Soccer: Stalemates dictate terms to men

The conditions were good for football on Saturday.

The rain stayed away, the sun came out and in many cases the parks laid out surprisingly playable turf in Hawke's Bay.

It's little wonder then how all bar one ComputerCare Pacific Premiership soccer matches served up a rash of stalemates on Saturday.

Rovers 1 Gisborne 1

The Promotem Napier City Rovers relished home advantage at Park Island to lead table-topping Sunshine Breweries Team Gisborne at halftime but couldn't prevent a deadlock when the visitors struck from a free kick in the 61st minute.

Andrija Ilic opened the account for the Rovers in the 35th minute.

"We got beaten by Marist last week so it was a big step and the boys delivered," Dave Carswell said of the Rovers.

"It was end-to-end stuff and both keepers were tested," Carswell said.

Taradale 2 Rangers 2

It was more of the same at Taradale Park, Napier, in what Western Rangers coach Ritchie Howard labelled "a great traditional battle".

Your Solutions Taradale AFC struck through player/coach Chris McIvor in the 22nd minute, but Rangers equalised in the 34th through Ben Robertson.

The hosts went to the changing rooms 2-1 up a fraction before the halftime whistle when Nathaniel Wright found the net.

Cory Janssen levelled terms, 2-2, in the 69th minute.

"We beat them in Knockout Cup and have now drawn in both our league matches so we're proud of that," Rangers coach Ritchie Howard said, adding they were disappointed not to have taken three points.

"I'm proud of my lads for coming from behind twice. If anyone could have won today it was us."

Port Hill 1 Maycenvale 1

Was it the goalkeeper at one end or was it a shoddy defence at the other side of the park?

"It was equal opportunities but [Maycenvale keeper] Shaun Peta made some good saves," AppMed House Port Hill United coach Tim Claudatos said after the sides drew 1-1 at Marewa Park, Napier.

It was the visitors who gave them a rude awakening in the 23rd minute from Campbell Whitworth but the hosts stayed calm until Matt Single found the equaliser in the 43rd minute.

"We were looking vulnerable defending corner kicks," Claudatos lamented, adding that issue plagued their set plays as well.

"We passed, were strong on the ball and so did they so it was a fair stalemate," he said, singling out centre back Whitworth who kept Port Hill's Magnus Hansson in check.

HBHS 0 Marist 7

The schoolboys stood toe-to-toe in the first half but eventually went down 7-0 to Hotshots Napier Marist in Hastings.

Hastings Boys' High School remained win-less but Marist club captain Alan Dick said the schoolboys' goalkeeper and right back were "outstanding".

"We were just too big and strong for them," said Dick after Marist thumped Rovers 4-1 the previous weekend.

Jack Needes bagged four goals, Don Butler two and Brendon Jones joined the party.