Old soccer rivals to meet

Press, 11 June 1977, Page 56

Old soccer rivals to meet

By

BARNEY ZWARTZ

Trans Tours United will discover tomorrow whether it is in the race for the Rothmans Soccer League title when it plays its oldest foe. Mount Wellington. It is a crucial game for United — to some extent it will prove whether the team is still a potent force in New Zealand soccer.

Many indications say it has begun the slide that has been inevitable for many a better team. United will answer these charges on Sunday, probably with a proud victory. The Mount is rocketing up the league table after several postponed games, and now lies in second place with a goal in hand and much the best goal average. United is two points behind, way back in sixth place,, having played one game more than the Mount. If the Mount is justifying all the talk of it being pre-sea-son favourite, United cannot let it take too long a lead. It is a classic “four-pointer”. The game is more than that again. It is the twentysecond match between the league’s oldest and most successful rivals, and right now both teams are square. Each has won eight games, five have been drawn, and each has scored 32 goals in these games. Each has won six major titles since the league started in 1970.

The Mount must fancy its chances against United’s recent poor form. But when the pressure is on United usually comes through. Although the best performed United sides of old would not have lost to Blockhouse Bay at home, the present side won its vital matches this season with North Shore, Nelson, and Wellington Diamond United, when each threatened to run too far ahead. Also this will be United’s twelfth game of the season, and its eighth at home — it has played only four away and cannot drop another home point. New Brighton also meets a close rival when it plays Blockhouse Bay in Auckland today. Blockhouse Bay at present lies fifth, but that is almost certain to prove an elevated position. It has played 14 games, more than anyone else in the league, and will move down the table as the top sides catch up in games played.

Even though it has taken five points from its last three games, the Bay could still find itself in the relegation zone if Brighton beats it, possibly in Brighton’s place. Excellent news for Brighton, although no-one would covet it, is that Willie Clark — the Bay’s one creative player, and an extremely good one — broke his leg last Sunday.

With its massive and powerful defence, few sides leave the Bay with anything but bruises, and Brighton could be the same. As so

often, the seasiders’ secret weapon could be the speed ' of Mike Glubb, while Gra- i ham Dacombe is the Bay’s 1 match for vigour. 1 North Shore is home to ; Hamilton tomorrow in a top- 1 of-the-table battle that is a | most enticing prospect. t Wellington Diamond United should prove much I too strong for Caversham 1 and, if it can sort out its 1 finishing problems, can be 1 expected to win by a cricket ! score.

Stop Out is likely to pick a point or two from Dundin City in Dunedin.

It is vital for Nelson United to recaputre its winning form when it meets Eastern Suburbs at home. Leading the table after three games, Nelson has lost its last four in a row and has plummeted to the fringe of the relegation area. It is the fourth South Island team of the five in the league, to be faced with that gloomy prospect at present. Eastern Suburbs is the one North Island side (Blockhouse Bay potentially), and

again this match takes the significance of a “fourpointer.”