Taylor Withdraws From Soccer XI

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 13

Taylor Withdraws From Soccer XI

IBy Our Soccer Correspondent] The New Brighton professional coach, E. Taylor, has withdrawn from Canterbury’s senior soccer team to play against Otago at English Park tomorrow.

The sole selector (Mr V. Smith) yesterday received a telegram from Auckland where Taylor has been staying. It said: “Sorry cannot play Saturday. Under doctor.” Taylor has been in Auckland for the last week. He went there after Canterbury’s match against Wellington at the Basin Reserve last Saturday. The Western inside-right, B. Smith, who was to have captained the under 20 team in the curtain-raiser against Otago under 20, will replace Taylor. Canterbury will be without both its former English professionals. The team captain, G. Evans, is recovering from a broken nose. The Jones Cup, which has been the property • of the Otago Football Association for the last year, returns to Christchurch tomorrow. But whether it remains in the city will depend upon Canterbury winning the second leg by, at the very least, a two-goal margin. Last May, Otago won the first match, 3-2, at Dunedin, when a howling gale swept down on the Canterbury team in the first half almost immediately after it had gained a 1-0 lead. Battered and frozen, Canterbury came out for the second spell to find the wind had dropped to a gentle breeze, and Otago went on to capitalise on its 2-1 lead. Unless Canterbury is un-

lucky to meet freak conditions again, tomorrow’s match must be won on merit —and the team’s record this season does not lend itself to any great optimism. Of the’six senior representative matches played this season four have been lost (to Wellington twice, Otago and Munster), one • drawn (Auckland) and the other match, against a minor association, Nelson, won. Eight goals have, been scored (four against Nelson) and 12 conceded. Unknown Quantities Otago is never an easy proposition played on level terms: given a goal start the visitors will be like a team possessed. Two of the players are unknown quantities to Canterbury—the right-back, G. Crawford, and the inside-left, B. Roberts. Both are playing for Otago for the first time this season. The known strength of the team is in the halfback line of M. Clyma, the captain and coach, J. Ferguson, and A. Caldwell. Against this trio Canterbury must produce more positive soccer than was played against Wellington last Saturday. But the forward line must click if the Jones Cup is to stay in Christchurch. It will be goals Canterbury need, and these will only come if the forwards shoot on sight instead of dithering inside the penalty area.