Sportsman’s Notebook Promotion, Relegation In Local Soccer

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29818, 10 May 1962, Page 22

Sportsman’s Notebook Promotion, Relegation In Local Soccer

As the number of teams in the , premier division soccer compibtitions has this year to be restricted to six, so that the grade can be completed at an early date, teams in the first division (also six) have been given the opportunity of gainng promotion by winning their grade. The struggle for supremacy in the first division, and the struggle to avoid relegation from the premier division, are scarcely less interesting than the fight at the bead of the top grade. After a complete round of matches in the first division two teams, New Brighton and University, have come through unbeaten. New Brighton leads the grade with eight points from three wins and two draws, and University has seven points from two wins and three draws. Also on seven points is Neerlandia, three wins, one loss and one draw. The defeat of Neerlandia by New Brighton last Saturday was a major surprise, as Neerldndia has been a hot favourite to win the Keys Cup competition and to gain automatic promotion for next season. Neerlandia has been in the top grade tor a number of seasons whereas New Brighton, formed only two seasons ago, won the second division last season. At the bottom of the premier division Rangers and City are equal with one point —a drawn match between these two teams when they met in the fourth round. City could be termed unfortunate to be still at the bottom of the table, as in its drawn game with Rangers it played much of the match with 10 men, and the points for its win against Shamrock last week were taken away as the team had fielded a player whose transfer from his former club had not yet been approved. ¥ * ¥

Veteran Harriers C. Gordon, D. Ferguson and T. Bain, all prominent harriers of former years, have decided to form a veterans’ association for runners over 40. The association will enter teams in the Akaroa race, similar to the group which took part in last year’s race. The association intends to bring back runners who have been out of the sport for some years to act in both competitive and administrative capacities. * ¥ ¥ Fourth Games Liner Another passenger liner, the Oriental Queen, will cruise from Auckland to Western Australia to become a floating hotel in Fremantle during the Commonwealth Games in Perth next November. Formerly the Australian interstate liner Kanimbla, the Oriental Queen will be berthed at Fremantle's North Wharf alongside the Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. the Groote Beer and the Waterman. ¥ ¥ ¥ Duke At Games The Duke of Edinburgh has announced that he will remain in Perth, Western Australia, for the full 10 days of the Commonwealth Games from November 22 to December 1. He will officially open the Games on the after, noon of Thursday, November 22. He will not undertake an Australian tour. ¥ ¥ ¥ Surf Successes The Waimairi Surf and Lifesaving Club in its latest newsletter reports a most successful season. The club during the season won the title of champion club in Canterbury, and on its placings in the national meeting can claim to be the second-best club in the Dominion. At the New Zealand championships Waimairi club members took one first placing, three seconds and six

thirds, as well as providing a number of other finalists. ¥ * ¥

Indoor Bowls

K. Mathews is the only new Canterbury representative in the Canterbury indoor bowls team to play South Canterbury in the first A. S. Paterson trophy challenge match of the season on Saturday. Canterbury has held the trophy since 1957. Mrs J. Smith is the only player in the South Canterbury team who has not represented the province before. The teams are:—Canterbury: A. Williamson, B. Cook. D. Stewart, P. Nee, J. Greerj, K. Mathews. Mesdames B. Penney and E. Taylor. South Canterbury: D. Clark, J. Chisnall, R. Francis, A. Cox. H. Dutton, R. .Pearce, Mesdames J. Smith and G. Smith.