This season they have claimed four points and conceded none after pipping the Rovers 1-0 at Park Island.
Marist 1 Rangers 0
Even the most parochial of coaches will have sympathy for Western Rangers counterpart Ritchie Howard.
"It's a heartbreaker," Howard said after Hotshot Napier Marist scored the only and winning goal in the 93rd minute to move to within one game of the Rovers on 23 points, although the Blues have a game in hand with two more rounds to play.
Dave Ellison, sitting in a passive striker's position, received a ball after a break from the left flank.
Ellison turned, ran and drew charging Rangers keeper Luke Herrick out before slipping the ball past him.
"If we had managed a point - a good one from a team of Marist's calibre - we would have been unbeaten in five matches," Howard lamented.
Marist club captain Alan Dick echoed Howard's sentiments that they had Rangers under the cosh for the most of first half but missed gilt-edged chances.
"They spoilt everything we had. Dave was outstanding and our player of the day," Dick said.
Port Hill 2 Taradale 2
Goalkeeper Stu McVeigh inspired Appmed House Port Hill United in their 2-2 stalemate against defending champions Your Solutions Taradale.
Not only did McVeigh deny Dean Johnston a penalty kick in the 41st minute but got up to thwart a second attempt from teenager Bradley Perks to see Port Hill go to halftime 2-1 at Marewa Park.
Magnus Hansson and Shay Wall scored for the hosts while Perks and Richard Gearey found the net for the visitors.
For Port Hill coach Tim Claudatos the battle between teenagers Perks and his rightback, Gavin Andrews, was a highlight.
"The kickoff was delayed [from 1pm] so it was unsettling for both teams," Claudatos said.
Dale player/coach Chris McIvor said his men had created chances in the past two games and were disappointed not to have won.
"Last week Ritchie Howard said they [Rovers] deserved three points, but I disagree. We should have won that game, too," McIvor said.
Gisborne 9 Hastings 0
Several Childers Road Reserve fans disclosed it "was one-way traffic" but few could remember the score.
Sunshine Brewery Team Gisborne won 9-0 against Hastings Old Boys yesterday after going up 4-0 at halftime.
Josh Harris grabbed a hattrick, Kieran Ryan and Michael Suske two each and Max Logan and Liam Ryan got on the scorecard, too.
"The schoolboys kept trying and there was just one adult in their team, Jimmy Banks alongside his son, AJ, in the centre midfield position," a clued-in spectator said.
Striker Ethan Collier and centreback Jake Paget made their debuts while goalkeeper James Field returned from a broken-arm layoff as goalkeeper.
Rightback Dylan Du Ross stood out, the fan said, of the Tony Simmonds-coached side.
Fed League
Havelock 3 PNBHS 0
The World Cup in Brazil is evidence to coach Bruce Barclay how quickly a game can change when an opposition scores a goal.
"We scored two early goals and then couldn't put them away," Barclay said after his Cole Murray Group Havelock North Wanderers beat Palmerston North Boys High First XI 3-0 at Guthrie Park, Hastings.
"For a solid 50 minutes we couldn't score and then got the third one with about 10 to go," he said after a 2-0 halftime lead.
Scott Saurin scored twice and Brigham Fraser once.
Barclay saluted the schoolboys for playing an attractive passing game, adding they were a force in the interschool and school tournaments.
The villagers are fourth on the table on 17 points, five above PNBHS but 13 behind leaders Team Taranaki and Wanganui Athletic who are frontrunners in a bid to earn promotion to Central League if they want to.
