CAVERSHAM ON TOP

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33664, 14 October 1974, Page 32

CAVERSHAM ON TOP

The Otago club, Caversham, yesterday took a firm step towards regaining the place in the Rothmans National Soccer League that it lost after the 1973 season. In the meeting of the unbeaten teams in this season’s promotion-relegation series at the Caledonian ground, Caversham beat WellingtonDiamond United, 1-0.

The only goal came in the last minute of the first half and was bitterly disputed by W.D.U., which entered the play-off series as the bottom team in the 1974 national league competition. E. Bassant, the Caversham striker, eluded the defence, picked up a through pass, and drove the ball into the net. The Diamond players protested that Bassant had been offside but the referee allowed the goal to stand. With this win, Caversham

has completed the first round of the four-team playoffs with a 100 per cent record and has opened a two-point lead on W.D.U. Promotion to the national league is now almost certain to rest between these two clubs. Their rivals, Porirua City and Eden, drew 3-3 in Wellington on Saturday, each collecting its first point. Caversham has to meet Porirua and W.D.U. in Wellington, and is at home to Eden, in the second round. Diamond also has to play Porirua again and will be away to Eden. The competition table is: Goals

Soccer.—lceland had a shock, 1-1 draw with East Germany in a group seven European Nations Championship qualifying match at Magdeburg. Belgium leads the group after a 2-1 win over France in Brussels. Boxing.—The World Boxing Council has named the world feather-weight champion, Bobby Chacon (United States) as its boxer of the month in announcing its latest rankings. He won the title from Alfredo Marcano (Venezuela) on September 9 by a ninth-round knock-out.

P W D L F A Pts Caversham 3 3 0 0 6 1 6 W.D.U. .. 3 2 0 1 5 2 4 Porirua .. 3 0 1 2 4 7 1 Eden 3 0 1 2 4 » 1