Odds against Hanimex

Press, 9 May 1981, Page 64

Odds against Hanimex

By DAVID LEGGAT If the history books are any guide, Hanimex-North Shore’s prospects of success against Christchurch Mogal United at English Park today are slim. Only once in Shore's seven visits to Christchurch for league matches against United has it left with two points. That was in 1979, when it won, 2-1. United has been successful in three of the last four home games against Shore, and with its confidence boosted considerably by its 4-0 win at Hamilton last week-end, will start as favourite for today’s match. Gordon Faichnie will retain his place in the front line, with Mike Cantin, who scored his second league goal last week-end, remaining on the substitutes bench. The youthful Cantin has made a strong impression in the early part of the season, but his coach, Mr Terry Conley, believes his best value to the team, at present, is coming on during the match. He has scored twice as a substitute, and has created problems for opposing defences with his purposeful running. United will field an unchanged team from last week-end, but its defence will probably get a tougher workout from Shore than it did against Hamilton. Brian McKeown is the joint leader of the league's individual scoring list, with eight, while Kerry Hales, Keith Hobbs and Kevin Weymouth are all accomplished, and experienced, attacking players. Mount Wellington has been beaten just twice in Auckland in the last three seasons of the national league.

Rangers’ chances of being the third team to win there since 1978, when the teams meet today, are not bright. The Rangers coach, Mr Nick de Meyer, will bring Grant Hughes back into a midfield role, replacing the injured John Boatwood, and Geoff Taylor will come into the attack. Mr de Meyer, who has suffered a series of frustrating setbacks through player injuries this season, also appears to have lost the young defender, lan France, but not for the same reason. France was left out of the Rangers team for their match against Takapuna City last week-end, and Mr de Meyer has neither seen nor heard from the player since. The Mount, in spite of an erratic start to the season, must be the strong favourites for the match. Christchurch's third team in the league, Woolston W.M.C., has had its scheduled match against Manurewa postponed. The other two league matches to be played this week-end are National Mutual Miramar v. Dunedin City at Wellington and Hamilton v. Wellington Diamond United. A full round of Hertz League matches will be played today, with Cashmere-Wanderers, the competition leader, playing Technical at Somerfield Park in the main match. The other games are Burn-, dale United v. Northern Hearts at Burnside Park, New Brighton v. Shamrock on the No. 2 pitch at Queen Elizabeth II Park, Timaru City v. Nomads United in Dunedin, and Western v. Halswell United at MacFarlane Park.