Soccer HURLEY SHIELD MATCHES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28269, 6 May 1957, Page 7

Soccer HURLEY SHIELD MATCHES

Western Remains Unbeaten

After Saturday’s games, Western is the only team to have won all four games in the qualifying round of the Hurley Shield Soccer competition. Drawn against Nomads, Western was fully extended in the first half and both teams played bright, enterprising football that was enjoyed by a good crowd, notwithstanding the rain. Nomads, evidently not as fit as Western, slumped badly in the second spell and Western went on to win 3-0.

In the early game, the fitter Shamrock team held Technical Old Boys to a draw and could easily have won. University had its first win by beating Rangers. Neerlandia and Christchurch City recorded their second wins of the competition against Thistle and Atlantis. Results:— Western 3, Nomads 0. Technical Old Boys 3, Shamrock 3. ’ Neerlandia 3, Thistle 2. Christchurch City 2, Atlantis 0. University 4, Rangers 3. With four matches played, points are:—Western 8, Technical Old Boys 7, Nomads 6, Shamrock 5, Neerlandia 4, Christchurch City 4,. Atlantis 2, Rangers 2, University 2, Thistle 0. WESTERN v. NOMADS Superior fitness won the day when Western beat Nomads by 3 goals to nil. Both teams having won all previous games, the match promised to be keenly contested and the large number of spectators who turned out in the rain saw good football in the first half. Although Western led by one goal at half-time, first-half honours really went to Nomads. Brisk short-passing movements and sudden switches of play had the Western backs defending strongly and Nomads was unlucky not to score two goals. But the second half was a different story. Although Nomads made occasional raids, it was Western which held the upper hand, and the two additional goals scored were well deserved. J. Voogt, in goal for Western, gave a flawless exhibition. He had the answer for all the Nomads attacks. J. White, a former Canterbury centre-forward, is proving himself a capable full-back. M. Shardlow the other full-back, gave another solid exhibition. The hardest man for the Nomads attackers to get past was A. Laffey at centre-half. R. Durrant played fully up to form, .and J. Longmuir worked well on the other flank, although he has an unfortunate method of tackling which drew cries of disapproval from the crowd. P. Saunderson was again the star of the forward line. Always up with play Saunderson was on hand to make the most of his chances and he deserved his two goals. C. Steel, was switched from right to left wing for the match, and did not appear as effective in the new position. However, he was still a force to be reckoned with, as he proved by scoring one goal and making another for Saunderson. A. Trotter was played at right wing, and although not as strong as Steel, gave a sound display. A. McDonald and T. Glass were the other two members of the fast-moving Western forwards. At the other end of the field, H. Bottennan also kept goal well. year’s full-backs, B. Shaw and J. Cullen, were together again for the first time this season. Earlier it was reported that Cullen would not be playing this season, but he turned out on Saturday and played a very good game, and earned himself selection in the Canterbury training squad. I. Graham, another to earn selection, was a Solid centre-half, and D. Stapley and R. Roskan tried hard in the wing halves positions. P. Rennell was the most impressive of the forwards, his ball control and passing being of a high standard. A. van Rooyen was prominent in the first half, but faded badly. D. Ennis was always a trier in the centre forward position, but found himself up against tough opposition. Although they combined well with the other forwards in the first half, the two wings, J. Bouwhuis and I. McCallum, were not very successful with their centres. The referee was Mr T. Gottermeyer. TECHNICAL OLD BUYS v. SHAMROCK As in the main game, fitness, or lack of it, played an important part in the early match at English Park between Technical Old Boys and Shamrock. Technical showed itself the better team in the opening stages and had a 2-1 lead at half-time, but Shamrock lasted better and Technical was lucky to draw, 3-all. R. Sanders, the Technical goalkeeper, showed himself to be one of Canterbury’s best, his initiative and handling getting his team out of some awkward situations. The Technical defence was solid with J. Hunter as its pivot, and I. Drewitt played a gobd game at left half. D. Charlton, first at inside right and later as half-back, gave glimpses of his old form, but his general play seemed to suffer from lack of fitness. E. Fields, at centre forward, scored one goal, but with an obvious weakness in the centre of the Shamrock defence, he should have been more prominent. M. Jones did some useful work on the right wing. J. Calligan made a welcome reappearance in the Shamrock goal and played well. With P. Flynn absent, the defence was not as strong as usual, as B. O’Brien, his replacement, lacks experience, but he played a plucky game for all that. In J. Cunniffe and P. Fletcher, Shamrock had the stronger wing halves and they gave good service on defence and attack. J. Price and L. Sampetre played good inside forward football, the latter showing himself to be a proficient ball player. B. Newsome was the better of the wingers, his speed causing his marker concern. The referee was Mr H. Royce. UNIVERSITY v. RANGERS University, in unfavourable conditions, had a well-deserved win over Rangers by 4 goals to 3 at Somerfield Park. The Rangers goalkeeper, W. Adams, played his usual solid game as did the left full-back M. Friedberg. The centre-half, J. Adams, was outstanding on defence. M. Somers at left-half, was disappointing after showing some fine form earlier in the game, Rangers forward line was not impressive, and lack of combination lost many chances. The University goalkeeper, J. Hay, made some fine saves, but improvement is needed in his passing. R. Burgess and J. Roburgh were both solid on defence. Star of the University side, however, was S. Mohamed at centre-half. His footwork and timing were a delight to see. R. Nath at left-wing worked hard but was not at home on the slippery ground. P. Feenstra and D. Adam combined well to give the Rangers defence no rest. Play opened with the Rangers team sweeping up-field to allow W. Duddy to score from the left wing. After a period of very scrappy play. Rangers right-wing, A. Parker, sent in a long shot which was deflected into the net by J. Hay, University goalkeeper. A melee in front of the Rangers goalmouth allowed centre-forward D. Adams to open University’s account. University started the second half like a new team and continually hammered the Rangers goal. A short ’•elief was given Rangers when I. Pash broke away to score. University, however, was not to be denied, and a fine coal bv D. Adams and two by R Nath established a lead that was held until the final whistle. The referee was Mr I. Semple. CHRISTCHURCH CITY v. ATLANTIS At Beckenham Park City beat Atlantis by 2 goals to nil. The ground was very wet, making ball control

difficult, the City players adapting themselves better to the conditions. lhe Atlantis goalkeeper saved his « *u on n ian y occasions, while many °£ . ® Cltv moves were spoiled by off-side Play. Neither side scored during the first spell, and in the secbo*h sides produced good aP. until eventually City gained erden ad by 8 grand goal by QuickFrom that stage on City had com- . con if,°l °f the game and sbon added another gogl, scored by Quickenden.

For Atlantis, the goalkeeper T Cushion, was very safe, and its veteran captain, R. Fleming, was very solid on defence. F. Nichols and J Levay were the best of the forward line, but they were inclined to hang on to the ball too long. -For City, Mill ward deputising forK. King in goal, although never tested seriously, performed creditably. The rest of the team played pleasing football. Improvement was shown by the promoted junior K. Nuttall, and the inclusion of I. Weir, another young player, proved an asset. D. Worthington, a grand constructive player, was unfortunately injured, and this resulted in the City forward line over the later stages of the game not combining as it was doing during the early part of the game.

The referee was Mr I. Billcliff. NEERLANDIA V. THISTLE At Linwood Park, in continuous drizzling rain, Neerlandia beat Thistle 3-2. Neerlandia dominated play in the second half.

Thistle made one change, J. Hooper coming in for Cairns. After a shaky beginning he settled down to play a good game and was in no way to blame for his team’s defeat. A. I. Robinson played a sound game at right back. A. Mills got through a lot of good work at right half, and J. McGrath, at left half, was a real footballer, although he was inclined to try too much at times. A. McPherson, at centre half, had a good second half. In the first he seemed to wait for the ball to come to him instead of moving into it. L. Lynham was the complete winger. A. Joyce, S. Collins and T. Dawson, the inside centres, worked hard but found the Neerlandia defence too good on the day. Neerlandia as a whole had a good day, but A. Hilhorst and R. Campfens must be singled out for outstanding performances. These wing halves dominated the midfield play, both on attack and defence. R. Ekers played a solid stopper game at centre half, and W. Heuvelmans, after he had ' mastered the greasy bail, was his usual dependable self. F. Ceelan and T. Griend were a sound pair of backs. Of the forwards, Beltman was the likely scorer, with H. Koster doing some useful foraging and opening up the Thistle defence with the through pass. T. Brand and V. Wyngaarden, the wingers, were always dangerous and were unlucky not to be among the scorers. Wyngaarden is obviously handcapped by being a left winger with a stronger right foot, but nevertheless had to be watched closely. Neerlandia had the better of the early exchanges, but Thistle was first to open the score when Collins took advantage of a loose ball. Beltman equalised for Neerlandia, Hooper being at fault with a shot he ought to have stopped. After 23 minutes Beltman put Neerlandia ahead with a good opportunist goal, and should have added to the total a minute afterwards. The equaliser came after 41 minutes, when Griend had the misfortune to turn the ball through his awn goal. On resumption, Neerlandia dominated the early exchanges and Campfens put it ahead. This was the only goal in the half, which, although Thistle did not give up trying, was clearly Neerlandia’s The referee was Mr S. Ellingham.