Soccer: A case of divided loyalties for Grammar headmaster

By Terry Maddaford

Auckland Grammar School headmaster John Morris will have divided loyalties - from a distance - when his school's soccer First Xl meet Bay Olympic in a fourth-round Chatham Cup tie on the weekend of June 26-27.

Morris is travelling in Europe on a Woolf Fisher Scholarship and is not due back until a week or so after the school's away game, but will be hoping for an upset win over Bay Olympic with whom, as Blockhouse Bay, he collected a cup-winner's medal in 1970.

There are a couple of other tempting ties, including the all-Auckland clash between holders Central United and Waitakere City. Between them they have won the last five finals.

City will have the home advantage in Central's chase for a third successive victory, but Central must overcome a Waitakere side who a month ago handed the North Island league leaders their first loss of the season.

Western Suburbs, beaten 3-2 by Blockhouse Bay in the first replayed final, in 1970, but the winners over Wellington City the following year, will be away in an all-Wellington tie against Miramar Rangers, winners in 1966 and 1992, the only other game between two former winners.

Mt Wellington, chasing a sixth win to equal the record held by North Shore and Christchurch United, face a difficult away clash with Bluebird premier league leaders Tauranga City, who ended North Shore's hopes of further cup glory with their 1-0 home win in the third round.

New Zealand Soccer officials yesterday afternoon clarified mistaken speculation that the tie between northern side Hamilton Wanderers and central region Napier City Rovers would be played home and away .

"It was small glitch in the morning's draw presentation," said New Zealand Soccer spokesman Glenn Turner. "Napier's name came out first and will play at home. Like all ties, it will be a one-off."

In the last all-South Island clash, last year's beaten finalists, Dunedin Technical, will be at home to Halswell.

Fourth round, June 26-27 (home team first):

Tauranga City v Mt Wellington, Bay Olympic, Takapuna City v Melville United, Waitakere City v Central United, Napier City Rovers v Hamilton Wanderers, Paraparaumu United v Olympic, Miramar Rangers v Western Suburbs, Dunedin Technical v Halswell United.