Hello Taranaki Football,

Easter Monday saw the start of our men’s cup competitions with the Duff Rosebowl and Nimmos Cup Preliminary Rounds commencing. In the Duff Rosebowl Rough Habits Hawera Prems after been down 1-2 at half time to NPBHS 2^nd XI managed to rally at home to finish the game 3-2 winners and move into Round 1. In the Nimmos Cup McDonalds Stratford Div1 were too good for KP Joinery Waitara Div1 winning 7-2 with Daniel White netting a Hat-Trick. More Prelims to follow on ANZAC Day.

All holders of the three Challenge Trophy matches on the weekend remained in possession but in close affairs. The Championship challenge saw Mark Frost Hawera being 0-1 down at half time but coming back to finished the game with Treehouse NP Rangers 1-1 and hanging onto the silverware. In Men’s Division 1 Charrua Kaponga came home with a wet sail over HEL Rimu NP Rangers Oddbodz winning 4-2 but things didn’t get going until the second half as it was a scoreless first. Finally in Men’s Division 2 Taranaki Tyre Torque Woodleigh continued their reign with a narrow 1-0 win over Stratford.

Taranaki Men’s Premiership is starting to heat up with FC Western getting their third straight win although only just, hanging on 1-0 to a spirited and well coached Peringa side. New Plymouth Rangers ended Hawera’s 100% record by defeating them 2-0 down in Hawera and keeping their unbeaten season going. Moturoa also remains unbeaten with a 6-1 victory over Eltham at Taumata Park. NPBHS 1^st XI found their scoring form winning 6-0 over Woodleigh but the big news was at Karo Park where Inglewood got there first win in over a year. Sam Bates getting a four goal haul as Inglewood ran out 6-1 winners over Waitara. FC Western lead the league on nine points with Moturoa and Rangers right on their heels with seven points each.

Tungsten Legal Taranaki Women’s Premiership has a fresh look to it this season with 11 teams two of which have returned after having breaks in Hawera and Woodleigh. There are five teams sitting with six points at the top of the table but due to the BYEs there are games in hand. Moturoa Red sit at the top of the table after a 11-0 win over friends Moturoa White with Fernanda Toscani continuing her great form netting five. Hawera got their second win of the year with a 8-3 win over Stratford, Kirstyn Collins getting a double Hat-Trick. Inglewood won 14-0 over new team Woodleigh with Jesseka Fairclough scoring five. The last match of the round was played on the previous Wednesday night where Eltham played out a hard fought 1-1 draw with Peringa under lights at Taumata Park.

Taranaki Men’s Championship is starting to get some shape with the two teams involved in the above Challenge Trophy match tied at the top of the table both on seven points. Three other games were played on the weekend with NPBHS 2^nd XI winning 3-0 over Woodleigh to move up into third on the table. Inglewood and FC Western got their first wins of the season over Kaponga and Peringa respectively moving them up into the log jam in the middle of the table.

Taranaki Men’s Division 1 has a very interesting look this season with a bunch of news teams including new club Kaitake FC. Last season Champions Charrua Kaponga continues to look like the team to beat with three wins from three including the Challenge Trophy match above. Kaitake also look strong winning both their matches so far including a 4-2 win over another new team Peringa Pirates at the weekend. Stratford the promoted side after winning the Division 2 title last season are also two from two with a nice win over FDMC 2^nd XI who are new in this league as well after stepping down from the Championship. Our last new side NPBHS 3^rd XI picked up their first win of the season with a great 5-0 win over Waitara. Moturoa had the Bye. The nine team league looks to be full of excitement this season with many of the teams having the unknown factor and will only get better as the season rolls out.

Taranaki Men’s Division 2 has two teams sitting on nine points at the top of the table after both snatched 1-0 victories on the weekend. The first was Woodleigh over Stratford mention above in the Challenge Trophy match and the other was NP Rangers over FC Western at Merrilands Domain. Inglewood made it two from two with a 4-2 win over Waitara which also saw all four of their senior teams getting the big W over the weekend, well done.

Article added: Tuesday 23 April 2019