Five Chch teams in soccer league

Press, 31 March 1989, Page 34

Five Chch teams in soccer league

By

GARY BIRKETT

The third year of the revamped southern league division one soccer competition could prove to be the closest contest yet. The league kicks off tomorrow with five Christchurch teams among the 10 sides bidding for the title.

The defending champion; Christchurch reserves, is high on the list of fancies again but the other city sides, Rangers, Technical, Burndale and Western, justifiably have title aspirations of their own.

In Dunedin the feeling is that Dunedin City will, should

it play to its potential, take out the title for the second time in three years with Green Island, Mosgiel, Caversham and Oamaru likely to struggle in its wake. The Technical coach, Hal Upton, believes his side will finish in the top three but said the league will be tighter than last year. "There were games last season that looked a sure three points but it will be harder this year.” Technical led the competi-

tion for much of last year only to fade at the death and Mr Upton blamed a bad run of injuries for its slide from first place to fourth. He has made some useful signings and is working with a squad of 26 players from the first and second teams. Among the newcomers are lan France from Rangers, who is the likely skipper, Paul Clarke from Nelson, Mike McLaughlin from Shamrock, Lincoln Harper from Rangers, Andrew Eastgate from New Brighton and the former national league striker, Steve Tasker, from Blockhouse Bay. Losses include Andrew Rutledge, Mike Doherty and Andy Daffin. Regulars back from last winter are Steve Wooddin, Dave Munro, Steve Koster, Terry Neville, Rod Renfrew, Brent Webster, Peter Burt, Pat Berry, Peter Shea and Andrew Doherty. Mr Upton has been varying his combinations in preseason games but has been pleased with the form and attitude of his players. “We have certainly been

trying to play football and the games that we have lost have only been by the odd goal. We have more depth than last year and I will be very pleased if we can get away to a similar start.” He warned that the Dunedin City and Green Island teams would be especially hard to beat at home after watching a match in Dunedin recently. "The pace of the game was phenomenal. You’ll be doing well to come away with points from down there. It is going to be very tight this season.” The Christchurch coach, Martin Stewart, is of similar mind to Mr Upton.

He said on the evidence of pre-season play the league would be demanding for his side, especially as it was the defending champion. “The players realise that this year it is a different ball game. We are the playing through champions and every team will be out to knock us over. It is a sign of a good team if they can do well when they are expected to do well.”

Christchurch has lost Greg Glass and Sasha Radujko,

who has transferred to Western, while Mike Fullen and Julyan Falloon are likely to be regular first team members in the national league.

On the credit side it has gained Vaughan Conley and Andrew McDermott from Burndale and signed Laurence Fitzpatrick from Waikato and Andy Daffin from Technical.

The side will again be captained by the durable centreback, Rab Brown, while other players returning are Julian Bowden, Kelly Tonkin, Stephen Adams, Peter Bennie, lan Chamberlain, Alastair McCosh, Brent Berry and Tony Wilson. Rangers, which finished a disappointing seventh last season, has been inconsistent in pre-season matches but the new coach, Mike Fulham, is optimistic about a solid showing this year. The side has gained John Boatwood from Western, Adam Muzor, who turned out for Miramar last year in the national league for a few matches, Cameron Greenfell from Auckland, Howard Nicolas from Burndale and Chris Smith, who has returned from Australia.

Among the regulars back from last winter are Dean McKay, lan Cowans, Jeff Blackbum, Luke Campfens, Mike Cowen, Graham Fennessey, Paul Welford, Paul Dabner, Bevan Chappell and Darren Johnson.

Mr Fulham, an ex-Christ-,church United and Rangers goal-keeper, also hopes to blood some youngsters including the Canterbury under 17 captain, Trevor Gilbert.

The side has lost lan France, Sean McKay, Lincoln Harper and Craig Meaclem. "We have been putting it together in training but not on the pitch,” said Mr Fulham.

“Four of our first five games are in Dunedin so it is important that we make a good start and have something to build on.”

He is looking for more consistency in all areas of the park including a tightening up in defence and the need to get players forward in support.

“Individually I have been pleased with the players. They are starting to gel together and realise that they have to start performing now."

Burndale could manage only sixth last year but the signing of the former All White striker, John Hanson, should boost its chances of a top three placing this season. While one player does not make a team Hanson’s experience and ability to put away vital goals will be invaluable. Burndale has already won the Hurley Shield pre-season trophy and looked good in doing so. It Rangers, 4-1, in the semifinals, an indication that it will be a big threat. The player-coach, Graeme Archer, has lost Howard Nicholas, Vaughan Conley, Mike Millward and Andrew McDermott from last year’s squad but still has a well balanced side.

Graham Quinn will be the' goal-keeper with Steve McKenzie, Marty Quinn, Mike Boyd and Jimmy Small in front of him.

Archer and the New Zealand junior captain, Steve

Toohey, have been operating in midfield with Hanson, Jeff Hawker, Korosh Monsef, Peter Ross and Andy Waites up front. Western, which finished a creditable third last season, could struggle to occupy that placing again after losing a number of its more experienced campaigners. Losses include Mark Smith, Wayne Lambie, Steve Rhind, Phil Ayers, John Boatwood and Paul Brockie while there are doubts about the availability of Mike Mulcahy and Steve Payne. The captain, Marcel Verweij, said this season would be one of rebuilding but he has been impressed with the young players that the new coach, Tony Harvey, has drafted into the squad. “There is a bit of work to do going by our pre-season displays,” said Verweij, who is still under suspension after being sent off in a pre-season match.

“We haven’t been setting the world on fire but Tony has been experimenting and none of the other teams have been going that well apart from Burndale.”

Among the new players at Western are Nathan Astle, Liam McHugh, Craig Grimwood, Phil Walker, Andrew Nuttall and Jon Gregory while regulars returning are Darren Redway, Wayne Newsome, Marty Hamilton, Wayne Higgs and Kurt Jacques. The first round draw pits the strongest of the Dunedin sides, Dunedin City, against Christchurch in Dunedin.

City finished second last year after a slow start and has been in superb form in pre-season matches. In other games Green Island hosts Rangers, Mosgiel entertains Caversham, Technical meets Burndale and

Western plays Oamaru. The division two (north) competition should also be a closely fought affair with New Brighton, Woolston W.M.C., Halswell and Shamrock likely to vie for the title and the chance to win promotion to division one.