SOCCER Western Loses To Shamrock

Press, Volume C, Issue 29525, 29 May 1961, Page 9

SOCCER Western Loses To Shamrock

After eliminating the 1960 Chatham Cup finalists from this season’s competition in the previous week the rapidly improving Shamrock side beat Western, champion soccer side for the last nine seasons, in a Hurley Shield fixture on Saturday.

Other leading teams in the Hurley Shield competition, Technical, Nomads and City, all won, although Technical was a trifle fortunate to preserve its unbeaten record. Rangers beat High School Old Boys in the other match.

Results are:— Shamrock 2, Western 0. Nomads 7, University 1. Technical 4, Neerlandia 3. City 7, Wanderers 0, Rangers 2, Old Boys 0. Hurley Shield points are;—

SHAMROCK v. WESTERN As in the previous week’s defeat of Technical, the steady defence and the much-improved attack of the Shamrock side carried it through to victory. The return of the captain. P Flynn, to the Shamrock team was welcome and Flynn, playing well down the field, did more than his share on attack as well as defending stoutly.

Shamrock had much the better of the first half, and J. Callaghan in goal had very little to do in that period. Perhaps a little fortunate to keep his 3oal intact during sustained Western raids at the start of the second spell, Callaghan was again given an easy time touards the end. with his team functioning well on attack.

Flynn and P. Fletcher were very sound, but again it was the solid play of the half-back line which drew applause from the crowd. In the centre B. O'Brien had an easier match than he did the previous week, but again aquitted himself well. P. Barrett and H. Taylor were always in the thick of the play. Barrett must be a prospect for representative honours tills season or next, and Taylor is returning to his very best form. J. Killick really came to life on the right wing and, although

he was again getting off-side, his was a good display.

M. Shardlow w’as the outstanding player in the Western side, which of necessity spent most of its time on defence. Here Shardlow was given every opportunity to demonstrate the weight of his tackling and the power of his clearing. P. Frost, if a little too robust in his play, and R. Durant, did their best on defence, but it was again in the forward line where Western's troubles lay. K. Olley often wore the puzzled look of a man who had passed to where a team-mate ought to be. only to see a defender take control. D. Torkington again showed that he is a good prospect. Shamrock’s two goals w’ere scored by Killick. Mr J. G. Gourlie was the refereee. TECHNICAL v. NEERLANDIA If ever a side was robbed of a well-deserved victory by poor shooting, it was Neerlandia at English Park on Saturday. The side should have won by a good margin. In one period of a few minutes. J. Feringa kicked a poster, G. Ouwerkerk headed over the top of an open goal. Feringa missed a penalty shot and H. Scholten kicked another poster. P. Reyland, in goal for Technical. gave his side's supporters many shocks, as he ventured too far from his goal on several occasions. C. Spinks and I. Graham covered up weJJ for Reyland, and often forced the opposing wings into hurried passing. E. Charlton, apparently recovered from the thigh injury which marred his performance in the national trial match in Wellington, showed that he is a danger when the ball comes loose near the goal.

TTie versatile D. Waugh, starting the match at centre-half, and then moving to insideleft. combined well with Charlton and W. Logan. Waugh is

a player whose ability would be an asset to any representative side. Logan had a good match but the other wing, A. Verham. did himself far less than justice. Verham’s passing was particularly poor, and he will have to improve this for the coming Saturday’s match. A. Chee played a good game at inside-right. D. Scable, an Englishman

playing his first game for Neer- 1 andia. impressed at left-back He worried Verham. W. Young * and B. Moot (a replacement) r were the best of the other ‘ defenders. Neerlandia missed y. N. Keeman in the forward line. s Ouwerkerk’s trapping and pass- j ing Is probably better than that ( of any other player in Christ- f chuch. but the lack of a centre- t forward made his work useless, t Charlton (three) and Chee r f»x>red for Technical. H. c Hoevers (two) and Scholten netted for Neerlandia. < Mr A. Coulson was the ref- t eree. NOMADS V. UNIVERSITY J Nomad's defeat of University 7-1 was not entirely unexpected, but it was surprising that they had to maintain a constant pressure to consolidate their win. The Nomads forwards were well led by P. Rennell who was instrumental in either making or scoring at least half of his team's goals. I. McCallum had a feast of the ball on the left flank and had the satisfaction of gaining three goals. The inside-right. R. Muirson, again played a steady game and his vigilance was rewarded when he goaled after a shot from Rennell had ricocheted from post to post in front of a bewildered University keeper. At right wing, P. McParland’s speed made the few opportunities he had look promising but the students’ . defence prevented his scoring. J The University forwards, for ! once, settled down quickly and 1 in the early minutes had the i Nomads defence worried. There was purpose and enterprise in : their play. As the match progressed, however, lack of expert- - ence became apparent. Never- 1 theless, the centre-forward, B. Fergus, was paid the unusual compliment of having the pro- . vincial centre half, D. Sim- J mends, keep a close eye on him 1 throughout the match. It was from such close contact that Simmonds was penalised and Fergus was able to score cleverly from the resultant penalty. The University half line worked tigerishly with G. Lewis playing an outstanding game at centre-half while his wing halves, C. Davidson and D. Lee. were prominent in distributing the ball to the forwards and were solid on defence. A. W. Rose and J. Robrogh made early mistakes but settled dowm to 1 check the Nomads forwards 1 time and again. L. Duckworth, j in goal, had an unhappy day. . Nomads’ goals were scored by McCallum (3), Rennell (3) and 1 Muirson. Fergus scored for University from a penalty. ] Mr P. Donnelly was the , referee. CITY V. WANDERERS At Beckenham Park City 1 easily accounted for the less ] experienced Wanderers to win by seven goals to nil. City held command of the game through- ; out, and gave its opponents a • lesson on the fundamentals of ' the game. In the first spell i City took a little time to settle down, and in the first 20 minutes Wanderers had several chances to score and should have done so twice but weak finishing was very obvious. For City the defence was never in trouble and held the Wanderers forwards easily, Henderson, in goal, being seldom called upon to even touch the ball. The wing-halves, D. Niven and F. Zeilberger, dominated midfield play and with J. Le Poide- < vin at centre-half gave their , forwards a feast of the ball. Combining at will against a weak defence, the City forwards gave a polished display, but lacked drive at times to finish off the movements. J. Adams, at inside-left, and R. Bruce were the best. For Wanderers E. Brown, having his first game for the team played well and kept the score down to a reasonable figure, however, he must be given some cover defence. Both full-backs, H. Stout, J. Cole, and the centre-half, J. Hegarty, were no match for the speedy movements of the City forwards, and Brown did well to cope with them. The winghalves, T. Bateman and P. Saunderson, did their best to try and keep their forwards going but found the task too great. Saunderson, after a slight Injury, moved to inside left, and there he showed his capabilities. He is still a dangerous forward. The Wanderers forwards, overwhelmed by the City defence, never played in a constructive maner, the right-wing. B. Thompson, being the only one to show up. Goals were scored for City by Sayers. J. Adams (2), R. Bruce, Bennett (2>. and Joubert. Mr I. Billcliff was the referee. RANGERS V. OLD BOYS In a game in which rival spectators displayed much more interest and antagonism than the players Rangers ran out winners by two goals to nil over High School Old Boys at Burnside Park. There was scarcely a semblance of a passing move in the match with neither side appearing willing, or capable of playing anything but a spoiling game. Rangers’ victory came through a slightly superior forward line. The Old Boys defence held the Rangers forwards for most of the game, under the much improved direction of R. Richardson, at centre-half, but two serious lapses brought defeat Both the Old Boys’ attack arid tire Rangers’ defence played indifferently, cancelling each other out. Two incidents within the first five minutes prevented the game being played in the oest of spirits. A harsh penalty against the Rangers’ goal-keeper. R. Coates, was missed and then a fine shot from a free kick by P. Cole, of Rangers, was disallowed. the kick being declared an indirect one. Coates did not Instil great confidence but made no mistakes. J. Adams, at centre-half, gave I a lethargic display and did not seem willing to make the effort to regain a position as one of Canterbury’s foremost players in that department. R. Pearson and A. Inglis were the most solid of the defenders but Rangers never exerted great superiority in midfield because of the disappointing showing by D. Anderson at inside-left. Anderson's play has degenerated through lack of support and is now isolated and sometimes purposeless. D. Chapman, in the Old Boys’ goal, was tested several times and a 25-yard drive from Anderson found hm in no man’s

land, the ball drooping behind Into the goal. Richarson was much surer in his play and P. Coman worked tirelessly at half P. Dow, on the right wing, was the pick of the forwards. Anderson and R. Robson scored for Rangers. Mr R, Cullen was the referee.

P W L D Pts Technical 6 5 — 1 11 Nomads 7 5 2 10 City 6 5 1 • 10 Western 7 4 3 8 Rangers 6 3 2 1 7 Shamrock 6 3 3 — 6 Old Boys 7 2 4 1 5 University 6 2 4 w 4 Neerlandia 6 1 4 1 3 Wanderers 7 - 7 • 0