COLLEGE SOCCER TEAM SHOWING GOOD FORM

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 54, 13 July 1965, Page 3

COLLEGE SOCCER TEAM SHOWING GOOD FORM

The ball and ground were both hard and fast, and so was the piay, wnen the rec-ently-formed Taupo-nui-a-Tia College soccer team played its third game, against Waiouru recently. Taupo drew with Waiouru 5— all. With two wins in two games so far this season Taupo attacked with confidence in its game against the Waiouru Regular Force cadets. After 15 minutes of dazzlingly swift play Taupo led by 3 goals to nil — two scored by 15-yard drives from centre^forward Paul Gittins, who assisted in the third goal, scored by left wing Alan Radford. But Taupo suffered setbacks with Gittins and Taupo's captain, Tom Williams at centre-half, both being injured early in the game. Gittins recovered but Williams, one of Taupo's star players, was forced into

the role of passenger for the last three-quarters of the game. Waiouru, passing the ball well, scored two goals late in the flrst half and Gittins scored again for Taupo to make the halftime score — Taupo 4, Waiouru 2. In the second half Waiouru scored early to reduce the Taupo lead to one, but Bob Max, Taupo's clever in-side-left, scored a good goal to give Taupo a 5 — 3 lead. But the greater physical strength and fitness of the soldiers proved too much for Taupo, tiring from the game's speed and lack of previous hard match play, and shortly before full time Waiouru scored twice, including a speculative 30yard shot which drifted under the bar to level the score at 5 — all. Taupo threw everything into a savage and desperate onslaught forcing Waiouru to concede two corners, but the Waiouru defence held and the final whistle blew with the score Taupo College 5, Waiouru 5. For Taupo the outstanding player was goalie John Duggan, who made some spectacular saves under pressure.