Relegation Issue May Be Decided

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31112, 15 July 1966, Page 15

Relegation Issue May Be Decided

The fight for survival at < the bottom of the Hurley i Shield soccer table is |< building up to an exciting i i climax. With only one more round to play after this week-end's games any number of things can I still happen. 11 It could all be settled tomorrow, if. Shirley-Nomads ' beat Waterside at Barrington • Park and Rangers defeat; Technical at Ensors road.; This would leave Waterside' at the foot of the table and'; due to replace in the second : division the club whose place; it took in the first division — New Brighton. I. Even if Rangers failed to beat Technical but managed to force a draw the result would remain the same. i ( Rangers having a vastly l superior goal average to Waterside's. Rangers, too. will have a I second bite at the cherry this week-end. for they also meet; Christchurch City at English Park on Sunday and once again a win or a draw would settle the issue. However, if Waterside beat Shirley it would throw the

whole matter back into the melting pot once more, to be decided in the final matches [of the season the following week when Rangers and Waterside meet. The championship should be decided this week-end, with City requiring only two points from its matches against Western in the main game at English Park tomorrow and Rangers (on Sunday) [to gain an unbeatable lead. The two matches to be played at English Park on Sunday are a benefit for Mr Vale Smith, the referee who died recently. In addition to the six-match league programme, the early game at English Park tomorrow will be the South Island final of the Junior National Cup between Canterbury under-lS and Otago under-18.