KEEPER HURT—NO SETTLING ARGUMENT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31151, 30 August 1966, Page 18

KEEPER HURT—NO SETTLING ARGUMENT

. Hopes that a New Zealand soccer controversy might be cleared up who is the finest goal-keeper in the country—will not now be realised by the inability of D. Spraggs to play for Western in the national Chatham Cup final against Miramar Rangers at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, on Saturday.

Western’s brilliant goalkeeper is still in hospital recovering from the severe injury he suffered in the South Island final replay against St. Kilda, Dunedin, nine days ago.

In a collision with a St. Kilda forward, Spraggs suffered a ruptured kidney and left the field after 20 minutes’ play in the replay. It is not known yet whether he will be out of hospital in time to watch his club’s battle for the Chatham Cup. Spraggs’s injury will prevent soccer supporters comparing him with New Zealand’s world tourist goal-

keeper, P. Whiting, who plays for Miramar. The other two occasions when they might have been in opposing teams —the Gordon Cup matches between Canterbury and Wellington— Spraggs again was not available to play. However, Western has had good news about its other injured players. The young centre-half, D. Almond, who broke his nose against St. Kilda, will be fit to play, also the club captain, M. Clements, who missed both matches against St. Kilda because of an injured foot. The former Canterbury representative, D. Smith, will replace Spraggs in goal, as he

did, as a substitute, in the South Island final replay. Western wound up its training last evening with a final session. The team will leave on Thursday night on the ferry to Wellington and will return by air on Saturday evening after the game. The team, announced by the selector, Mr A. Almond, is: D. Smith; P. Frost, T. Mann; T. Haydon, D. Almond, T. Langan; C. Martin, M. Clements, A. Treadwell, A. Brooks, D. Torkington. Reserves: T. McGlinchey, R. Miller, J. Brock.