BRIGHTON WINS PROMOTION Rangers’ Loss Leaves Soccer Wide Open

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31767, 26 August 1968, Page 8

BRIGHTON WINS PROMOTION Rangers’ Loss Leaves Soccer Wide Open

One southern league soccer championship has been decided, the other has been thrown wide open. This was the outcome of Saturday’s key matches when Rangers suffered their first competition defeat of the season, Christchurch City overcame Shamrock, 6-0, and New Brighton beat Shirley-Nomads.

Brighton’s victory gave the seasiders the second division title by .354 of a goal, the first prize of $250 and automatic promotion.

Brighton finished level on points with Caversham, but with a superior goal average of 2.315 to the Dunedin club’s 1.961. It was tight, but enough to give Brighton the championship.

Rangers, weakened by the absence of "V. Pollard and the unfitness of its player-coach, T. Haydon, who was playing against doctor’s advice, was beaten 2-1 by the South Island Chatham Cup finalist, RoslynWakari.

City has now pulled away to a two-point lead which Rangers can still neutralise by defeating Western under floodlights at English Park on Wednesday.

If Rangers manage to beat Western—and they will be strengthened by the return of Pollard—the first division championship and $5OO will be at stake when they play City next Saturday. Goal average could still be a deciding factor and here again City has drawn ahead —6.307 to Rangers’ 5.181. Rangers will need a big score over Western to overcome City’s present advantage.

A second issue was decided when Queen’s Park, which has suffered some heavy defeats this season, took its revenge with a 7-0 victoiy over Technical (Dunedin) at Invercargill. Technical will now be relegated. Technical (Christchurch), beating Western, is almost ensured of third-place money, and Northern, which defeated St Kilda, should now finish fourth. Technical would clinch its

place by beating Shamrock on Wednesday.

Results and tables:— First Division. —Rangers 1, Roslyn-Wakari 2; City 6, Shamrock 0; Technical (Christchurch) 3, Western 1; Queen’s Park 7, Technical (Dunedin) 0; Northern 3, St Kilda 2. Second Division. —New Brighton 2, Shirley-Nomads 0.

First Division P W D L F A Pts City .. 17 14 1 2 82 13 29 Rangers Tech. 16 12 3 1 57 11 27 (Ch.) 16 10 1 5 36 21 21 Northern 17 9 2 6 47 35 20 Roslyn 17 7 4 6 48 36 18 St Hilda 16 8 1 7 41 37 17 Sham. 15 6 1 8 31 50 13 Western 16 6 0 10 24 30 12 Qn Park Tech. 17 3 0 14 29 93 6 (Dn) 17 0 1 16 21 87 1 econd Division P W D L F A Pts Bright. 14 10 2 2 44 19 22 Caver’m 14 9 4 1 51 26 22 Mosgiel 14 9 2 3 32 22 20 Thistle 14 9 1 4 32 18 19 Shirley 14 3 2 9 18 31 8 Maori H. 14 4 0 10 21 38 8 Timaru 14 3 1 10 21 44 7 H.S.O.B. 14 2 2 10 24 43 6