Hello Taranaki Football

Kaitake FC have finally lost a match this season but it took a team three leagues up to do so in the Lotto Men’s Federation Cup Quarter-Final. Federation League team Hokowhitu FC 1sts travelled to Corbett Park as favourites but were lucky to drive back winners as Kaitake showed a great account of themselves but still going down 3-4. Kaitake were 1-3 down thanks to ex-Eltham player Joeb Cadman’s 39^thminute goal but Kaitake managed to get the scores level at 3-3 just after half time before a late own goal by Captain Paul Cunningham ended the Division 1 sides hopes.

The Taranaki Men’s Premiership continues to be the battle of two as a Ash Reader-Nokes brace helped Flooring Design Moturoa get the 3-0 win over Spectrum Decorating Woodleigh and retain the Challenge Trophy. Rampage Fitness FC Western just got over the line 2-1 against a Kitchen Draw Inglewood side that were unlucky not to get something out of the match. Both front runners will want to continue to go flawless before they meet in Round 17 where the outcome could lean the title in the favour of the winner. In others matches third placed JLE NP Rangers won 2-0 over Proglaze Waitara and NPBHS 1^st XI overtook Rough Habits Hawera to move into fourth on the table after winning 3-1 with Jarod McClutchie netting a brace. The final match of the round saw a six goal thriller played out between Smith & Sons Eltham and Peringa United which ended 3-3 but had late drama. Peringa thought they had got all three points after Ross Malcom put them ahead 3-2 in the 88^th minute but Jason Southey stepped up one minute later to make sure the points were shared.

In the Taranaki Men’s Championship the title now looks like Millwards Roofing FC Western’s to lose as they now a have a four point gap at the top after they took care of Inglewood 13-1 with hat-tricks to Brook Kelsen, Matt Scott and Brent Youngson. This is because second placed TreeHouse NP Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw against Wonder Minerals Kaponga at Merrilands Domain but the result still means Rangers hang onto the Challenge Trophy. NPBHS 2^nd XI have now moved up into third on the table and like the 1sts have overtaken Mark Frost Electrical Hawera after beating them 4-1. Jones Quarry Moturoa won 3-1 over Woodleigh after Dean Wilson powered home a brace and the final match ended 2-2 between Oliver Flooring Eltham and Bounceback Physio Peringa. 

Taranaki Men’s Division 1 only had the three matches played last weekend due to the Fed Cup with the pick of them the Central Taranaki derby between Charrua Kaponga and McDonalds Stratford which ended 2-1 in favour of Kaponga. HEL Rimu NP Rangers Oddbodz remain in third place after a big 6-0 win over KP Joinery Waitara and in the last match Withers Coachlines Moturoa won 5-2 over FDMC New Style Homes 2^nd XI after Liam Hodgetts nailed a triple for Moturoa. Kaitake vs Chooks Flooring NPBHS 3^rd XI was postponed and Hutchins Dick Peringa Pirates had the Bye.

Taranaki Men’s Division 2 are very close in crowding new Champions with Taranaki Thru Tubing NP Rangers winning 1-0 over Paul Hamlin Builders Eltham which now means Rangers only need one point in their remaining three matches to wear the crowd. Ayush Kumar lead the way with a double as 4U Computer Solutions Hawera grabbed all three points winning 3-0 away to Stratford and the Pipeline Peringa drew 0-0 with Town & Country Foods Waitara. The remaining match had seven goals scored with FC Western defeating Inglewood 5-2, Grant Scott bagging a hat-trick for Western as well as Tim Coleman getting one for each team. Taranaki Tyre Torque Woodleigh had the Bye.

The Tungsten Legal Women’s Premiership had four matches played on Sunday with NPGHS hanging onto the Challenge Trophy comfortably after recording the 5-0 win over Eltham and remaining tied at the top of the table. NP Rangers got the job done 6-1 over Liquid Beanz Peringa with Kerri-Ann Jones celebrating a four goal haul and Tungsten Legal managed another win over Woodleigh 3-1, Makayla Pitcher-Poulsen scoring the brace. The last match saw a goalless draw between Inglewood and Naki Electrical Waitara with Moturoa White having the Bye. Hawera defaulted to Moturoa Red to leave Moturoa equal top of the table but with the bonus of having two games in hand.

Last Wednesday night there was a Tungsten Legal Duchess Cup Quarter-Final match which Eltham Ladies won 8-0 over Liquid Beanz Peringa after inspired performances from Madison Hikaka with a triple and double from Natasha Hill. The last Duchess Cup Quarter-Final will be played tomorrow night between Inglewood and Moturoa White.

Article added: Tuesday 23 July 2019