Accurate Passing Needed In Canterbury Soccer

Press, Volume C, Issue 29518, 20 May 1961, Page 5

Accurate Passing Needed In Canterbury Soccer

r pHE poor showing by Canterbury’s soccer team in its Jones Cup fixture with Otago last month will have done nothing to ease the problems of the selector (Mr W. W. Carruthers) in his search for a team worthy of taking the field against England on June 3. It will be essential that the players chosen be all accurate in their passing. Canterbury will probably not see much of the ball, and when a local player does take possession this must not be wasted with the aimless kicking which has been a feature of too many club matches this season.

J. Callaghan looks more certain in the goal than he has previously this season and, although his selection in the previous match was criticised, he should take his place against England. Mr Carruthers has a responsibility to Callaghan in that he must choose full-backs who know their job.

J. Le Poidevin, a recent arrival from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, must have a chance of taking the rightback place. Playing his first match for City last week against Nomads, he was most impressive. It is unfortunate that injury has robbed Canterbury and New Zealand of the services of P. Frost in this position, as he played a fine game against Otago. H. Verdallen. M. Shardlow and A. Ross appear to be the main contenders for the position of left-back, with Ross probably playing the best of the three at the present time. A muscle injury has kept Verdallen from the game in recent weeks, and this may tell against his chances of selection.

The selection of winghalve# will be another problem. but this may be eased by the return to form of the former international, R. Durant. K. Hendy played at full-back against Otago, but may be better suited to a place among the halves. H. Taylor will no doubt be considered as left-half, and the former Poverty Bay player.

D. Waugh was so impressive in his first local appearance last Saturday that he must come into the side in some position.

D. Simmonds should again take the field as centre-half, but here he will meet tough opposition from the newcomers, Le Poidevin and Waugh, both versatile players with a preference for that position. E. Charlton did not show his best form in the match against Otago, and Canterbury has a need for a consistent and in-form player at centre-forward. K. Ollfcy would be the answer, and the former New Zealand player is doing as well as ever this season. His skill in passing is such that he should not be omitted. Waugh and H. Scholten are powerful players who can bang the ball into the goal, but Olley plays a better all-round game.

P. Rennell will probably be retained for the inside-right position, and may also lead the Canterbury team in this important match. The Rangers player D. Anderson may be given a chance as inside-left, and either he or A. Verham woyld do credit to the team in that position. The Indian D Charme is an inside forward who in his one match for University so far has displayed unusual ability and control.

Two wings must be found, and here the selector has another problem. The former representative W. Logan could come back into favour on the left, and the placing of Verham on the right wing for tomorrow's match at Greymouth indicates that he may take that position again in the England match. R. Bruce of City is a young player who would fill that position most capably, but he may be judged too inexperienced for such a match. Selections of Canterbury teams in the last two seasons indicate that experienced players will be preferred for the match on June 3. It is to be hoped that, if an experienced team is to take the field, it will not contain any whose fitness is suspect, or who are playing in positions in which they can not give of their best.