Chatham Cup - Preliminary Round

Five Central Football teams went into battle for Preliminary Round matches in the Chatham Cup. On Saturday we had two seven goal thrillers in local Taranaki derbies while on ANZAC Day Gisborne Thistle entered the Northern/WaiBOP pool due to the continued roading situation after Cyclone Gabrielle. New Plymouth Boys’ High School came out on top 4-3 away to Peringa United AFC with Fergus Young scoring a 89th minute winner after both sides netted a goal each in the previous two minutes. A Connor Oliver-Rose brace including a 77th minute winner got FC Western over the line 4-3 away to New Plymouth Rangers AFC after Rangers had tied it up 3-3 in the 75th minute. Gisborne Thistle had the tough away trip to Papakura City FC and unluckily went down 3-2 after a 90th minute penalty was scored against them. 

Lotto Central Federation League – Round 3

An amazing 13 goals were scored in ALH Limited Gisborne Thistle’s 7-6 away win at Bluewater Stadium against Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers. Jimmy Somerton netted a hat trick for Thistle to move him up to second on the Golden Boot table with 4 strikes so far this season and David Ure bagged a brace including the 95th minute winner. Harry Mason scored a consolation brace for Rovers to extend his lead in the Golden Boot, he now sits on 6 goals for the season. In the other match Watson Integrity PN Marist FC picked up their first win and points of the season when they defeated Bayleys Palmerston North United 2-1 in the local derby at Arena Manawatu with all the goals coming in the first half. Taradale AFC had the Bye and sat Round 3 out. 

Women’s Federation League – Round 1 Catch Up Game

Havelock North Wanderers Women’s Feds have picked up their first win in the competition after knocking over Kitchens By Healey Palmerston North United 4-1 at home thanks to all four goals being scored by Olivia Wallis. This was a catch up game as the league paused for the Kate Sheppard Cup so no other teams played over the weekend as all Central Football teams had a Bye in the National Cup. 

YORB Pacific Premiership

HNW Big Barrel picked up the win away from home 1-4 over Duke of Gloucester NCR. Goals were shared for Havelock with Finn Baragwanath, Christian Gandini, Ollie Chapman and Lucas Hall all on the scoresheet to get the first win of the season. The big game was supposed to be Pak N Save Tamatea Napier Marist vs Falcon Electrical Taradale as both sides were two from two before kick-off. It was Napier Marist who turned up on the day to dispatch Taradale in a 4-0 win to go top alone after three rounds. Rueben Thurston, Vinnie MacKirdy, Mastafa Can and Jett Hogg all on target in the win. There was a big game at the foot of the table as LionPro Construction Maycenvale and Palm City Motor Inn Port Hill (both on zero points before the match) were looking to get their season underway. The game ended up been a thriller with the Port Hill keeper sent off after 30 minutes. By the 62^nd minute Dylan Cozens had neeted his second for Vale to take the lead three to two. But it was Art Woodley-Hanan who scored in the 70 and 83^rd to complete his hat-trick, that ended up the hero for Port Hill as they took the game 3-4 on the road. Western Rangers had their feet up for the weekend on the bye.

Key Matches Next Round:-

HNW Big Barrel vs Jarks Cityside Western Rangers

• Rangers will be looking to get points away to cement their position as challengers this season.

HB Reserve League

Thirsty Whale NCR haven’t lost for a long long time, however it’s looking closer as they had a scare on the weekend, held to a 2-2 draw by HNW Cole Murray. The draw see Havelock go top on goal difference over Rovers. In third is Burger Fuel Port Hill, fresh off a 3-5 away win at Giant Brewing Maycenvale. Westshore Beach Inn Eskview grabbed a win at home 3-2over ECR Western Rangers. Matt Betesta with a double for the home side. Taradale AFC got their first win of the season away to Rogue Hop Napier Marist 2-4. Taradale goals included a double from Matt Single.

Key Matches Next Round:-

HNW Cole Murray vs ECR Western Rangers

• Havelock will look to keep winning to sustain pressure on Rovers.

HB Division 2

New boys Western Rangers have done what not many others have done in the past year and taken points off Paddy’s Bar NCR with a solid 1-1 draw at St Leonards Park. A top result for Rangers to get them off the mark in their second game of the season. The all Havelock derby had goals aplenty as Divas edged Arataki Honeybees in a 4-2 match at Guthrie #1. The final match of the round saw Completebuild Taradale Vikings run away 0-3 winners at Westshore Beach Inn Eskview Utd. A congested table with three points separating all six sides, four of which all have three points to show for their efforts so far.

Key Matches Next Round:-

Paddy’s Bar NCR vs HNW Divas

• A big one early on. Expect fireworks here.

HB Division 3

Three sides are now two from two in the third division as Elite Flooring Maycenvale, Integrity1 Napier Marist and East Coast Tiling Western Rangers with latest victories vs Hastings Hibernian Hammers (1-0), Croplands Spray Shop Western Rangers (3-1) and Marewa (1-2) respectively. Other results saw Westshore Beach Inn Eskview Reds get up 2-1 over HNW Razos, Burger Fuel Port Hill went down 2-3 at home. Hasitngs Hibernian Pacificas defaulted their match vs Paddy’s Bar NCR.

Key Matches Next Round:-

East Coast Tiling Western Rangers vs Integrity1 Napier Marist

•  Perfect starts go on the line.

HB Masters

Some one sided games across the league this past week. Union Hotel Napier South went big in a 7-1 win at home over Shed 2 Napier Marist while The Flax Western Rangers won by the same margin (7-1) at St Leonards over Marewa United. These results have Rangers and Napier South leading the way. HNW Alessandro’s were obviously seething after their draw in week one and took it out on Napier City Rovers in a lop-sided 14-0 score-line. Westshore Beach Inn Eskview were also comfortable winners 5-2 over Port Hill. We found a much more even game in the last match of the round as HNW Mercenaries and Taradale Masters went toe to toe in a entertaining 3-3 draw.

Key matches Next Round:-

Marewa Masters vs HNW Mercenaries

• Could be a close one ?

HB Premier KO Cup Results

Palm City Motor Inn Port Hill 2-2 HNW Big Barrel (Havelock win on penalties 3-4)

Duke of Gloucester NCR 3-2 Westshore Beach Inn Eskview

Giant Brewing Maycenvale 1-4 Jarks Cityside Western Rangers

BYES – Falcon Electrical Taradale, Burger Fuel Port Hill, Pak N Save Tamatea Napier Marist, ECR Western Rangers, HNW Cole Murray

HB Holt Cup Results

Napier South 2-2 Western Rangers (Napier South win 5-2 on penalties?)

Burger Fuel Port Hill 2-0 Paddy’s Bar NCR D3

Integrity1 Napier Marist 8-0 Westshore Beach Inn Eskview

Completebuild Taradale Vikings 5-1 Westshore Beach Inn Eskview Reds

Marewa United 0-3 Hastings Hibernian Hammers (Marewa Default)

HNW Arataki Honeybees 0-6 Paddy’s Bar NCR D2

BYES – Elite Flooring Maycenvale, Croplands Spray Shop Western Rangers

HB Women’s Div1

Westshore Beach Inn Eskview Blues were made to work a bit harder this week but still managed a comfortable three points with a 5-1 score-line in their match with Quality Pumping Ltd Port Hill. Nancy Reed and Jane Barnett with doubles for the Blues. Taradale AFC Development are underway with a 3-2 win vs Western Rangers Women. A good confidence booster for the side promoted from Division 2. Abi Hutchinson with two for Taradale and Ruby Brett with two for Rangers. Taradale AFC Reserves we comfortable in their 1-6 away win over HNW Village Insurance. It’s been a tough introduction for the Havelock side with their first team from last year now playing in the federation league. Expect them to improve as the season goes on.

Key Matches Next Round:-

Taradale Reserves vs Taradale Development

• Derby Day!!!!

HB Women’s Div2

New side Westshore Beach Inn Eskview Development are making statements early after an away win 0-8 over NCR Women. Their clubside the Whites also won on the weekend to seal a good weekend for Eskview female sides as they got up 3-0 vs burger Fuel Port Hill Women. HNW Loading Ramp won a tight one to finish the round in a 4-3 game with Hastings Hibernian Paper Mulberry. Taradale Women had the BYE. It will be interesting to see how this table looks after 5 or 6 weeks. This could be a league to keep an eye on.

Key Matches Next Round:-

Westshore Beach Inn Eskview Whites vs Hastings Hibernian Paper Mulberry

• Could go either way?

Article added: Wednesday 26 April 2023