Manurewa close to first Rothmans title

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 3

Manurewa close to first Rothmans title

By taking a point from its trip to Wellington yesterday, Manurewa has made almost certain of winning the Rothmans Soccer League title for the first time.

To be deprived of the championship, it must lose its final two games, and Hanimex-North Shore, its only possible rival, - must beat both McKee Nelson United and Christchurch Mogal United, and make up the six-goal deficit in the goal differences.

United climbed four places with its win over Mount Wellington, which in turn plummeted to eleventh spot. The only team below the defending champion, Dunedin Technical, shared the points with Nelson, in its first match under the new coach, Bill Smith.

Papatoetoe kept up its bid for second place with a narrow win over Napier City Rovers, but National Mutual Miramar slipped up at Gisborne, conceding two goals before half-time. Results: ■

Christchurch Mogal United 4 (Keith Braithwaite two, Johann Verweij, Allan Boath), Mount Wellington 2 (Keith Nelson, Fred de Jong). Half-time, 2-0. Dunedin Technical 0, McKee Nelson United 0.

Wellington Diamond United 1 (Malcolm Dunford), Manurewa 1 (Kevin Birch). Half-time 0-0. Hanimex-North Shore 2 (Keith Hobbs, Adrian Elrick), Dunedin City 0, Half-time 0-0.

Gisborne City 2 (S. Byrne, K. Cresswell), National Mutual Miramar 1 (David Burgess). Half-time 2-0. Papatoetoe 1 (Brian Turner), Napier City Rovers 0. Halftime 1-0. ROTHMANS LEAGUE

P W D L F A Pt Manurewa 20 11 5 4 39 20 38 Nth Shore 20 9 5 6 34 21 32 Papatoe. 20 9 5 6 27 25 32 Chch Utd 20 9 3 8 38 34 30 Miramar 20 7 8 5 33 31 29 W.D.U. 20 7 7 6 27 25 28 Dun. City 20 9 1 10 21 28 28 Napier 20 7 6 7 26 22 27 Gisborne 20 7 6 7 25 25 27 Nelson 20 8 3 9 24 27 27 Mt Wgtn 20 7 5 8 27 25 26 Dun. Tech. 20 1 4 15 17 54 7 Chch Utd game, back page.