Soccer Three-Point Lead For Nomads In Competition

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30129, 13 May 1963, Page 19

Soccer Three-Point Lead For Nomads In Competition

Nomads reached the half*way mark in this season’s Hurley Shield soccer competition as firm favourites to represent Canterbury in the Rothman’s national tournament. A goal in the fiftyfourth minute by R. Muirson proved sufficient to beat Technical Old Boys in the main game at English Park on Saturday and gave Nomads a three-point lead. Shamrock moved into second place when it scored twice late in the match against New Brighton, and Western, gaining its first competition victory of the season, has climbed from the bottom two weeks ago to third place.

New Brighton, which began the season, by claiming three points from its first two games, has since failed to win another point, while Christchurch City fills the bottom position, the only club in the premier division still to win. In the first division competition for the C. E. Keys Cup, Rangers avenged themselves for last week’s first defeat by overwhelming Wigram, 10-2, but University retained its unbeaten record and the top place by beating the bottom club, Riccarton. Results were:— PREMIER DIVISION Shamrock 4, N. Brighton 2 Western 3, City 0 Nomads 1, Technical 0.8. 0 FIRST DIVISION Hornby 3, Waterside 2. H. 5.0.8. 2, Wanderers 2 University 4, Riccarton 1 Rangers 10, Wigram 2 Positions are:—

WESTERN V. CITY S A lopsided Western team, strong in defence but weak in attack, kept just witlun challenging distance <rf the premier ’ division leader by beating j Christchurch City by three clear goals in the early game at English Park. But only the score was decisive, for Western was virtually presented with its victory by the City goalkeeper, G. Richards, who was miser- 1 ably out of form. j All three Western goals could have been prevented. The first . before the interval, wis intended as no more than a speculative centre-cum-shot by the captain and left-haff, P. Frost. Richards had half his mind on the ball, the other haff on the challenging centre-forward, M. Clements, and did not take it cleanly. Clements, himself, scored the other two. A neat passing movement between B. Smith and T. Haydon enabled, him to add Western’s second goal, but it was a soft shot that Richards was slow to see. Frost joined in the scoring of the final goal, his free-kick being bundled into the net by Clements, but once again Richards was at fault for not intercepting the centre. Western has played better football this season and been less generously treated. The defence was doggedly determined and generally a match for the City forwards, who worked and fought hard for the ball but were never quite sure what to do with it. But the Western attack, with Haydon an outstanding excep--1 tion and D. Torkington slightly less so, was again very disjointed. The wingmen, Smith ; and C. Whitehead, had neither the speed nor the aggression to keep the line moving pur- ' posefully, while Clements, in spite of his scoring two g-’als. was a yard or two slower than : at this stage last season. The City defence, in which ■ A. Westwood was almost fault--1 less and J. le Poidevin and D. 1 Niven always prominent, was under only spasmodic pressure, and had it been backed by bet- . ter goalkeeping would probably : have denied Western more than a share of the points. The referee was Mr P. Don- • nelly. NOMADS v. TECHNICAL • While there was considerable ■ doubt in the first half that : Nomads would be able to pre- . serve its unbeaten record • against an eager, swift-moving Technical attack, there was general agreement at the end . that the better and stronger 1 team had won. Only the wood- ■ work saved Technical from a ■ heavier defeat after Nomads ‘ had taken the lead in the fifty- ■ fourth minute. > The replacement right-wing, • B. Gowans, and F. Ourwerkerk t each drove the ball against a t post, and the centre-forward. R. s Muirson. hit the bar. Had • Technical managed to score earlier on these near misses would have cost Nomads dear1 ly, but the premier division ■ leader had by then gained such : complete control on the game ’ that they did harm only to the ’ side’s goal average. ; The hero for Nomads was not Muirson, the goal scorer, 1 although the manner he took • his opportunity while N. Clarke £ was partly unsighted had much ! in its favour, but the goal- ■ keeper, D. Chapman, who must now be a slight favourite for the Canterbury team. : Twice in the first 15 minutes . Chapman made magnificent . saves from Technical's 15-year-J old inside-forward, F. Madrus- • sen. The first shot changed ; direction after being deflected ’ bv a defender, but the quick--5 thinking Chapman was able to ' finger-tip the ball over the bar. ■ For the second, he threw himself across the goal to push a hard shot around the post. Nomads have settled into a , successful rhythm, and not :. even injuries to both wings. 1 P. McParland and I. McCallum. . who had to leave the field, up- ; set the team for long. D j Simmonds and G. Donaldson gave the defence a very solid, t workmanlike look, and Ourwers kerk ■»<’ D - Bnnla, the inside--1 forwards, fetched and carried to link up with the half-backs and lessen the effects of losing McCallum. The referee was Mr J. G s Gouri ie. j SHAMROCK V. NEW BRIGHTON . Unable to withstand a fast t and determined forward line. 1 New Brighton faded badly in ; the final half hour of play at . Rawhiti Domain, and lost 2-4 to I a well-drilled Shamrock team. Shamrock displayed a vast improvement on its early-sea-son form. With a reorganised forward line. New Brighton looked really formidable in the early stages, but Shamrock retaliated in like manner and gradually gained the incentive in a match which was always bright and open. W. Yates celebrated his return to the Shamrock forward . line with two timely goals and

it was his determined play which gave his team the extra dash it has lacked in earlier matches. The New Brighton forward line, With R. Foley at inside right and a promising new player, D. Watkins, at outsideleft showed plenty of spirit in the first spell and early in the second half, but the effort was not sustained and Shamrock was well in control in the final stages of play. Always sound, the Shamrock defence was well directed by B. O’Brien at centre-half, with steady support from the rightback. P. Flynn. Outstanding in mid-field play for Shamrock were the left-half. H. Taylor, and the inside right, D. Sansbury.

Mainstay of the New Brighton defence. T. Stacey played solidly throughout, but when Shamrock exerted full pressure his supports were too often caught out of position. W. Brown, at right-half, made many openings lor the New Brighton forwards, but in spite of his efforts, and those of the hard-working Foley, the Shamrock defence gradually gained the initiative. Foley scored the best goal of the match when he headed in a excellent long pass from his centre haff. J. Smit. New Brighton’s other goal came from the outside-right, L. Horne, while scorers for Shamrock were Yates (2). J. Rea, and J. Price. Mr J. Billcliff was the referee.

Hurley Shield p W D L Pts Nomads 5 4 1 «■ 9 Shamrock .. 5 2 2 1 6 Western 5 1 3 1 5 Tech. O.B. .. 5 2 1 2 5 N. Brighton 5 1 1 3 3 City 5 • 2 3 2 C. E. Keys Cup p w D L Pts University .. 5 4 1 9 Rangers 5 4 ■■ 8 Waterside .. 5 3 • 2 6 H.S.O.B. 5 2 1 2 5 Wanderers .. 5 1 2 2 4 Hornby 5 2 •» 3 4 Wigram 5 1 4 2 Riccarton .. 5 1 • 4 2