CUP FINAL OPPONENTS “Good—But Not Super Team”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 17

CUP FINAL OPPONENTS “Good—But Not Super Team”

“I was impressed, but it is no super team” —that was how the Technical player-coach, J. S. Chalmers, yesterday summed up Eastern Suburbs, his club’s opponent for the national Chatham Cup soccer final, at Wellington, next Saturday.

Chalmers travelled to Auckland at the week-end to watch Eastern Suburbs play in the northern league competition. They drew, 1-1, with North Shore.

“Suburbs play the 4-3-3 system and looked a wellbalanced side,” he said. “Unfortunately, the conditions were terrible—freezing cold and lashing rain. It probably made a true assessment difficult. “However, I saw enough to know they will prove very hard opponents for Technical. But 1 still believe we will win."

Chalmers thought Suburbs' greatest weakness might be the full-backs —“both players seemed a bit sluggish”—and the main strength in the midfield play of New Zealand internationals, R. Mears and W. de Graff. “Mears is a clever ball player, always trying to do something when in possession; de Graaf is young and strong, with a raking stride. They will be dangerous," he said.

The two wingmen, J. Legg and G. McCormack, and the centre-forward, J. Wrathall, stayed well upfield, and although Wrathall rarely moved around, he was powerful in front of goal, from anywhere up to 25 yards. The former New Zealand captain, T. McNab, and the World Cup squad member, J. Staines, dominated the defence.

“Staines is a particularly fine player,” Chalmers said. “He did a tremendous amount of covering and never stopped working.”

Rennell Injured

The only likely cup final player Chalmers missed was P. Rennell, one of the side’s six New Zealand internationals. “Rennell was injured and unable to play, although it is expected he will be fit for the final,” Chalmers said. “However, we know all about Rennell’s play through his matches for Auckland against Canterbury.” Also, Rennell formerly lived in Christchurch and played for Canterbury and Sbirley-Nomads. Rennell recently lost his place as a defensive “sweeper up” in both the Suburbs and New Zealand squad to Staines and has been playing at inside-forward, as the third man in the mid-field link.