Title won with a nod to ‘culture’

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

It was a time to reward stout service, given for the duration of a tough campaign.

Now, with football's Eastern League 2 title in the bag, Coates Associates Wainui Demons shuffled their line-up.

Defenders Ben Burgess, Ollie Suttor and Jacob Moorcroft hadn't scored a goal all season so they were put up front to change that. The regular strikers were rotated on from the bench.

But after 15 minutes, Tatapouri Bohemians scored. Steve White made a run from midfield, received a layoff from a frontrunner, beat a player and hit a shot into the bottom right corner of the goal.

The defenders were recalled to their usual posts. None of them had scored but, once they were back in familiar territory, no further goals were conceded either, and Demons completed the league campaign unbeaten.

But the Bohs held them out until five minutes into the second half. More goals followed midway through the half and five minutes from the end for a 3-1 scoreline. Matt Tong, Kaleb Jacobs and John Hill were the scorers.

Central midfielders Clay Parker and Mana Taumaunu and centreback Hill were outstanding for Demons, while strikers Tom Paenga and Jacob Larby did well for the Bohs.

The Demons clinched the league title with a 4-2 victory over Sunshine Brewing Wainui Salty Dogs on August 20.

Captain/coach Yannis Kokkosis was in the team the last time they won the second division title 12 years ago.

He was pleased the Demons won this year's title while maintaining the team's “culture”.

“We don't train,” Kokkosis said.

“We used to have one session a week but the boys would get injured at it, so we stopped it.

“We'll turn up 10 minutes before kick-off. It's a very casual approach and we emphasise the social aspect.”

Clubmates the Demons and the Salty Dogs meet in the Chris Moore Cup at Wainui on Saturday at 12.30pm. They are the curtainraiser for the Bailey Cup game between 1st Class Decorators Wainui Sharks and Thistle Youth.

It'll be a great club day, although things could get testy in the curtainraiser.