League Winners’ Match Planned For Soccer

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31775, 4 September 1968, Page 16

League Winners’ Match Planned For Soccer

The Canterbury Football Association’s management committee has made plans to fill vacancies caused by the late cancellation of the Rothmans provincial tournament.

Last evening, it decided to play the Otago senior team and under-20s on September 14 and 21 for the Jones and Ruddiman Cups and to Invite Western Suburbs, winner of the central league competition, to play the southern league champion, Christchurch City, in Christchurch on September 28.

Mr R. Storer said that Otago was not going to let the C.F.A. down. “Even though the Rothmans tournament has been cancelled, Otago is still prepared to play the home and away matches against Canterbury as planned.” He suggested that because of the late notice of the cancellation, the Otago and Canterbury associations should receive the amount of money they would have Bad if the tournament had been held. A

motion to this effect was later carried after Mr Storer said that Otago would be making the same request. “Wriggled Off Hook”

"Too often tours and matches are stopped or cancelled at the last moment,” he said.

"Canterbury has been to Auckland three times in the last four years but every time Auckland is likely to come south it manages to wriggle off the hook.” Mr M. Pahi moved that a letter of protest be sent to the New Zealand Football Association on the lateness of the notice of cancellation and asking the N.Z.F.A. to clarify its remarks made in a circular that to play the tournament with the teams available would be “cheapening the tournament.” This was carried Mr Pahi felt that the last remark was a slight on the C.F.A. “Weak Organisation” Mr A. Wilson considered that the organisation in Auckland was weak. He could see no reason for the Auckland association not being able to manage its “catch-up” games if it could be successfully done under similar conditions in Christchurch.

"The difficulty is one of Auckland’s own making,” said the treasurer (Mr M. W. MacKenzie). “We had no difficulty overcoming it.” The association’s secretary (Mr K. Roberts) will write to Rothmans asking them if

they would be prepared to sponsor or underwrite the league winner's match to the extent of $250. Best Gate.—Mr MacKenzie said the gate at English Park on Saturday for the final of the southern league, between City and Rangers, $249, was the best of the season.