W.D.U. further ahead

Press, 16 August 1976, Page 28

W.D.U. further ahead

The Rothmans National Soccer League championship appears destined for Wellington for the first time: the Lion Chatham Cup is still dithering between Christchurch and Auckland. That was the outcome of the matches played in New Zealand soccer’s two major competitions at the weekend. Wellington - Diamond United, by its 1-0 victory over North Shore yesterday, has opened up a commanding, four-point lead on the league table, and now seems almost certain of taking the title and S7OOO first prize in its first season of top football since being promoted. W.D.U., with three matches to play, can total a maximum of 29 points by winning them all. Caversham, w’hich did not play at the week-end, Mount Wellington, and New Brighton can total 25 each. It means that one more victory would probably be enough for the Wellington club. The unpredictable soccer striker, Brian Davidson, regained his golden touch with

an opportunist goal which gave W.D.U. its exciting 1-0 victory over North Shore. Davidson, just recently dropped from the New Zealand side, cast away several weeks of indifferent form with his match winning effort in the seventy-fifth minute of the free-flowing match on the Basin Reserve. The striker’s moment of happiness came when he controlled a Dave Strom pass in the goalmouth, and majestically weaved around four defenders before sending a powerful left-foot drive into the roof of the net. In the only other league match played, Gisborne City and Stop Out drew, 1-1, leaving them to continue their desperate battle to avoid automatic relegation when the league is increased to 12 teams next season. Stop Out scored first, in the fourteenth minute, when Jimmy Richardson netted. Gisborne equaliseed in the thirty-first minute, Len Cudd scoring with a header. In the last 20 minutes Gisborne pounded Stop Out’s

goal but the visiting team’s goal-keeper, Dave Roxby, and the defenders, Maurice Tillotson, Ken Dugdale, and Glenn Winter, were in outstanding form. Only one of the two Lion Chatham Cup finalists was found on Saturday. Eastern Suburbs went through to the final for the seventh time by beating New Brighton, 1-0, at Queen Elizabeth II Park. The other semi-final at Auckland, between Trans Tours United and Blockhouse Bay, was drawn, 2-2, after extra time, and will be replayed at Newmarket Park today. (Reports on both semi-finals, page 14). Rothmans League results and table.— Wellington-Diamond United 1 (B. Davidson), North Shore United o—half-time, 0-0. Gisborne City 1 (ten Cudd), Stop Out 1 (J. Richardson)— half-time, 1-1.

W.D.U. 15 11 1 3 27 25 23 Cav’sham 15 7 5 3 37 23 19 Mt Wgtn 13 6 3 4 19 14 15 Brighton 13 7 J 5 24 19 15 E. Suburbs 14 5 4 5 23 22 14 N. Shore 15 6 2 7 24 24 14 T.T. Utd 13 5 2 6 18 18 12 Bl’house 13 4 3 6 17 17 11 Stop Out Gisborne 13 3 2 a 17 31 a 13 2 3 8 16 29 7