Taradale Vikings player Michael Dual (centre) slips a pass between Marist duo Tex Taylor (left) James Taylor. Photo / Warren Buckland
Taradale Vikings player Michael Dual (centre) slips a pass between Marist duo Tex Taylor (left) James Taylor. Photo / Warren Buckland
Knockout cups often offer a good yardstick for underdogs to gauge their worth against top-tier teams in football.
Lifting the trophy in the final is the ultimate but, for some teams, making it to the playoffs is itself an achievement.
Red Steel Napier Marist typify that edict after pipping fellowdivision one league champions Taradale Vikings 1-0 in the HB Premier Knockout Cup quarterfinals at Park Island, Napier, on Saturday.
"They beat us twice - 3-2, 3-nil - in the league so beating them in the cup is an upset, I suppose," said Marist coach Darren Mason after substitute striker Zack Taylor, 15, broke the deadlock in the 75th minute for the sixth-placed league campaigners in the seven-team competition.
Mason said it was a good end-to-end match but his development side deserved to win.
"I think Taradale will admit they weren't at their best so it was the best performance of our season."
Mason is not averse to the idea of pitting his predominantly young charges against favourites Duke of Gloucester Napier City Rovers who thumped Alexander Electric Napier Marist Premiers 5-1 on an adjacent field.
Third-placed league division one campaigners Hastings Hibernian are riding a similar euphoric wave after pipping last-placed Rescom Security Port Hill United 1-0 at Marewa Park, Napier.
Striker Kieran Young scored the winner early in the 21st minute for one of the smallest clubs in the Bay.
Hastings Hibs coach Jac Kitt said they were "a pretty tight unit".
They are the only side to beat Taradale Vikings in the league this winter in a high-scoring 5-4 affair on July 2 at their home ground, Frimley Park, Hastings.
"We beat Grant Hastings' Boys High School earlier in the knockout. We were up 2-0 and they sunk in a couple towards the end and we went to penalty kicks," said Kitt who felt his troops were young and keen so it was a case of "giving them a go".
Some clubs, he said, did not necessarily adhere to that philosophy with young talent.
"My guys are already punching above their weight so no matter what happens after this [in the knockout cup] it's been great for the club."
They were happy to lock horns with any team in the semifinals. "We'll upset some more, why not?"
Big Barrel Havelock North Wanderers beat Speights Ale House Napier Eskview United 4-2 at Petane Domain.
