Three Teams Share Lead In Indoor Soccer

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29734, 30 January 1962, Page 17

Three Teams Share Lead In Indoor Soccer

Masterly displays of indoor football were given to the capacity crowd of 600 spectators at the Cowles Stadium when the Canterbury Football Association’s indoor competition was continued last evening. If the teams were feeling their way in a new competition last week, there was little indecision apparent among the players last night. The effective use of the walls had been discovered, while the value of possession was reinforced. Western and City in particular showed that they had fully adjusted themselves to the indoor conditions. When they met in the first round, a hard tussle was expected. However, the furious pace of the match and the abundant skill shown by T. Haydon, M. Clements, K. Olley (Western) and E. Bennett and R Bruce (City) had the crowd in a constant state of excitement, which it relieved by its roars of approval. . Both teams relied on short passing movements and nimble footwork to gain ground. If City, who were beaten by the odd goal in nine, had a fault, it was an inability to capitalise on the occasional long shot when the opposition’s goal was undefended

Making its debut in the competition. New Brighton created a fine impression with its determined bid to topple the experienced High School Old Boys’ team. Though the play was not the most polished of the evening, the game was nevertheless full of incident. W. Downs and D. Shucks won admiration for their persistently effective tackling and ability to penetrate into Old Boys’ territory D. Chapman and P Coman were always prominent for Old Boys.

Undoubtedly the most improved players in the competition are those from Neerlandia United. Their keenness was instrumental in upsetting Nomads in an early game and with F. Ouwerkerk in fine shooting form, Neerlandia did not look like surrendering its lead. Nomads, after its surprise 1-4 defeat by Neerlandia in the first round, fielded a much stronger team in its final match. The result was

reflected in the score of Nomads 9, City 4. City, which had earlier given a fine display against Western, failed against the well drilled team led by a deadlyaccurate P. Rennell. After four rounds of the competition Shamrock. Technical Old Boys and Nomads share the lead with 6 points each, followed by Neerlandia United 5, Western 4, High School Old Boys 4, Rangers 3, Christchurch City 2, Wigram 2. New Brighton, newcomers to the competition in place of Rangers B, have yet to gain a point. Results were:— First Round Neerlandia United 4 (F. Ouwerkerk 3. G. Ramsbottom) beat Nomads 1 (defender); Technical Old Boys 7 (A. Verham 2. A. Cameron 2. K. Hendy 2. W Logan) beat Wigram 0. High School Old Boys 3 (D. Chapman 1, P. Coman 2) beat New Brighton 1 (J. Linehan); Shamrocks 4 (H. Taylor, J. Price, J. Rea and defender) beat Rangers 2 (D. Lally, D. Anderson). Western 5 (T. Haydon 2. M. Clements 2, K. Olley) beat City 4 (R. Bruce 2,. A. Westwood, E. Bennett). Second Round High School Old Boys 4 <C. Hicks 2. P. Kay. K. Richardson) drew with Rangers 4 (J. Adams 3, P. Farrell); Neerlandia 2 (J. Feringa, from penalty, L. Wilson' drew with Technical Old Boys 2 (B. Chee. K. Hendry): Western 5 <D. Torkington 2. J. Young, C. Whithead) beat Wigram 2 (J. Gardener. M. Chandler); Nomads 9 (P. Rennell 7. D Simmonds. A. Van Rooven) beat Cifv 4 (E. Bennett 2. A. Westwood, R. Bruce). Shamrocks 4 (P Barrett 2. K. Pollock. R Eastgate) beat New Brighton 2 (L. Droog. R. Collum). The referees were Messrs J. Sheffield. H. Royce, A. Coulson P. Daly and D. Tolnton.