Chase for Jack McNab spices up Chatham Cup clash

As if Monday's lip-licking Chatham Cup second round clash between Tauranga's giantkilling Old Blues and Northern Premier League side Hamilton Wanderers at Waipuna Park didn't have enough selling points, outspoken Wanderers coach Mark Cossey has given the game extra fizz by revealing he's been chasing Old Blues sharpshooter Jack NcNab.
Problem is McNab, who defected from Waikato-Bay of Plenty Federation League strugglers AFC Fury to Old Blues a few games into the season, hasn't been responding to Cossey's overtures.
Cossey, who's done his homework on Old Blues and won't be falling into the trap of the Tauranga club's last Chatham Cup opponents Eastern Suburbs, who came south from Auckland three weeks ago were ignominiously dumped out of the Cup 5-3, said yesterday he'd been texting and leaving messages with McNab asking if he'd move clubs for the second time this season.
"Good strikers aren't plentiful in this area and a mate saw McNab play, said he's a guy who could step up to the plate and I should grab him if I could.
"I've been leaving messages and sending texts but haven't heard from him yet... maybe he's not keen on the travel or is happy to stay where he is. I guess I'll get to see for myself on Monday."
McNab is lethal, scoring twice - one a brilliant overhead - in Old Blues' famous win over Suburbs.
Cossey's side heads to Tauranga on a high after last weekend's 1-0 win over Northern Premier League leaders Bay Olympic, the first side this season to defeat the title favourites, and Old Blues coach Andy Legget knows they're unlikely to take the lead of Suburbs, who paid the price for an insipid showing.
"It's a big game for most of our guys, maybe in their careers, and as far as a lot of people are concerned we're still a Sunday league side fighting way above our weight. If Wanderers want to take us easy then it'll be their underdoing."
But the gospel according to both coaches is league points first and Chatham Cup a distant second, with Wanderers travelling to Onehunga Sports today and Old Blues heading across the city to Fergusson Park for a top-of-the-table game against Otumoetai.
Both of Old Blues' Cup wins at their home ground at Welcome Bay have been on cold, wind-swept days.
Although it might dampen what's expected to be a big crowd, Legget won't be unhappy if Monday yields another bleak one, although Cossey isn't biting. "Remember we're coming over the hill from Hamilton - cold, windy and wet is usually a pretty decent day over here."
Teams:
Old Blues: Alex Bryant, Mike Johnstone, Karl Bryant (capt), Paul Shaw, Hayden Fowke, Bobby Barnes, Reubin Wood, Gary Board, Jack McNab, Andrew Cooper, Josh Taylor, Neil McLaughlin, Tristan Wood, Dan Benson. Coach: Andy Legget.
Hamilton Wanderers: Max Tommy, Jarod Young, Matthew Gibbons, Adam Lugue, Ricky Broderson, Che Bunce, Mark Jones, Gavin Clark, Raymond How, Matteo Ballan, Jordan Shaw, Daniel Rattray, Michael Kim, Daniel Frischknecht, Van Ewert, Henry Hahn, Niky Sikongo, Roger Wolfersdorf. Coach: Mark Cossey.
Kickoff: 2pm.