SOCCER Nomads’ 10 Men Hang On To Win Hurley Shield

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30153, 10 June 1963, Page 9

SOCCER Nomads’ 10 Men Hang On To Win Hurley Shield

Nomads, reduced to 10 men for most of the second half after their captain, G. Donaldson, left the field with a deep cut over his left eye, held the strong New Brighton side to a 1-1 draw at English Park on Saturday.

The one point they gained from the match was sufficient for Nomads to win the Hurley Shield and the right to represent Canterbury in the Rothman’s national tournament although there are still two rounds of the competition to be played. Nomads have a five-point lead over Western, last year’s winner, and cannot be caught.

The positon at the bottom of the table, however, became wide open after Christchurch City’s 1-0 win over Technical Old Boys, the club's first victory of the season. City is now one point behind Technical and four behind New Brighton and Shamrock.

Rangers dropped behind in the promotion race from the first division and were eliminated from the Chatham Cup competition when they lost, 0-2. to a vastly-improved Wanderers side. University, penalised last week by the loss

of a point for playing an unregistered player, stretched its lead to three points over Rangers by overwhelming Hornby, 10-0. Results were: PREMIER DIVISION Nomads 1, N. Brighton 1. Western 4, Shamrock 1. City 1, Tech. 0.8. 0. FIRST DIVISION Wanderers 2, Rangers 0 (and Chatham Cup). University 10, Hornby 0. Wigram 4, Riccarton 2. H. 5.0.8. 6, Waterside 4.

NOMADS V. NEW BRIGHTON When the Nomads’ and Canterbury captain. G. Donaldson was helped off the field within a few minutes of the start of the second half there were considerable doubts that the team would gain the point it required to win the Hurley Shield championship. But the hole in the defence left by Donaldson's departure was successfully filled by the right-wing, B. Gowans, and- the 10 men proceeded to play better football than the team at full strength had done in the first half. Four minutes after Donaldson left, Nomads took the lead with a goal in a million. The left-back, W. Young, sent the ball downfield: it might have been a vain attempt at a goal, or a desperate defensive clearance or a hopeful pass to his centre-forward. Whatever the intention it proved a champion-ship-winner for Nomads- The New Brighton goal-keeper, I. Hunter, was caught in two minds, the ball rebounded off the bar, and Nomads’ Irish inside-left P McPharland sprinted 10 yards and headed the ball into the net.

New Brighton, the competition "giant-killer" this season, struck back forcefully and equalised shortly afterwards with a goal by D, Watkins but Nomads drew their reins tight and denied the seaside club a second chance. When the final whistle blew the player who had done most to plug the gap left by Donaldsons injury, the rirht-half, G. McKenzie, did a victory dance in the middle of the field. None had more right to lead the celebrations.

It was a tough, uncompromising game, spoilt by too much unnecessary whistling by the referee and the absence of concerted and combined movements. Far too much emphasis was laid on wild kicking, and although this style suits NewBrighton’s plan of attack, which relies on the team’s strength and speed, it did not show Nomads in a good light. Both defences were strong in determined tackling and. hefty clearances. but only the Nomads’ centre-half. D. Simmonds. consistently attempted to turn defence into attack with astute passing. The mid-field olay was scrappy and lacking in ideas, and movements broke down time and a lain because the players declined to let the ball do the -work. However, there was a welcome sign that some of the players were determined to go for the ban and win it, and this gave the game a healthy edge which others this season have lacked. The referee was Mr G. H. Royce. SHAMROCK v. WESTERN Shamrock, which needed to win the early game at English Park to stay in the championship race with Nomads, severely landicapped itself with nine changes in the team shown in the programme and was fairly easily beaten by Western. The reason for most of the changes was the wedding of the Canterbury representative. H. Taylor, which was attended by several of his team-mates. Western might have been equally as enthusiastic that Taylor’s wedding should be celebrated, but not to the extent of making the club a present of the points. A pedestrian first half, highlighted by a goal in the first few minutes by W. Rodger, came more to life after the interval when it looked for a time that the re-grouped Shamrock side might salvage at least a point, A goal by B. Smith had given Western a 2-0 lead, but Shamrock hit back with more spirit than it had shown at any other time to equalise through W. Yates and kept the Western defence, and J Frost in particular, at full stretch. But, just as suddenly as the Shamrock revival had blown up came Western's late surge to put the game beyond issue. Rodger moved on to the left wing, immediately engendered more life into the Western attack, ana while Shamrock appeared to be taking a breather before it returned to the attack. Frost and Rodger combined neatly to present M. Clements with a fine goal. The next minute, the Canterbury representative, D. Torkington, who played witt great heart for the whole 90 minutes, split the Shamrock defence wide open with a brilliant through pass, leaving Clements only to add the final touch to give Western a 4-1 lead and victors’. _ , It was not a good game. Only D Sansbury, for Shamrock Torkington and Frost, for Western. lifted play out of a rut of mis-kicks and mis-placed passes, slow thinking and slower translation of thought into action Shamrock, with so many keyplayers missing, did not lack enthusiasm or resolve, but never produced an effective combination; Western went through the game in fits and starts, promising much during the former periods, but looking ragged and ill-at-ease at other times. The referee was Mr C. Anderson.

CITY V. TECHNICAL 0.8. The Canterbury hurdler, J. le Poidevin. switched from centrehalf to inside forward to give the City attack more punch and purpose, won this vital match for City with a goal two minutes from the end, and kepi alive the club's hopes of staying in the premier division next season. With the City in command and attacking furiously le Poidevin threw himself fulllength to a low centre, headed the ball past N. Clarke, and ended up in the netting himself But the effort was well worth it. The goal gave City its first win of the season, ended a depressing series of near misses when Citv has played the better football and yet has been beaten, and will give the side new heart to face the final two rounds of the competition. But it also had the effect of bringing the relegation crisis nearer to Technical, which now has only one point to spare from City. Next Saturday s games for these two clubs, when City plays Shamrock and Technical meets New Brighton, might be vital for both.

The game was piaved in a tense atmosphere, both clubs realising early on how much was at stake. Accordingly, some of the football suffered, but the extra spice and edge it gave to the game brought its quota of consolation. It was played in a cup-tie spirit, and neither team asked for or was given quarter. The Technical defence played well under pressure, for City

was in attacking command for most of the 90 minutes. Pressure was exerted from all sides and Technical owed much to the resource and good handling of its goalkeeper, Clarke.

Positions are: Premier Division P W D L Pts Nomads . 8 6 2 - 14 Western . 8 3 3 2 9 Shamrock . « 3 2 3 8

N. Brighton 8 3 2 3 8 Tech O.B. 8 2 1 5 5 City 8 1 2 5 4 First Division P W D'LPts University 9 7 2 - •15 Rangers .. 9 63 12 Wanderers 9 3 3 3 9 H.S.OB. 8 3 2 3 8 Hornby 9 45 • 8 Waterside 8 35 6 Riccarton 8 2 1 5 5 Wigram 8 2 1 5 5 (•Point deducted for fielding unregistered player.)