Jardines Off To 2-0 Win

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32305, 25 May 1970, Page 24

Jardines Off To 2-0 Win

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. The champion Hong Kong soccer team, Jardines, opened its New Zealand tour with a scrappy 2-0 win over Auckland at Newmarket Park yesterday.

Early indecision by the Aucklanders and the first half dominance of the Chinese marked the difference between the two sides. It was a dour battle after the interval.

Jardines opened at a furious pace, quick passing movements being inspired by the former Blackpool professional, Cheung Che Doy. Playing a deep centre-forward role, he fed Lo Hung Hoi and Wong Man Wai with immaculate passes and had the Auckland defence in tatters.

Time and again, only the coolness of the New Zealand centre-half, W. Hunter, stood between jardines and the goal. The Chinese players were as tall and as heavy as the local team, but were much more lithe and agile. The Auckland goal-keeper, K. Curtin, made many daring saves all over the penalty area, and he, like Hunter, was confident throughout G. Lamont and G. Lake calmed down the home team and slowly swung the game to Auckland’s advantage. C. Shaw was replaced at centreforward by E. Thomas after 17 minutes, and Thomas’s drive gave Auckland fresh impetus. For the first time the Chinese came under pressure, Thomas being joined by W. de Graaf in dual thrusts

through the middle forcing Jardines to reinforce its defence.

Alarmed by Auckland’s use of long through balls, the Jardines defenders were often scrambling but Auckland could not use its advantage. Cheung Yun Yue and Kung Wah Kit were as agile as any of the Auckland forwards and both had brilliant games. Jardines made few scoring opportunities in the second half, which was surprising considering the possession the side gained and the bonus money the players can earn. A little more drive would have made them more money as, apart from the $2O win bonus, they also get $2O each a goal. Wong Man Wai scored both of Jardines goals, in the twenty-ninth and thirty-second minutes. Cheung Kwok Kan fed him the first and Cheng Yun Yue the second. The nearest Auckland came to scoring was in the twentieth minute, when de Graaf burst through alone from what appeared an offside position, but drove his shot against a post.

The Jardines play the second tour match against Canterbury under floodlights at English Park on Wednesday. The team that met Auckland was;

Chow Chee Keong; Wong Chun Lit, Cheng Yun Yue: Lok Tak Fai. Kung Wa Kit. Cheung Yiu Kwok; Ip Fuk Kwong, Cheung Kwok Kan, Cheung Che Doy. Wong Man Wai, Lo Hung Hoi.