Hello Taranaki Football,

Let’s start this week with a look into the Lotto Men’s Federation League where on Sunday Peggy Gordon’s New Plymouth Rangers hosted Isles Construction Massey University FC at Yarrow Stadium which was a battle between the bottom two teams in the league so both sides were very keen to get something out of the game. Massey would take the early lead only for Rangers to hit back straight away with Niall Leggett volleying in direct from a corner kick. Massey got back in front again just before half time with Blair Lankshear doing the damage for the second time. The second period saw both sides having great chances to score again but it was Rangers to level things up when Kieran Sturrock slotted home from the penalty spot. Unfortunately for them Massey were the ones to get maximum points with the 3-2 win after a late own goal from John Sigurdsson leaving Rangers with much work to do for the rest of the season as they’re now at the foot of the table.

Also on Sunday the Tungsten Legal Taranaki Women’s Premiership was in full action as a great match was played at Yarrow Stadium between NP Rangers and Moturoa White just before the above Fed League fixture. In a match described but Rangers President Monty Ammundsen as “it was like a Cup Final” the scored ended 1-1. Rangers looked to have all three points locked up after Reem Lashin got a 70^th minute strike but they would have to share one point each as Kate Simpson got the 90^th minute equaliser. Inglewood battled hard at Karo Park against league leaders Moturoa Red but lost 0-3 and in another close match Liquid Beanz Peringa just went down to Hawera 0-2. The last two matches were slightly more one sided as Naki Electrical Waitara defeated Tungsten Legal Stratford 10-1 with Jasmine Burnard-Leppinus and Diana Reader-Nokes both getting Hat-Tricks. NPGHS 1^st XI got the better of Woodleigh 19-0 with Paris Liu getting a Double Hat-Trick and Eva Hilliam scoring a five goal Glut. Photo above is of the 2019 Woodleigh FC team that has re-entered the league this season. Eltham Ladies had the BYE.

In the Taranaki Men’s Premiership we saw a seven goal thriller down at Turuturu Park as Rough Habits Hawera only just lost 3-4 to Flooring Design Moturoa with Sam Sutton getting all four goals for Moturoa. League leaders Rampage Fitness FC Western got the job done 1-0 over the well organised and energetic NPBHS 1^st XI. JLE NP Rangers bounced back with their league form to beat Smith & Sons Eltham 3-1 and move back into third on the table. Proglaze Waitara had a heart breaking loss 1-2 to Spectrum Decorating Woodleigh with Zaoui Soheib getting the 90^th minute winner for Woodleigh. Waitara had the 1-0 lead but after Tom Brett got sent off for his second bookable offense in the 71^st minute Woodleigh jump on the opportunity to take all three points. A Ross Malcolm Brace inspired Peringa United to a 3-1 win over Kitchen Draw Inglewood in the last match for the weekend at Karo Park.

At the half way point in the Taranaki Men’s Championship nothing can separate the two league leaders as they both secured 1-0 wins with defence the haul mark of both squads. TreeHouse NP Rangers did the job over Oliver Flooring Eltham to retain the Challenge Trophy and Millwards Roofing FC Western battle hard to get all the points off NPBHS 2^nd XI with Western player Simon Perks describing the match as “an end to end game won by our tight defensive display”. Mark Frost Hawera continue to give the leaders no breathing room staying in third with a huge 7-1 win over Jones Quarry Moturoa. Two Hawera players got Hat-Tricks in Joe Fletcher and Joao Olavo De Miranda Vieira leaving the side just two points off the summit. Bounceback Physio Peringa moved up to fourth on the table after defeating Inglewood 4-2 and in the last game Wonder Minerals Kaponga finally found their trademark scoring form beating Woodleigh 9-3 with the damage being done by six different players.

Taranaki Men’s Division 1 saw Challenge Trophy holders Charrua Kaponga win 7-3 against Withers Coachlines Moturoa after doing the same last week in the Nimmos Cup 7-2 with this time 2018 Golden Boot winner Jonathan Diego Rodriguez Gomez getting a Hat-Trick after staying quiet last week. Kaitake FC remain at the top of the ladder after beating McDonalds Stratford 7-0 with former Team Taranaki Captain Paul Cunningham netting a Hat-Trick. Hutchins Dick Peringa Pirates also got a big win doing the job 6-1 over Chooks Flooring Ltd NPBHS 3^rd XI, Brad Hickling with the four goal Haul. The last match had FDMC New Style Homes 2^nd XI win 3-1 over KP Joinery Waitara with Jamie Kestle firing home a Brace for the school side. HEL Rimu NP Rangers Oddbodz had the BYE.

Lastly we have a look at the Taranaki Men’s Division 2 where Taranaki Thru Tubing NP Rangers still remain unbeaten with a 4-0 win over Inglewood, Taranaki Tyre Torque Woodleigh just got the win 2-1 over Town & Country Foods Waitara, Pipeline Peringa won 2-0 over P Hamlin Builders Eltham and Stratford came back from two down to share the Points with FC Western 2-2. 4U Computer Solutions Hawera had the BYE.

So the league competitions are now exactly half way through so we move into the business end of the season, good luck to all the teams.

Article added: Tuesday 11 June 2019