Football: Regular Rovers out, youth shuffle up

Blues player Chris McIvor arrives a fraction too late as Wairarapa goalkeeper Coey Turipa gets his mitts on the ball first. Photo/File

With prolific scorer Angus Kilkolly cooling his heels (suspended) and centre back James Hoyle injured (torn back muscle) Napier City Rovers have got their work cut out tomorrow.

But Conroy Removals Blues player-coach Bill Robertson isn't losing sleep before they kick off at 12.30pm against second-placed Wairarapa United in Masterton in their Lotto Central League soccer match because that simply means youngsters have a chance to savour elite footy.

"Obviously Wairarapa are a good side and have shown that in the course of the league with pretty much a national league squad," he said. "We had a close game in the [Chatham] Cup match and we were on the wrong side of a 5-4 scoreline but now it's another opportunity."

It is also the last outing for teenage midfielder Ross Willox before he heads off to the United States on a four-year scholarship.

"It's disappointing for us as a club but obviously we're not going to try to stand in the way of an opportunity like that."

In his view, that epitomises where Hawke's Bay stands as the club puts players through its system only to develop them but lose them.

Finishing as high up the ladder as possible is another incentive.

"We'll go with the mindset of trying to win the game and see how far we can get," he said, emphasising the ongoing challenge players face in putting themselves in the shop window of the summer national league to secure contracts.

"We want to support and push players to the next level by putting in solid performances and having good wins to help raise their profiles over winter but it'll also be helping the [Rovers] club as well."

Robertson was mindful Wairarapa were coming off a rampant victory over Wellington United in the previous round.

"I don't look too much into what they're doing. I think their strength is they've got very good individual players so they pretty much have national league players to choose from," he says as Wairarapa have come out 2-0 winners in their two clashes this season.

NAPIER CITY ROVERS: Kyle Baxter (GK), 2 Blake Koolen, 5 Matt Bruin, 6 Oliver Coren, 7 Jean-Michel Paulin, 8 Chris McIvor, 9 Angus Kilkolly, 10 Fahad Rwakarambwe, 11 Jorge Akers, 12 Ethan Ladd, 13 Karan Mandair, 14 Joshua Stevenson (vc), 17 Fergus Neil (c), 18 Ross Willox, 19 Bill Robertosn, 20 Charlie Yexley, Dan Robinson (RGK).

Coach: Bill Robertson.
Assistant coach: Stu James.