Lotto Central Federation League – Round 1

We had two matches on Saturday to kick start our Lotto Central Federation League for 2023 and both ended in close 2-1 results. Thirsty Whale Napier City Rovers Feds celebrated their 50^th Anniversary with a 2-1 home win at Bluewater Stadium against newly formed team Bayleys Palmerston North United, Harry Mason and Jack Sanko scored for Rovers with Patrick Smither getting the consolation goal for United. Newly promoted team Shani’s Taradale AFC travelled to Arena Manawatu to take on Watson’s Integrity PN Marist FC and it was Taradale that also won 2-1 to make in a double for the weekend for Hawke’s Bay clubs over Manawatu ones. Zac Madsen plus Ayden Jones got the goals for Taradale with Dylan Bary knocking a late one in for Marist, ALH Limited Gisborne Thistle had the Bye in the opening round. 

Women’s Federation League – Round 1

We only had one match in the Women’s Federation League to open the season with and it was a Taranaki derby with Moturoa AFC Feds coming out on top 4-0 when they hosted ATLAS NP Rangers AFC. Fernando Toscani and Chantal Williams both getting braces for Moturoa while the match between Havelock North Wanderers Women’s Feds and Palmerston North United Women’s Feds was postponed with OneStaff PN Marist Women’s Reserves having the Bye.

Lotto Men’s Federation Cup – Round 1

Four Round 1 matches were needed in the Lotto Men’s Federation Cup that got played on Easter Monday. GJ Gardner Homes Whanganui Athletic Reserves won a seven goal thriller 4-3 when they hosted Palm City Motor Inn Port Hill United with Tre Dejohn netting a double for Athletic and Art Woodley-Hanan a double for United. A hat trick from Liam Percy-Fysh was the difference for Shani’s Taradale AFC as they defeated Rampage Fitness FC Western 5-2 at the neutral venue of Massey University with Ben Furze getting a consolation brace from the penalty spot for Western. LongChill Takaro AFC hosted Havelock North Wanderers Big Barrell Premiers at Ashhurst Domain and it was the home side of Takaro that ran out 4-2 winners with the goals being shared around. In the final game Pak n Save Tamatea Napier Marist won the local derby 2-1 over Jarks Cityside Western Rangers Premiers at Park Island with all the goals being scored early in the first half.

Hawke's Bay Local Leagues:

YORB Pacific Premiership Kick-off with a bang over Easter weekend!

In our first match, Taradale locked horn’s with Havelock North. Taradale who are recently promoted to the Lotto Federation league looked to have recruited well over the off-season with an opening day win 3-1 against Havelock. Nathaniel Wright opened the scoring in the 29^th minute and Dan Ball quickly doubled the host’s lead in the 31^st. Morgan Weaver put the result beyond doubt when he netted in the 58^th minute. It wasn’t all one-way traffic and Havelock did have their chances throughout the game. Lucas Packheiser-Hall scored a well-deserved goal in the 89^th

Our second match pitted Napier Marist against Western Rangers, always a hard-fought and well-contested match. This game was no different. Jett Hogg got an early opener for Marist when he hit the back of the net in the 17^th minute and that was all the scoring to mention in the first spell. Come the second half and up stepped Vinnie McKirdy to double the lead and secure all three points on opening day for Marist. Western Rangers will no doubt be looking to open their account next weekend, be wary of the sleeping giant.

Napier City Rovers spurred on by a big crowd over their anniversary weekend were too strong for Port Hill. Ethan Spencer opened the scoring in the 21^st minute and then before you knew it it was 3-0 after Sacha Pickering scored a first-half brace. Oranges were had and out for the second stanza. Shannon Laxon-Fowler gave the visitors a lifeline when he netted in the 54^th. That fire was soon extinguished when Rovers scored three goals in six minutes to make it 6-1, the eventual final score. Spencer picked up a second to complete his brace and was joined on the scoresheet by Jake Bryan and Harry Anderson.

Round 2 see’s 1^st round winners Taradale and Rovers square-off at Taradale Park, classic to ensue? Let’s see.

Hawke's Bay Reserve League

Maycenvale and Eskview had the weekend off with a postponement so just three games to report on in the reserve league.

With fixtures mirroring the Premiership Taradale hosted Havelock North. The hosts got off to a flyer when Matt Single scored after just six minutes played, unfortunately, that’s the only time Taradale would trouble the scoreboard. Joao Sisanoski equalized for the visitors in the 25^th and then went on to score the first hat-trick of the scoring in the 47^th and 66^th. Havelock added goals regularly through the second spell with Jez Reeves (73^rd), Ben Coleman (76^th) and Kory James-Morgan (87^th) all finding the net.

Napier City Rovers do the double over Port Hill with an epic game playing out 3-2 to Rovers. Wanting to keep the mood upbeat Rovers were out to make it two from two on opening weekend. The first half was a tight affair and should have gone in all square at the break, but a late first-half goal from Andy Pickering saw the host take a 1-0 lead into the sheds. Victor Bond squared the ledger early in the second spell scoring in the 50^th. You are always vulnerable after you score and just 90 seconds after equalizing Bill Robertson took the lead back for Rovers and then Mason Shaw extended that lead to 3-1 in the 60^th. Port Hill will well and true in the fight and when Harrison Powell scored in the 77th and grandstand finish looked on. Try as they might Port Hill couldn’t find an equalizer and Rovers came away with all the marbles.

Napier Marist Reserves hosted Western Rangers Reserves with the visitors being too strong on the day. Rangers were on the front foot right from the off when Damian Gregory scored after only 4 minutes and went on to complete his first-half brace in the 31^st.  Marist had some fine spells of play but was unable to capitalize on their opportunities and two goals late in the second spell took the game away from Marist. Christopher Stok(70yh) and Kieran Young(77^th) are the additional scorers.

Maycenvale coming off the postponement will have a tough task u against Western Rangers in round two and this game should be a good encounter for the neutral spectator.

Article added: Wednesday 12 April 2023