K. France Returns To Soccer XI

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31786, 17 September 1968, Page 15

K. France Returns To Soccer XI

The team captain, G. Evans, will move into the mid-field, T. Haydon will play at centre-forward, and K. France will return at centre-half, in the rearranged Canterbury soccer side to meet Otago at English Park on Saturday.

The big surprise is the selection of France, the former New Zealand vicecaptain, who last week withdrew from both the national and provincial squads.

The selector-coach, Mr R. C. Carter, said yesterday: “France told me last week that he would not be available for Canterbury’s away games and therefore he would withdraw from the squad. “However, I have persuaded him to play in this match because of the injuries to key players that would have otherwise weakened the team.”

The Technical player. P. Kay, who was a late substitute for the match last Satday against Otago, chipped a bone in his thumb and will not be available this weekend.

Canterbury will also be without the Rangers’ centreforward, B. Hammond, who is recovering from a broken rib. The omission of Kay and the inclusion of France is the only team change (the others are positional) from the side that beat Otago. 4-1. in the first leg of the Jones Cup. The home-and-away competition is decided on the aggregate of goals. The Canterbury team is: D. Phillips (New Brighton): G. Davis. K. France. G. Griffiths (Technical), w. McKenna (City): V. Pollard (Rangers), G. Evans (City, captain). S. Smith (Western); A. Gowans (City). T. Haydon (Rangers), F. Madrussan (City). Reserves: O. Nuttridge (City), B. Wilkinson (Technical). Ruddiman Cup The Canterbury under-20 team to play Otago under-20s in the second leg of the Ruddiman Cup in the early match on Saturday is: G. Chellew: W. Chis-

holm, C. Pickrell; G. Storer, M. Blight, P. Hyland; J. McLennan. J. Stevens, A. Smythe, D. Allen, D. Duffy. Reserves: S. Cooper, N. Mclntosh, G. Dacombe, N. Withers.