Rangers' postponed game in dispute

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34131, 19 April 1976, Page 11

Rangers' postponed game in dispute

A dispute between Canterbury soccer clubs and Southland’s only entrant in the Broadlands Southern League, Invercargill Thistle blew up at the week-end when the match between Thistle and the league leaders and favourite, Rangers, was postponed.

Rangers wanted a 1 p.m. kick-off at Invercargill so that their team could catch a return flight at 4.35 p.m. and not have to stay overnight. The Southland Football Association refused the -equest and the matter will now go before the League Council for a ruling, j The dispute might well! have come to a boiling point! two weeks earlier, in the! opening round of the season. 1 vVoolston Working Mens’ Slub had also requested an early game for the same travelling reason, been refused, and went to Inverca r g i 1 1 only after strenuous pressure on the Hub's officials. The Canterbury clubs are mgrj r with the Southland F.A. because Invercargill clubs have dwaya been given the early lame in Christchurch to help .ith their travelling arrangenents.

The dispute has not arisen in Previous seasons because anterbury clubs have travelled v road. This year, many of hem have changed arrangejents to fly to Invercargill, as outhlands clubs have done .hen coming to Christchurch. The league council chairman, Jr M- W. MacKenzie, said that

Rangers did not travel to Invercargill on his decision. The postponed match has cost Rangers their league leadership. Technical, the only other club with a 100 per cent record so far, outplayed Western, 4-0, and moved into first place. Dunedin City jumped to third position after scoring its fiuet win and first goals in a 3-1 victory over Mosgiel, and Woolston took over fourth place by beating Shamrock. 1-0. One of the outstanding performances of the week-end was Cashmere Wanderers’ 2-0 win over Roslyn-Wakarl at Dunedin, giving the promoted club, under its new coach, Terry Seacy, its first win. The league table is:—

j Mosgiel 3 0 0 3 4 13 0 : There was an upset arrange jment, too, in the qualifying section. Christchurch United reserves and Burndale United turned up at Spreydcn Domain for their match, but the referet went to Nunweek Park when the two teams are due to meet In the second round. A call was made for a refere< from English Park. He did no’ arrive at Spreydon Domain un til 3.45 p.m. and Bumdale wa.‘ not then prepared to fulfill th< fixture. Other matches resulted: Hlgl School Old Bovs 4. Halswel United 1; Nomads United 2. Uni varsity 2; Northern Hearts (T ? maru) 0 New Brighton reserve.' 0: Rjccarton 0- Timaru Citv 4. Soldiers weds Hiro Onoda. the Japanest soldier who hid for 30 year: in the Phillipine jungle 'afte World War 11, has marries Machie Onuki, aged 38, ir Campo Grande, BraziL — Buenos Aires.

P W D L Goals F A Pts Technical 3 3 0 0 13 4 6 Rangers 2 2 0 0 9 0 4 Dn City 3 1 2 0 3 1 4 Woolston 3 2 0 1 5 2 4 Thistle 2 1 1 0 2 0 3 Cashmere 3 1 1 1 3 7 3 Western 3 0 2 1 1 5 2 Shamrock 3 0 1 2 1 4 1 Roslyn 3 0 1 2 0 5 1

P W D L Goals F A Pts Brighton 3 2 1 e 6 3 5 Hearts 3 1 2 0 2 0 4 Pap. Subs H.8.O.B. 2 2 0 0 12 2 4 3 2 0 i 10 5 4 Tlmaru 3 2 0 i 8 4 4 Nomads 3 1 1 i 6 6 3 Varsity 3 1 1 i 6 3 Chch Utd 2 1 0 1 7 3 2 Ranglora 2 1 0 i 5 3 2 Halswell 3 0 1 2 1 10 1 Burndale 2 0 0 2 1 6 0 Riccarton 3 0 0 3 1 13 0