SOUTHERN LEAGUE St Kilda Now Being Chased

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32383, 24 August 1970, Page 9

SOUTHERN LEAGUE St Kilda Now Being Chased

Although St Kilda, which fought out a 1-1 draw with New Brighton at Dunedin on Saturday, has retained a four-point lead in the southern league, first division, its hold has now been slightly loosened.

Its fellow Dunedin club, Cavershaw, overwhelmed Western 4-0, at English Park, and with two more games to play, now has the chance of taking the $5OO first prize.

Also threatening St Kilda and Caversham is the 1969 champion, Technical, which outplayed Northern, 5-2, and has moved up to third place.

The title now refits between these three, Shamrock having dropped out of the reckoning, being held to a 1-1 draw by Rangers, and Christchurch City, athough a 2-0 winner over Roslyn-Wakari, being too far behind. Important Clashes The most number of points the three pace-setters can now get in the competition are: St Kilda 28 (three games to play), Caversham 28 (five to play), and Technical 26 (four to play). However, they also clash in vital matches, Caversham having to play both Technical (in Christchurch) and St Kilda. In their other matches, Technical will meet Rangers (twice) and Shamrock, Caversham will play Western, Roslyn and New Brighton, and St Kilda will oppose New Brighton and Shamrock. St Kilda had to come from behind after G. Storer had put New Brighton ahead, to take a much-needed point, the Dunedin club’s captain, W. Kennedy, getting the equaliser. The drawn fixture halted Brighton’s run of defeats but has come •too late for any chance of the ;seasiders getting into the national league play-off series this season. Caversham was far too strong

for a now disorganised and disappointing Western side, particularly in the second half when it scored three times. A. Kirkham (2), M. Muir and two Western defenders, who between them helped the ball into their own net, were the scorers. Newcomer's Debut Christchurch City’s newcomer, B. Hardman, who only arrived in Christchurch from England on Monday, made a fine impression in a mid-field role and backing the attack in the club’s 2-0 victory over Roslyn-Wakari. After a goalless first half, A. Smith and S. Cameron scored for City. Hardman, although he has not played for some weeks, showed he will be an

. obvious asset to Canterbury ■ football. His control and disk tribution quickly marked him - out and he went very close to . scoring twice. Shamrock and Rangers pro- ■ duced some high standard foot- ’ fall and a draw was a fair , distribution of the points at stake. W. Blows put Rangers ahead 20 minutes from the end and M. Ellis atoned for some earlier misses by getting the > equaliser in the seventy-ninth l minute. Two Lintfood High School pupils were on opposing 1 side—M. Lanauze for Rangers, ! N. Francis for Shamrock, and i it was unfortunate that Francis , had to go off with a knee injury ’ near the end. Northern, except for a short i session in the second half, was i no match for Technical, which 1 scored four in the first half . without reply when the ChriSt- - church team was backed by a i strang wind. I. Marshall (2), I A. Caine, J. Stephens, and R. ? Provan scored for Technical, I and B. Bond and E. Groves for - Northern. Tho Tlivicinn T tahlcs is*

The Division I table is: Goals P W D L F A Pts St Hilda 15 10 2 3 32 21 22 Caver. 13 8 2 3 32 16 18 Tech. 14 9 0 5 25 16 18 Sham. 16 8 1 6 26 19 18 City 16 7 3 6 24 22 17 Brighton 14 5 4 5 26 22 14 Western 15 4 5 6 21 22 13 Rangers 15 3 5 7 18 27 11 Roslyn 16 3 4 9 22 40 10 Northern 16 3 3 10 22 43 9