TAUPO, ROTORUA DRAW IN WET, MUDDY MATCH

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 48, 18 June 1974, Page 12

TAUPO, ROTORUA DRAW IN WET, MUDDY MATCH

The Taupo senior soccer side completed the first round of competition in the Bay of Plenty league on Saturday when it drew 1-1 with Rotorua Suburbs on Saturday. The game was played at Rotorua in wet eonditions. The pitch was soaked at the kick-off and with the heavy, driving rain which persisted throughout the match the field became heavy with a lot of surface water. Taupo took a while to adapt to the pitch and wet ball and it was some time before it attacked with any authority. Two good through balls for the forwards slid out of reach and Peter Henry fired in a good shot which rebounded from the Roto-

rua goalie but no-one was on hand to score. Rotorua Suburbs looked dangerous on quick breakaways and was picking up a lot of mid-field possession. Rotorua put some pressure on Taupo with three corners in quick succession and Taupo was lucky not to concede a goal from one of these when McCutcheon cleared off the line. Taupo came back and when C. Gilfoyle broke clear a chance to score was lost. Gilfoyle drew the goalie to one side, beat him with a good shot which was just wide of the far post but K. Hurren was only a foot short of netting. Rotorua again attacked and 10 minutes before the interval scored. Taupo tried hard to equalise but half-time came with the score Rotorua Suburbs 1, Taupo 0. Taupo kicked off with the rain behind it in the second half and nearly scored in the first few

minutes. Henry was put through but couldn't control his shot in the mud. Taupo looked well equipped to come back in the game and take control, but on a pitch that was against the football that the Taupo side usually plays the game was very even. Rotorua held the advantage with the only goal, and was defending solidly, if at times desperately. Taupo began to mount attack after attack, but couldn't score. The side was caught in the Rotorua off-side trap many times and as the half progressed Taupo's hardy band of supporters must have begun to wonder if anything was to be salvaged from the game in which Taupo now held control. Rotorua twice broke away in dangerous raids and . nearly scored. Robert Simpson, the Taupo goalie, was handling the ball well in the mud and rain and kept his goal intact. Stuart Lochrie, playing

as Taupo skipper for the first time, urged his team forward and Taupo was now throwing everything at the Rotorua goal. With 15 minutes left a crisp movement down the left ended with Tony Blay crossing hard iand low. Gilfoyle met the ball first time but straight to the goalie's hands. Time was running out — but Taupo went all out and four minutes from the end scored. From outside the penalty area the ball was pushed back to Gilfoyle, who sent in a long, high shot which the goalie couldn't hold and a point was saved. The game ended with the final score Rotorua Suburbs 1, Taupo 1. The Taupo team was: R. Simpson, A. Forrest, I. McCutcheon, A. Mansfield; S. Lochrie (captain), D. Bowles, K. Hurren, C. Gilfoyle, R. Hindle, P. Henry, T. Blay. Substitute: B. Ruck. Scorer for Taupo: C. Gilfoyle.