JONES CUP SOCCER TODAY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29500, 29 April 1961, Page 5

JONES CUP SOCCER TODAY

pANTBRBURYS soccer representatives will meet Otago in Dunedin today in the first of this season’s home and-away Jones Cup fixtures. With a 5-4 win and a 2-all draw in last season's two matches. Canterbury retained this trophy, which it has held for several years. Today’s match will be a trial not only for the Canterbury team to meet England on June 3, but also for the selection of the South Island team to meet Wellington a* part of the current national trials. Mr Bill Carruthers, Canterbury's selector, has sprung some surprises in the selection of today's team. He has had his problems, and his final decision has been to retain out-of-form national representatives to the exclusion of younger players who have taken the eye this seasen.

J. Callaghan in goal and W. Rodger at right-half are two members of last year's New Zealand team to Tahiti who

have not reproduced representative form this season. Canterbury supporters will hope that Mr Carruthers’ faith in thatn is justified in Dunedin today. Canterbury's full-backs. K. Hesidy and P. Frost, are surprise selections insofar as neither was played as a fullback in the two trials held, and neither has so far filled those positions in club matches this season. Frost, a Londoner who ha* been in Christchurch for only two weeks, looks to have the ability to play well anywhere in the defence. Hendy’s play has not been above club standard this season. D. Simmonds and H. Taylor were the logical selections at centre-half and left-half. Simmonds has been outstanding this season and with E. Charlton and T. Haydon was the only player certain of selection in this team. A place had to be found for the brilliant Boys' High School player Haydon, but it is a pity that Mr Carruthers could not have included all of the Technical inside three. A. Verham. Charlton and W. Shannon This is a combination which has worked extremely well in club matches olayed so far this season Shannon, surprisingly, has received not even a trial. Verham was not available for this match. Charlton and Haydon hit the ball with great power, and Otago's defence will be hard put to stop this pair. The other three forwards. W. Yates. P. Rennell and P. McParland. have given mixed displays this season. Although the selection of wings must have been a big headache, Yates and McParland have yet to justify themselves in these positions. Yates has played better this season at inside-left Rennell was a South Island representative at inside-left last season, but is to plav inside-right today. The Otago team contains six members of the Northern Club, and Canterbury can gain some solace from the fact that this team was held

to a 4-all draw by a belowstrength Nomad* team at Easter, and was beaten 5-2 by Technical in last year’s Chatham Cup South Island final. J. Stephenson will again serve Otago in goal, and with the New Zealand player. P. McFarlane, and the South Island representative, D. Downie, as wing-halves, the defence should be quite steady. Otago has lost its New Zealand left-back. J. Middleton, who has gone to Auckland. It is Otago’s forward line, and particularly it* left flank, which may cause Canterbury some trouble. G. Little (centre-forward), D. McVey (inside-left) and P. Little (outside-left) are three who have combined well for Northern and Otago on many occasions. The brilliant McVey and the fast P. Little may be too much for the Canterbury defenders. Rodger and Hendy. on that side of the field. McVey and outsideright W. Berry have represented New Zealand.