Boys’ High win shoot-out, now face league champs

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

FOOTBALL by John Gillies

A PENALTY shoot-out was needed to separate Gisborne Boys’ High School and Wainui Sharks in the opening Bailey Cup football game.

Boys’ High won the shoot-out 7-6, after four of the first five penalty takers from each side had been successful.

The 90 minutes had ended 1-1, with no goals added in extra time.

Striker Sam Royston gave Sunshine Brewery Wainui Sharks the lead in the 18th minute of Saturday’s game on the Rectory field.

But Wainui lost midfielder Shane Hooks when he was sent off five minutes before halftime for abusive language to the referee.

Nevertheless, Wainui put up a good fight and it was not until the 87th minute that Boys’ High equalised, through Josh Blair.

Both teams missed their first penalties, and the shoot-out went to eight kicks each. Wainui missed their eighth, and Ollie Aldridge scored the winner.

For strikers Jirah Wanoa and Alex Larkins, it was “redemption”. In Boys’ High’s last penalty shoot-out — against New Plymouth Boys’ High School at the 2017 Super 8 tournament, they had missed their penalty kicks. This time, they both scored.

Boys’ High will need to be on their game on Saturday. They meet Eastern League champions Heavy Equipment Services United at Harry Barker Reserve at 2.30pm in the next round of the cup.

The early Bailey Cup game, at 12.30pm, will be a rematch between Lytton High School and Thistle Massive, this time on Lytton’s ground.

These sides met at Childers Road Reserve on Saturday in a catch-up Eastern League game. Thistle won 5-1.

Thistle coach John Stirton, in indulgent mood, let his players pick their first-half positions from the hat, as the game would have no bearing on either side’s final place on the table.

Stefan Faber drew “sub”, so he stayed off for the first half-hour.

Thistle’s starting back four were rightback Dave Watson, sweeper Geoff Griffin, centreback Kieran Ryan and leftback Nic Somerton. Regular centreback Shannon Dowsing was in midfield, Kane Stirton was on the right wing and Jason Scott was up front. Only goalkeeper Raymond Rickard played in his normal position. Actually, that’s still the basis of a reasonable line-up.

Lytton gave Thistle a hurry-up, though, and Ryan Hall’s goal pulled the Jags up short.

Stirton’s halftime talk was basically, “Right, you’ve had your fun. Now you’ll play where I put you.”

Somerton scored two, and Stirton, Watson and Emerson Araya scored one each.

Watson, Scott, Somerton, Faber and, in his time at rightback, Hudson Leite were Thistle’s best.

Lytton were well served by Hall, centreback Stan Bodle and central midfielder Merlin Parsons.

In the Chris Moore Cup last weekend, Coates Associates Wainui Demons lost to ShipWreck Bohemians 3-2. That means the season is over for both Wainui teams.

Boys’ High (2) beat Heavy Equipment Services United (2) 3-0.

Bohemians and Boys’ High (2) meet on Saturday, while the game to watch could be Riverina versus Thistle Vintage at Harry Barker Reserve at 12.30pm.

In the Poverty Bay Cup, GBHS (3) beat Smash Palace Shockers 6-5, Three Rivers Medical Bohemians beat Lytton High (2) 6-1 and Heavy Equipment Services United (3) beat Campion College 8-0.

Bohemians play United (3), and Boys’ High (3) play ITM Thistle on Saturday, while last weekend’s losers go into the Emerre and Hathaway Cup, Campion and Lytton (2) meeting at Campion.

In the women’s Braybrook Cup, Gisborne Laundry Services Riverina beat Heavy Equipment Services United 2-0, and Gisborne Girls’ High School beat Top 10 Holiday Park Bohemians 2-1.

Girls’ High and Riverina meet in the final at Harry Barker Reserve at 11am on Sunday.

At 1pm at Harry Barker Reserve, United play Taradale in a Women’s Federation Cup semifinal.