SOCCER TEAMS TO PLAY FOR SHIELD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19107, 27 June 1930, Page 15

SOCCER TEAMS TO PLAY FOR SHIELD.

NOMADS AND WESTERN ARE MAIN ATTRACTION. Nomads and Western will pro-

vide the main at-, traction in to-mor-row’s Hurley Shield series. They will meet at English Park in what promises to be a fast and closefought game. New Brighton will be at home to Rangers, and on their own ground the seasiders may prove troublesome. Thistle are faced

witli a fairly easy proposition in their game against Sumner at Sprevdon Domain. Kaiapoi and St Albans should be fairly evenly matched. AN EVEN GAME PROMISED. Everything points to it being a great tussle between Nomads and Western. The latter suffered one or two unexpected reverses earlier in the season, but now appear to be striking their best form, and must be reckoned in the running for one of the two top places on the ladder. Western’s success is due not to marked football ability but rather to their capacity for playing a fast and open, and consequently dangerous, game on attack and for ceaselessly harrying the opposition whenever it shows signs of settling down to clever football. Y r outh is predominant on the side, and with youth, of course, unlimited energy, keenness and fitness. In to-morrow’s game Nomads will have a slight advantage if it should come to a test of individual and. combined skill, but their superiority is not marked enough to enable them to call the tune, and Western’s probable endeavours to keep the game fast and open and the ball constantly on the wing should succeed. There is some good talent in the Nomads’ ranks, and with a stronger pair of wingers they would be a dangerous side. It is anybody’s game tomorrow. :: NEW BRIGHTON’S CHANCES. New Brighton will doubtless be in great heart after their performance of last week, when they gave Thistle a run for it, and on their own ground, as they are to-morrow, their chances are always brighter. There is no doubt that Rangers are the better side, but they cannot afford to take the seasiders lightly, especially when they must not drop a point if they are to dispute championship honours with Thistle. In these columns some weeks ago it was predicted that Rangers 1 would be serious contenders for the premiership, and to date they have jusi tilled the confidence placed in them. They would be unlucky to lose against NeW Brighton. THISTLE’S* TASK NOT DIFFICULT. Thistle should have something to spare in their game with Sumner, who are slowly improving their position on the ladder, but who, nevertheless, are no match in control, combination and tactics, for the Scots. Thistle were fully extended last week by New Brighton, when nobody expected it but it is scarcely possible that Sumner can shake them, too. CAN KAIAPOI*SCORE WIN? St Albans will have a sav in the of that question. To date, Kaiapoi have played several good games without being able to notch even a draw, but they have at least an even chance of gaining a point in tomorrow’s game. St Albans defeated last week, which may mean that they are on the improve. The margin to-morrow should be small whichever way the game goes.