Gisborne Herald
  • Gisborne Herald Home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Locations

  • Gisborne
  • Bay of Plenty
  • Hawke's Bay

Media

  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Gisborne

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Premium
Home / Gisborne Herald / Sport

Hoping for good dress rehearsal

Gisborne Herald
17 Mar, 2023 11:03 PMQuick Read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Nicky Land (right, against Port Hill United), was outstanding against Team Taranaki in New Plymouth on Saturday. Pictures by Paul Rickard

MAN OF THE MATCH: Nicky Land (right, against Port Hill United), was outstanding against Team Taranaki in New Plymouth on Saturday. Pictures by Paul Rickard

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

GISBORNE Thistle coach Fred Robertson has named an unchanged team for tomorrow’s Central Federation League football game against Massey University at Palmerston North.

“It’s a reward for those who played last week in our 3-0 victory over Port Hill United at Childers Road Reserve,” Robertson said.

“I’m hoping a good performance tomorrow will be a dress rehearsal for next week’s big home game against Taranaki.

“We’re not taking Massey lightly but if can win and not get any injuries it will mean we can start the Taranaki game with the same team as we’ve had for the past two games.

“We need to beat Taranaki — they are four points ahead of us — then hope that Havelock North and Taranaki, who have still to meet twice, take points off each other.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“But for now the focus is on Massey. We beat them 5-1 at Childers Road Reserve, after leading 4-0 at halftime.”

Robertson admitted his side’s second-half performances were a concern.

“We seem to lose concentration during the break and it’s something I’d like to see us improve on.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“I’d also like to see us come out quicker from the back. We’ve been a bit flat.”

Robertson had a season away from coaching last year and said he was loving being back.

“I missed being involved with a team, and the boys have been great, on and off the field.

“We’ve got a great rapport. Sometimes I have to make tough decisions but we also have a lot of good-natured banter.”

Although pleased with the 11 players who started and played the 90 minutes in last week’s game, Robertson singled out goalkeeper Mark Baple, skipper and centreback Kieran Venema, rightback Liam Ryan and striker Corey Adams.

“Mark was brilliant. His shot stopping kept us in the game, especially early on.

“Kieran has played some of his best football since being moved back to centreback alongside Mal Scammell.

“They’re both big boys and give us a real physical presence in the heart of the defence.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“Liam’s one of those players who never seems to play a bad game, and I can’t speak highly enough of Corey.

“He’s playing out of his skin and has taken on a leadership role within the squad, even though he’s only 21.”

Save
    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Sport

Sport

Wise heads, all-rounders key to success

03 Dec 11:15 PM
Sport

'A great trip for us': PB girls on the improve

03 Dec 10:30 PM
Sport

Joker-lap timing proves key to success

03 Dec 08:15 PM

Sponsored

Kiwi campaign keeps on giving

07 Sep 12:00 PM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Wise heads, all-rounders key to success
Sport

Wise heads, all-rounders key to success

Victories to Ngatapa, HSOB as they look to T20 grand final on December 13

03 Dec 11:15 PM
'A great trip for us': PB girls on the improve
Sport

'A great trip for us': PB girls on the improve

03 Dec 10:30 PM
Joker-lap timing proves key to success
Sport

Joker-lap timing proves key to success

03 Dec 08:15 PM


Kiwi campaign keeps on giving
Sponsored

Kiwi campaign keeps on giving

07 Sep 12:00 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Gisborne Herald
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Gisborne Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP