New Chatham Cup format

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 36

New Chatham Cup format

With the entry of the national league clubs one round earlier —to make the last 32 instead of the last 16 the- Gillette Chatham Cup soccer competition will be held under a new format this season.

In the southern region, Canterbury-South Canterbury and North Otago -Otago-Southland will each find three teams, at which stage the national league clubs, Christchurch United and Dunedin Suburbs, will join the competition. Two groups of 12 clubs in each will make up the northern and central regions, and with the southern eight will comprise the final 32 in the first round proper. OPEN DRAW The competition will continue in these three groups until the last eight clubs are found and then the survivors will go into an open national draw for the quarter-finals. Only one South Canterbury club has entered this year, Timaru City, which will play in the qualifying rounds with 12 Canterbury clubs—Christchurch City, New Brighton, Western, Rangers, Shamrock, Technical, University, Riccarton, Halswell, Woolston W.M.C., Bumdale United and High School Old Boys. There will be 11 byes in the first qualifying round and one match, to be played on Easter Monday to reduce the number to 12. Two more rounds will be played before Christchurch United joins the three survivors in open draw.

TWO SURVIVORS North Otago-Otago and Southland will hold their own competitions, through to the finals. The winners of these will qualify for the first round proper, and the losing finalists will meet to find the third qualifier. These three will be joined by Dunedin Suburbs in an open draw. The winners of the two sections will represent the southern region in the last eight for the national open draw. Similar competitions will be held in the northern and central regions, to reduce its representation to three in each. HURLEY SHIELD

The proposed change to 10 teams in the 1971 Hurley Shield will not eventuate. A delegation of clubs has per-

suaded the Canterbury Football Association to continue with a 14-team competition this season and inform clubs of a possible change to the 1972 tournament. The same 14 teams as last season will compete, with the exception of the Christchurch United second side replacing Cashmere-Wanderers. One complete round of 13 matches will be played, after which the top six will compete for the Hurley Shield and the bottom eight for the C. E. Keys Cup. Points will not be carried on for the reduced competitions, which will also be over one round. A trophy will be set aside for the complete round of 13 matches.

Relegation decision The Southern Regional Soccer Council has made provision in case a southern team should, in the future, be relegated from the Rothmans National League. In this case, the national league side would be accepted automatically into the first division of the southern league and the bottom southern league team relegated to the second division. The second division champion would be given the right to challenge the second from bottom club in the first division.