Hat-trick by Verweij

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33655, 3 October 1974, Page 28

Hat-trick by Verweij

(“The Press” Special Service) MASTERTON.

A highly individualistic hat-trick by J. Verweij, the Christchurch United reserve striker, lifted the touring Rothmans under 21 soccer team to a 4-1 win against Wairarapa yesterday. The tall centre-forward dribbled his way to three goals against a Wairarapa team that was sometimes outplayed, but never outclassed. Without Verweij’s contribution, and the injection of

two more Christchurch players, S. Sumner and K. Doomenbal, the under 21s would have been in considerable trouble.

At one stage Wairarapa led by a well-taken goal from J. Mutimur, a tenacious attacker, after the New Zealand defence had neglected to cover a gentle through pass in the first 15 minutes. Verweij netted his first goal in the thirtieth minute after K. Weymouth, the Auckland attacker, had made ground on the left before crossing into the goal-mouth. Wairarapa, 1-1 at halftime, lasted well into the second half, before the under 21s established a grasp,

I rather than a grip, on the game.

Doomenbal, substituting for the Aucklander, V. HopeEde (hamstring injury), started an attack' from his own half and finished it after good work by Weymouth and D. Selkirk. Once in front the under 21s played with composure. Verweij, only recently returned from a tour of Fiji, dribbled round a tiring Wairarapa defence with only five minutes to go to make the score 3-1. Just before full-time, the Christchurch United player repeated the move to crown a most impressive debut for the New Zealand side.