Football: Rovers bolster squad with elite

Bill Robertson

The Napier City Rovers flagship team will have a national league-look about it in Central League football this winter.

Player/coach Bill Robertson yesterday revealed ASB Premiership players such as Ryan Tinsley, Tom Biss, Finlay Milne, Harry Morton, Miles John, Saul Halpin are among new or returning players who will bolster the stocks of the Bluewater Stadium-sponsored outfit.

But Hawke's Bay United players Tinsley, Halpin, Milne and reserve goalkeeper Kyle Baxter will be in the premiership grand final mix against Auckland City on Sunday so will not be starting in Rovers' opening match tomorrow at Park Island against newly promoted Stop Out in the 2pm kick off.

"We'll be building on the strength from last year with some talented players," Robertson said of the Blues who finished fifth last winter after losing five consecutive matches.

He said they hadn't prepared as a team because players were scattered.

Robertson will next week be in Fiji for a week in the O-league with Team Wellington while Chris Greatholder takes over.

On Easter Monday, the Danny Wilson-skippered team will play giants Miramar Rangers at the Wellington College ground in a 1pm kick off because the hosts' home ground, Dave Farrington Park, has been set aside for Fifa U20 World Cup teams' training.

Rovers squad:

Ruben Parker (GK), Bill Robertson, Danny Wilson (c), Chris Greatholder, Miles John, Harry Morton, Ryan Tinsley, Tom Biss, Josh Stevenson, Angus Kilkolly, Fergus Neil, Saul Halpin, Phil Dol, Daniel Ball, Kyle Baxter (RGK), Finlay Milne, Logan Bensemann, Fane Morgan, Oli Chapman, Steve Hoyle, Jim Hoyle.