Mt Wellington forced to default Chatham Cup tie

Press, 21 July 1988, Page 44

Mt Wellington forced to default Chatham Cup tie

PA Wellington The national soccer league frontrunner, Mt Wellington, has been forced to default its Chatham Cup tie scheduled for Sunday against its fellow Auckland club Blockhouse Bay.

Taking advantage of the two-week break in the. national league caused by the failed Brazilian tour, the Mount gave its players time off and now has' effectively only seven players available for the week-end. ■

The quarter-final tie,

which was to have been played last Sunday, had to be postponed because of heavy rain and flooding in the Auckland region. The ■ Mt Wellington president, John O’Neill, said an approach had been made to play the game on July 27, by which time all the players would 5 be. back but the New Zealand Football Association (NZFA) insisted it had to be played on Sunday. “Because they, irisist it be played on . Sunday we’ve no option: but to withdraw," ■ Mr O’Neill said. ’ /?*.

; "At the beginning of the season, the NZFA allowed for the break which remained in spite of the failure of the Brazilian tour to go ahead.

“Three weeks ago John Adshead (coach) agreed to give the; players leave of absence. "Now we have three players- away. Michael Ridenton and Ronnie Armstrong have gone overseas while Marty Jennison is going ski-ing. 5 “We also have two injured players and effectively we only have seven players to field.”

Mr O’Neill said follow-

ing the postponement of the game last Sunday, the Mount had asked it be played after Tuesday week rather than having to default. .

Playing it later would suit, Blockhouse Bay in terms of gatetakings rather than the default, he said.

“But the administration said the game must be played on Sunday, we wentSback, asked if that decision was 'final and they said it was. With it goes what was a very realistic opportunity off-pulling the double this season.