tried hard in goal, but was forced into error when under pressure. The right full-back, E. Clarke, played good football, but received little support. At right half J. Adams was often back on defence, but in the later stages of the match he initiated many attacks with his accurate passing. There was little cohesion among the Rangers forwards. The wings, P. Nota and W. Duddy, were energetic, but too often inaccurate with their passing and shots at goal. D. Finney and J. Hinchley, the inside forwards; showed good ball control but seldom pierced the defence. At centre forward, T. Ryan had few opportunities. J. Adams scored for Rangers from a penalty after five minutes’ play. Atlantic equalised when Herke ran infield to score close in. Soon after Herke centred well for J. Moore to net with a hard drive. Early in the second spell Herke scored with a long shot when Adams was lured out of goal. McGrath put Atlantis well ahead with a high shot that Adams failed to reach. Herke scored with a similar shot soon after. With five minutes left for play. Hinchley secured for Rangers and passed to Ryan, who scored from right in front.

LOWER GRADES

Second Division K.O. Final: Technical Old Boys 2, Western 1. Third Division: Rangers 2, Neerlandia 1. Fourth Divisioon K.O. Final: Atlantic 1, Shamrock 0. Junior Grade: Boys’ High 2, Thistle I'. Fifth Grade: Shamrock B beat Western B by default; Shamrobk A beat Technical A by default. Sixth Grade: Nomads 2, Rangers 0; Shamrock 12, Western B 0; Celtic 5, Western A 4. Seventh Grade: City 1, Western A 1; Thistle 8, West Coast 1; Rangers 2, Shamrock A 2; Celtic 4, Western B 1. Eighth Grade: Technical 0.8. 5, Neerlandia 0; Western A 4, Nomads 0. Ninth Grade: Nomads B 1, City 0; Celtic A 13, Nomads A 0; Shamrock C 1, Rangers 1; Western A 7, Celtic B 0; Technical 0.8. 3, Shamrock. B 0. Tenth Grade: Nomads 1, Shamrock B 0; Rangers 1, Shamrock 1; Celtic B 4. Western C 0; Technical 0.8. C 4, Western D 0; Western A 1, Western B 1.

SCHOOLS’ GAME

Wellington Beats Canterbury

Representative teams from Wellington and Canterbury postprimary schools provided the curtain-raiser at English Park. Wellington won by 2 goals to 1. The teams were very evenly matched, and both played good football at times, but lacked finish around the goal. Wellington fielded a taller team, and in the opening stages looked faster, but the Canterbury side improved in the second half and some neat play resulted in scores being even for a time. For Canterbury R. Boyd looked shaky in goal in the early stages, but he improved. J. Laby and G. Lewis were good on defence and A. Verlander was the better of the two flank halves. C. Roskam had plenty of thrust at centre-forward. A. Chee, as inside right, was always prominent. G. Wilson was the stronger of the wings. Wellington’s goalkeeper, D. Economou, was good, and S. Billing defended well at centre-half position. The flank halves, D. O'Donnell and G. Bilby. were stronger than the Canterbury pair, and A. Simpson and R. Keown both showed promise as inside forwards. Wellington scored the only goal of the first half after 15 minutes. Donkin goaled from close in. Canterbury was unlucky not to even when the Wellington goalkeeper failed to get to RoskanKs' shot, the ball rebounding ofltthe VcroM bar. In thejjecond »ucWelling' W goal a centre for - ’ all.

Results From Other Centres Auckland- —Onehunga 3, Eastern Suburbs 0; North Shore 7, Ellerslie 2; Ponsonby 5. Eden 3. Onehunga won the championship. Wellington.—Seatoun 6, Petone 2 (Seatoun wins Wellington senior championship); Stop Out 3. Railways 3. Dunedia.—Northern 4, Green Island 2; Roslyn-Wakari 5. Maori Hill 2: Mosgiel 3, Technical Old Boys 2j Caversham 2. Old Damages