Shore looks best prospect

Press, Issue 33840, 12 May 1975, Page 26

Shore looks best prospect

The first third of the 1975 Rothmans National Soccer League championship has heen completed, with only North Shore United, at this stage, showing a titlewinning potential.

The Shore, despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Caversham at Auckland yesterday and getting the equaliser from a disputed penalty, remains the sole unbeaten team, retains a three-point lead, and has. by a long way, the superior goal average.

Bunched behind the Auck- | land club are the next eight [teams, led by Christchurch (United, separated by only two points and with the most I unlikely series of goal aver'ages the competition has produced in its first five seasons and a half. At the foot of the table is New’ Brighton, and the outcome of the seasiders' weekend fixture has been symptomatic of the fluctuations the league has shown this season.

Brighton, under its new player-coach, Ken France, excelled itself by drawing

away to Gisborne City on Saturday, only to find it has fallen two points behind the club immediately above it. This was because Blockhouse Bay gained its first win, an upset at the expense of Stop Out, which has the doubtful distinction of having led the league table by winning its first three matches and now has slipped down to fifth place by losing its next three.

( The title-holder, Mount Wellington, w’as held to a (goalless draw by Wellington (City at the Basin Reserve yesterday but was unlucky (not to win, despite having its international full-back, Tony Sibley, sent off for atI tempting to kick an opponent. City had its former striker, Jimmy Richardson, back in its side, after he had been released by Brighton at the week-end. Richardson returned to Wellington last Tuesday. The season has been marked by the large number of drawn matches — there w’ere four more at the week(end — and the fact that of [the 10 clubs, only three have [scored more goals than they I have conceded. And one of

these is Caversham, in ninth place. Brighton is the only team without a win, Stop Out the only side without a draw, and North Shore the only club without a loss. Seventh-round matches next week-end are: Suburbs v. North Shore (Saturaday);

Mount v. Brighton, Stop Out v. Caversham, Gisborne v. Wellington, United v. Blockhouse (Sunday).

Results and table:—

Christchurch United 2 (R. Drlnkwai* r, W. Arney), Eastern Suburbs 2 (J. Nimmo 2)—halftime 1-0.

Wellington City 0, Mount Wellington 0. North Shore United 1 (A. Elrick penalty). Caversham 1 (A. Stamp)—half-time. 0-1. Gisborne City 1 (S. Grout), New Brighton 1 (W. Quirke)— half-time. 0-0.

Blockhouse Bay 3 (G, Paddison 2, M. Faracl, Stop Out 1 (K. Barton)—half-time, 0-1.

p w D L F A pts N. Shore .. 6 4 o 0 n 4 10 Chch Utd . 6 2 3 I 8 7 7 Mt Wgtn .. 6 2 •> 2 8 8 6 Gisborne .. 6 2 2 2 □ K 6 Stop Out .. 6 3 0 3 6 7 6 E. Subs 6 5 2 2 9 11 6 Wgtn City 6 1 4 1 8 10 6 BEhouse .. 6 1 3 2 11 11 □ Cav’sham .. 6 1 3 2 7 6 Q Brighton .. 6 0 3 3 5 9 3 (Brighton and Unl’d reports page 20.)